April 24, 2003

 

Celebrate Arbor Day with Tree Planting

On Friday, May 2, North Dakotans will have the opportunity to join in the annual celebration of Arbor Day. Many schools will be planting trees in honor of the event and several other local celebrations are planned, including the planting of an historic Lewis and Clark cottonwood at Fort Mandan in Washburn. Another of North Dakota’s historic cottonwoods will be planted at Monticello, President Thomas Jefferson’s home in Virginia.

Planting trees is an excellent way of commemorating the holiday and is in keeping with the historical spirit of the day, says Joe Zeleznik, forester with the North Dakota State University Extension Service.

The first Arbor Day was celebrated in Nebraska in 1872. J. Sterling Morton, a native of Michigan, missed being surrounded by trees. Morton proposed a tree-planting holiday that would be observed every year and the first officially proclaimed celebration was in 1874. Since then, every state has developed its own recognition of Arbor Day, beginning in January in the South and finishing in May in the North, in order to coincide with the best tree planting weather.

North Dakota’s original native forests covered about 1 to 1.5 percent of the state, Zeleznik says. Most forests were located in the river valleys and in the Turtle and Killdeer Mountains. When community forests and windbreaks are added, the total land area currently covered by forests comes to just under 5 percent.

"Trees provide shade, wildlife habitat, crop protection and add scenic beauty to both urban and rural areas," Zeleznik says.

"Planting trees is relatively easy, but you should always remember to choose the right tree for the right place," Zeleznik says. Beware of potential obstructions above, below and to the side of the proposed planting location.

Most of the larger cities in North Dakota have a forestry department that can help you determine what tree is appropriate. Additionally, there may be some local safety regulations regarding issues such as how close trees can be planted to streets.

"Remember that trees are living things and must be taken care of before, during and after planting," Zeleznik reminds. For more information about how to plant a tree properly, contact your county Extension agent or obtain the NDSU Extension Bulletin "Planting Trees and Shrubs," available from your county Extension office or on-line at http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extpubs/plantsci/trees/ .

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Source: Dr. Joe Zeleznik, (701) 231_8143, joseph.zeleznik@ndsu.nodak.edu
Editor: Tom Jirik, (701) 231_9629, tjirik@ndsuext.nodak.edu