It’s easy to Go Green When You Know How To Plant a Tree!
Everything from the food we eat (especially meat) to the cars we drive or the planes we take, to the products we buy, has an impact on our planet.
Every product we buy creates pollution – in its manufacture, its transport, while we’re using it, and/or in its disposal.
We can’t avoid that.
But we CAN go green by doing things that reduce our impact, our carbon footprint.
We can simplify our lives by buying less (and appreciating more), and also by making green choices in the products we do buy.
And one of the best ways we can go green is with trees.
Globally we face massive deforestation. This has a huge impact not only on the animals who live in the forest and have their homes destroyed, but also on Earth’s ability to absorb all our pollution and keep the air clean.
By finding out how to plant a tree we can help, in a small way, to offset the damage done by us, and we also improve our own local air quality.
That’s cool!
So, plant a tree this week with your family or colleagues.
It will live long after you’re gone!
“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” – Chinese Proverb
If you’re reading this thinking “but I don’t have any space where I live for a tree / another tree”, that’s OK. You don’t have to plant it at home. You can plant trees in waste areas, or in office parks with permission, use your imagination and your local knowledge. You can also plant trees as a gift to someone, or in memory of a loved one.
Trees provide clean air, shade, food, prevent erosion and can help with energy efficiency in buildings.
How to Plant a Tree – Decide
Decide where you will plant a tree. Trees need space to grow, so don’t plant too close to houses, or to power or telephone lines.
Decide what tree you will plant. Always choose local, indigenous trees. They are adapted to local conditions so they will grow easier. Go to your local nursery or garden centre and ask advice on the best indigenous tree for your site.
Related: Top 10 Best Tree Tunnels in the world
How to Plant a Tree:
- Dig a square hole, as deep as the roots of the tree, and about 2 or 3 inches / 5-8 cm wider than the bag or pot it’s in.
- Add a couple of spadefuls of compost, manure or sphagnum peat to the soil you’ve dug out, to enrich it. Mix well.
- Remove the tree from its container or plastic bag. Be careful not to damage the roots!
- Put the tree into the hole. Make sure the top of the tree roots is just below ground level.
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How to Plant a Tree – Credit: Texastrees.org Plant an empty 2 liter soda bottle / 2-litre plastic bottle at an angle next to the tree’s roots, with the top of the bottle just sticking out the ground. The bottle needs holes in the bottom. This will make watering much simpler. (You can also use a hose, but the bottle is easier).
- Add the mixed soil back into the hole.
- Measure one spade length space around the tree. Remove all the grass and weeds from this space. (Be careful not to damage the tree or its roots).
- Water the tree.
- Add a 10 cm / 4 inch layer of mulch (leaves, cut grass, straw, wood chips, pine needles or strips of newspaper), around the tree. Be careful not to touch the tree.
- Once a week, water the tree through the bottle. This sends the water directly to the roots (and prevents wasting water). After watering, put the lid back onto the bottle to prevent water evaporation.
- After the first year, water the tree only when the soil is dry.
- If you see the tree is not growing straight, hammer a straight wooden stake or stick into the ground next to the tree. Using something soft – like a piece of fabric – tie the tree to the stake to help the tree to grow straight. Generally, trees only need to be staked for one year.
And of course – the final step: Love and enjoy your tree!
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