Tree Planting Party!

I LOVE trees. Seriously! For as long as I can remember, I’ve had an odd fascination with the majestic plants that make our planet so beautiful (and livable). So when 10, 000 Trees for the Rouge invited me to take part in their annual tree planting event, I was thrilled!

I must admit, I definitely don’t have a green thumb (I somehow manage to kill almost every plant that enters my condo), BUT I was certain that given the expertise of the group – they’ve planted almost 180, 000 trees over the last 25 years – that they’d be able to teach me a thing or two! Thankfully, one of their tree planting managers took me under his wing for the day…

With our buckets and shovels in hand, we headed to a field in Milne Dam Conservation Park. There was an incredible energy in the air; everyone was smiling from ear to ear. From families and groups of friends to community leaders and scout troops (there were around 2,000 planters participating), we were all excited to get our hands dirty and start planting!

Since I was a newbie, Cameron kindly walked me through the tree planting process. First and foremost, we had to select our tree! There were all kinds to choose from (they usually purchase 15-20 different species from suppliers within a 200 km radius). And they’re not just any trees: before the annual tree planting event, a registered forester works with the volunteer group to analyze the soil and select the best trees for the area.

Our first pick was a cottonwood tree. They usually grow to be really large, but have a short lifespan (approximately 30 years). Once we selected our tree, we had to dig a hole that was about twice the size of its roots.

Then we placed our tree inside the hole and surrounded it with soil, stopping just short of its collar (the bulge near the bottom) to prevent rotting. We also had to make sure we broke up the soil in order to avoid crushing the tree’s roots.

 

The next step was hilling: basically creating a little moat around the base of the tree to help it retain water. This was my favourite step: I felt like I was building a home for our tree!

Then we added a tree guard to keep all the rodents away (no snacking allowed).

And lastly, we gave the tree some water so it can start it’s new, happy existence.

We loved the experience so much that we decided to plant another tree before leaving the site. And to show our provincial pride, we planted Ontario’s official tree: the eastern white pine!

We had such a great day tree planting with our friends (new and old). Since 10, 000 Trees for the Rouge is a not-for-profit charitable organization, volunteers and donations are essential in helping them restore the wildlife habitat in the Rouge Valley. It felt great to get outside, meet new people and contribute to such great cause. Lets face it, without trees we wouldn’t be alive; they not only give us oxygen, but they also absorb all the crappy greenhouse gases we release into the air. Oh, and they just so happen to be silently woven into many of our fondest memories.