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 Spring Issue 2023 Vol. 10, Issue 2
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Arbor Day Foundation Awards
Once again, West Lafayette has been awarded Tree City USA status – for the 32nd consecutive year! It takes a village, a community, to grow a thriving urban canopy. Thank you to all the volunteers, donors, partner organizations, and city staff for making this a reality. Started in 1976, Tree City USA is one of the Arbor Day Foundation’s oldest programs. To qualify, a community must meet the following criteria:
- Maintaining a tree board or department (WL Tree Friends)
- Having a community tree ordinance
- Spending at least $2 per capita on urban forestry
- Celebrating Arbor Day.
We also want to celebrate the West Lafayette School Corporation for becoming Indiana’s first Tree Campus K-12 award recipient! The Arbor Day Foundation began this initiative to encourage education about the importance of environmental stewardship and careers in the green industry. Special thanks for educator Andi Hipsher’s leadership in making this a reality for the West Lafayette School Corporation! To learn more about the program, visit: https://www.arborday.org/programs/tree-campus-k-12/about.cfm
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Celebrate Arbor Day 2023!
West Lafayette Tree Friends are excited to celebrate Arbor Day on Friday, April 28, from 11 am to noon. We will be planting 16 trees at the intersection of Cumberland Ave and US 231 along the multi-use trail. Join in on the celebration!
Parking will be available at Connection Point Church, located at 2541 Cumberland Ave, West Lafayette. This year, we are planting trees in honor of an individual who has done so much for West Lafayette. SHHH!! We are keeping the honoree a surprise! For questions, contact Bryce Patz, Community Forestry and Greenspace Planner at bpatz@westlafayette.in.gov.
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Planting Trees on your Own Property
Planting a tree is one of the most effective methods of counteracting climate change. That process seems straightforward, right? Dig a hole, place the tree in the hole, cover with dirt, and water. However, planting a tree correctly is critical for trees to grow healthy and strong. Here are some tips to correctly plant your tree for a healthy and bright tomorrow:
- Identify the right place. Consider where there are powerlines, underground utilities, or line of sight when leaving a driveway.
- Always call 811 to have all utilities marked before planting.
- Don’t dig too deep. Trees have structures called root flares, where the trunk of the tree “flares” out and expands to its roots. The base of the flare should be at ground level.
- If the tree is in a container prior to planting, make sure to cut out any roots that encircle the rest of the roots.
- When mulching, make sure to leave space between the trunk and mulch. Think “donuts,” not “volcanoes”!
- Water deeply. Make sure to saturate the soil once planted and mulched. For the first summer, water at least 5-10 gallons of water for every inch of tree caliper, every week.
For more tips to properly plant your next tree, check out resources like the WL Tree Manual, Purdue Forestry Extension, and the April 3,2023, article in the Indianapolis Star, “Are Indiana Homeowners planting trees the wrong way?”
Other resources available include:
Happy planting!
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Trees are Good Medicine
“Plant More Trees” is a motto of the West Lafayette Tree Friends, especially as we learn more about the enormous contributions of trees. In addition to their well-known benefits of reducing air pollution, carbon, and traffic noise, giving off oxygen and providing shade, new research reveals how important trees are to our health and longevity. As reported in the February 1 issue of The Guardian, increasing the tree canopy in Europe could significantly reduce the death rate during intense summer heat waves that Europe has recently experienced.
When an international team of researchers studied 93 European cities, they concluded that by increasing the tree canopies in these cities, there would be a decrease in temperature and heat-related deaths by one third. Similar health benefits of trees, as reported in The Washington Post on February 12, were evident in a U.S. Forest Service study in Portland, Oregon. They found that in neighborhoods where a nonprofit group had planted more trees, fewer people died. This is further evidence to support WL Tree Friends’ ongoing commitment to increase the urban forest.
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Spring Pruning
The kick-off for Spring Pruning 2023 is the Arbor Day event at 11:00 am on April 28 (see previous article on Arbor Day). Further pruning dates begin May 5 and finish 6 weeks later on June 9. Volunteers meet on Fridays at 9:00 and work until 11:00. We tackle the smaller and younger trees – larger and mature trees need professional equipment and expertise. It’s a lot of fun (coffee and doughnuts are often provided), and there are ways to help that do not involve working with any tools!
For more information click HERE. Call Bryce Patz, Community Forestry and Greenspace Planner with questions – 765-775-5170.
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Lillich Lectures: Developing an Urban Forest
On April 12, we hosted our first Lillich Lecture of 2023. Lillich Lectures began in 2018 to honor our founder, Helen Lillich, whose passion helped inspire and educate our community on the importance of trees and greenspace.
This year, we invited leaders of the green industry to speak on the theme "Developing an Urban Forest.” Kelly Murphy, of MKSK Studios, spoke about the upcoming Cason Family Park and its development of a new understory forest, future park amenities, and facilities. Aren Flint, of Davey Resource Group, gave an overview of West Lafayette’s comprehensive Community Forestry Management Plan. This policy document gives direction on street and park tree management, woodland management, staffing needs, and emergency storm preparedness. We also want to thank Davey Resource Group for being this year’s sponsor.
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West Lafayette Tree Friends Meetings
Everyone is welcome! Second Tuesday of every month at noon at Margerum City Hall. Check out the City's public meeting calendar or Contact Bryce Patz, Community Forestry and Greenspace Planner for more information at bpatz@westlafayette.in.gov!
- Tuesday, May 9, 2023
- Tuesday, June 13, 2023
- Tuesday, July 11, 2023
Arbor Day Celebration
Friday, April 28, at the intersection of Cumberland Ave and US 231 from 11:00 to noon. (See second article for details)!
Spring Pruning Sessions
Each Friday morning from 9:00-11:00 from May 5 through June 9. Everyone is welcome! On-site training is always offered. Click HERE for more details.
Community Events
10th Annual Earth Day Event
Join us on Saturday, April 29 from 9:00 am - noon for the 10th Annual Earth Event, hosted by The Russell Company, Reliable Insurance Solutions and Q106.7. This is a FREE event that is open to the community. West Lafayette Tree Friends will be in attendance to accept donations to plant more trees in West Lafayette! Click HERE for more details.
MindBOGling Event at the Celery Bog Nature Area
Saturday, May 20 from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm -The annual celebration of this nature preserve and its many offerings. For all ages.
WL Farmers Market
The WL Farmers Market begins May 5 through October from 3:30 pm - 7:00 pm. West Lafayette Tree Friends will have a booth on May 24 and September 27. Come visit us!
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In Closing...
“To plant trees is to give body and life to one’s dreams of a better world.”
Russell Sage
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Finally, a favor to ask. If you like this newsletter we send you, would you forward it to a few friends who perhaps don’t know about it? They can sign up to receive it themselves
right here. Thanks.
Find previous issues of Urban Leaves here.
Show your appreciation for someone with a Tribute Tree, and make a contribution to the health and beauty of West Lafayette. For more information
West Lafayette Tree Friends
222 N Chauncey Ave
West Lafayette, IN 47906
website / email us
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