Tree Primer for Arbor Day

Trees aplenty will be available on Saturday, January 19th at Crawfordville’s Arbor Day celebration in Hudson Park. Between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., more than 1500 “baby” trees will be looking for new homes.

If you want a free tree but don’t know a maple from a magnolia, helpful information will be available at the festival. Each tree will have a label indicating its maximum height and preference for sun or shade. Pictures of various trees will be displayed inside the Pavilion.

{sidebar id=1}The volunteers working inside the tree give-away area will be able to answer questions and give advice. All are experienced gardeners or Master Gardeners. However, they also will be busy helping many people.

The Sarracenia Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society will have people at their booth that can make recommendations before you select your tree – and provide advice on how to care for your tree after you’ve obtained it. Stop by this booth for in-depth information.

Still it’s best to come to the tree giveaway with certain types of trees in mind. Be sure to identify back-up choices as well as a first choice.

If you want a large, shade tree – or to replace diseased and dying laurel oaks in your yard – choose the majestic white oak. If you’re looking for something evergreen, perhaps for screening, choose from among the southern magnolia, Walter vibernum, Dahoon holly, bald cypress, and longleaf pine.

If you want a small tree with beautiful flowers in the spring and colorful leaves in the fall, consider a redbud, rusty blackhaw, or dogwood. Choose one of these if you can plant it at the edge of a wood, in dappled sun, or in light shade. Understory trees don’t like to stand alone in a sunny, grass lawn.

The fringetree and Chickasaw plum are also small, flowering trees. Consider these for places with moist soil. If you have wet soil, head for the bald cypress or Dahoon holly. If you have dry, sandy soil and a lot of sun, consider a longleaf pine.

The eleven different trees mentioned above are being provided by the Iris Garden Club of Wakulla, the Concerned Citizens of Wakulla (CCOW), and the Florida Division of Forestry.

Additional varieties will be available in smaller quantities thanks to the generosity of local nurseries. For example, Native Nurseries will offer an interesting variety of 25 or more trees. Just Fruits and Exotics will give away 3 Mayhaw, 18 Crabapple, 20 Ginkgo, 31 Dogwood, and 7 Fringetrees. All free trees will be found inside or adjacent to the Pavilion.

For more information, please contact Lynn Artz (926-8756; lynn_artz@hotmail.com).

Photo Galley of Arbor Day Free Trees