Trees are for Kids!

By Maureen O’Brien | August 7, 2014

Young gardeners learn best by doing, and street trees could use their help! Here are some tree-rific tips to get started:

Prep: Scout your tree bed for anything hazardous that should first be removed by you.
Dress the part: It’s dirty work, so think fashion for scarecrows—gloves and old clothes.
De-trash: Together, collect garbage. See who can gather the most!
Weed hunt: Pull a few examples, then play the “match that weed” game until they’re all gone.
Rough and fluff: Have kids use a claw cultivator tool to gently scratch the surface of the soil. Drag, don’t dig.
Think bagel, not volcano: Spread a one- to two-inch layer of mulch over the bed, leaving an eight-inch “no mulch zone” around the base of the trunk.
Be a big drip: Use small watering cans or a bucket brigade (repurposed yogurt containers work well), to give the entire tree bed a nice, slow drink.
Choose care captains: Who will be in charge of keeping weeds and trash removed and making sure the trees get enough water each week from spring through fall?
Add green bling: Fall is a great time for small hands to plant small bulbs. In spring, plant small, colorful annuals like marigolds and begonias.

For more information on caring for our urban forest take a GreenBridge workshop and read Street Tree Bed Care: Give Trees a Chance.