 |
Forestry
Leaflet 23
Posted December, 1998 |
The Meaning of Arbor Day
The first Arbor Day ceremonies took place over a hundred years ago on
the windswept prairies of the Nebraska Territory. Arbor Day became
a tradition through the work of one man - J. Sterling Morton, editor of
Nebraska's first newspaper and later U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.
Although Morton loved his home in
Nebraska, he missed the green forests of his native New York. He
found that Nebraska's high winds blew the soil away when he plowed
fields on the open prairie; so he decided to plant trees as
wind-breaks. Morton's successful tree-planting project encouraged
him to promote the idea throughout Nebraska, and on April 10, 1872,
Arbor Day became a state holiday. Over a million trees were
planted on that single day.
Morton's idea quickly caught on in the
rest of the United States. In 1883 the first Arbor Day school
celebrations were held in Cincinnati. Today Arbor Day is
celebrated in almost every state and U.S. territory as well as numerous
foreign countries.
| Because
ideal conditions for planting vary throughout the nation, Arbor
Day is celebrated at different times of the year, depending on the
climate of the state. An Arbor Day for the State of South
Carolina was created by legislation in 1934. We celebrate on
the first Friday in December because that is the time in South
Carolina when plants are dormant, there is plenty of rainfall, and
a tree's roots suffer less from the shock of transplanting.
The first Friday in December is a
time not only to celebrate Arbor Day in South Carolina but also to
think about the benefits planted trees can provide our homes,
schools, and institutions; our cities and towns; and of course our
forests. For every single tree we plant on Arbor Day,
millions more must be planted in South Carolina's forests to keep
up with the country's need for wood and wood products.
Arbor Day marks the beginning of
planting season in South Carolina. It is a holiday that
emphasizes the importance of all trees in our lives, whether they
grow in the city or in the forest. "Arbor Day,"
said J. Sterling Morton, "is not like other holidays.
Each of these reposes on the past, but Arbor Day preposes on the
future."
Planting and Caring for
Trees
Planting a tree on Arbor Day is taking the first step
toward assuring that it will thrive. Planting is most
successful if done during December, January, or February while
trees are dormant and new growth has not yet begun. When
hundreds of seedlings are planted on a forest site, either machine
planters or hand crews with dibbles make the planting job
faster. Basic principles apply, however, whether you are
planting one tree or one thousand trees. |
|
Trees...
- lend beauty to the South
Carolina landscape;
- cool us with the shade
from their branches and the moisture from their leaves;
- reduce air pollution;
- protect us from damaging
winds and water;
- provide food and homes for
birds and wild animals;
- camouflage harsh scenery
and soften angular cityscapes;
- filter noise;
- prevent soil erosion;
- mean about 30,000 jobs to
South Carolina; and
- provide more than 5,000
wood, paper, and chemical products.
|
|
Here are some basic guidelines for
planting (see Newly Planted Trees - Strategies for
Survival for more detailed instructions):
- Choose young, healthy seedlings or
saplings to plant - they stand a better chance of surviving.
- Select your planting site
carefully. Keep in mind that as your tree grows, the roots and
branches will spread; so allow adequate space for future
growth.
- Dig a hole at least twice the width,
but equal in depth to the size of the root system. Use
the original soil removed from the hole to refill around the root
system. Once filled, place mulch material such as pine bark,
dead leaves, or some other semi-decayed material over the soil
surface.
- Newly planted trees need regular
watering during the spring, summer, and fall of the first
year. Evergreens, because they retain their leaves, need to be
watered regularly in the winter too. Do not water every
day. Instead, give your tree a good soaking once a
week. Fertilizer is usually not need in the first year.
Your Arbor Day Program
Plan ahead for your Arbor Day program. Select a spot
where your tree will enhance the landscaping, and prepare the site for
planting. Invite the mayor and other community leaders interested
in beautification. You may want to read appropriate scripture or
poetry. School children can sing songs or recite compositions they
have written for Arbor Day. Invite a speaker - a Clemson Extension
agent, a Forestry Commission forester, or an arborist - to explain why
trees are important to South Carolina and how to care for them.
To help you with your program, the local
Clemson Extension or Forestry Commission office has a suggested lesson
plans, including ideas teachers may find useful in educating children in
the value of trees.
The First Friday in December -
South Carolina's Arbor Day!
Donald
L. Ham, Extension Forester and
Professor
Department
of Forest Resources
|