How to Plant a Treescape
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On Earth Day- April 22, 2006
over thirty neighbors and friends
 came out to plant  25 trees 
on Kenyon Street.  

We have lovely maple, cherry,
 crabapple, Ginko and Katsura trees
 gracing the block, thanks to Doug  and  the
 Knox Parks Foundation  
and their program: 
Trees for Hartford Neighborhoods!

The Knox Parks Foundation 
Street Tree Program:

• They provide the trees, the heavy equipment and the expertise (and some fine workers).  

• You turn out the neighbors to help.  Each owner gets to pick their trees and locations on the apron and front yard of their property.

By 2007, the Knox program has planted over 340 trees in 22 city blocks in Hartford's neighborhoods, parks and school grounds.

The Genesis:

Toni knows about the  program, and tells Victoria.   Victoria holds a dessert party to set the annual calendar.  Doug volunteers to organize the street tree project and passes out the tree list.  He works with Charmaine Craig from Knox to organize the whole thing.  We pick our varieties ( 24 choices)  and where we want them.  The spots are tweaked to avoid above and below ground utility lines.  It has been over thirty years since street trees were planted on our block.

---

The Big Day:
Earth Day- April 22, 2006,  9AM - 2 PM.

      
The trees are distributed and the equipment arrives (along with the coffee).  
9 AM, Jack Hale, Director of Knox, teaches everyone the essentials.   Charmaine has everything organized.

       With the Caterpillar, Ron digs the holes.

Some holes have to be dug by hand.

Dirt is shoveled out by hand to just the right width and depth for the root ball of the tree.  
The top of the ball is level with the soil.

Clip the twine from the branches.

Trolley the tree near its spot.   

...And roll the ball into the hole.

Once it's in the hole....Push it upright.

Clip the wire and tamp down the burlap.

Fill the hole with dirt while watering, adjusting the tree to make sure it's straight.

Wheel the mulch in.

Create a circle dam all around from the dirt and sod (placed upside down).  

Mulch with 3" - but not touching the trunk.

Everybody helps!  

....And has a good time.

Water 15 gallons a day for the first week, then once a month.

Enjoy your trees!

Thank you Knox and all your great staff and crew!
And thanks to all our neighbors, friends and family who worked so hard.
Next April ......the Kenyon Street Cherry Blossom Festival!

Tree Pruning and Maintenance

On May 5th, 2007, the first spring after we planted our trees, 
Ron, the arborist from the Knox Parks Foundation, 
returned to teach us how to care for our trees.

Click here to learn how:   Tree Pruning and Maintenance    

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