Spring tree-care events in April and May

By Andy Meeks

Over 37,000 native trees and shrubs were planted by volunteers in our Green Space Initiative program this season at 45 different planting and restoration projects. To honor and protect all of that hard work, we’re ready for the next step:  ensuring the viability and survival of those trees.

The plentiful rain (and sun!) in western Oregon in the spring create prime growing conditions for all sorts of vegetation—and not necessarily the beneficial kind. Invasive species that grow quickly and out-compete native vegetation—think English ivy, Himalayan blackberry and clematis, for example—also have negative benefits for soil retention, biodiversity and water quality.

We have four tree care-events coming in April and May!

We’re organizing four tree-care events on the next four Saturday mornings at planting sites from this season to help the new trees and shrubs get a fair start against this competition. These are maintenance-oriented events focused on mulching, tubing and, if necessary, invasives removal.  We’ll not only teach you how to remove invasive plant species by hand, but we’ll also teach native plant identification skills and various care techniques.

The events run from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon at the sites listed below. Please arrive by 8:45 am to register and enjoy hot coffee and breakfast treats. We’ll provide gloves, tools and guidance. Just dress appropriately for the weather.

We hope you can join us! If you have any questions or need more information, please don’t hesitate to contact Andy or Jenny in the Volunteer & Outreach Program at 503-595-0213.

If you’d like to learn about another important summer volunteering opportunity with us, please click HERE to read about our Summer Inspector Training.

— Meeks is the Volunteer & Outreach Program Manager with Friends of Trees.