Time for a Tree Check-Up

On Sunday, August 25, 2019, more than 50 WeLoveU volunteers showed that maintaining trees is as important as planting them. In a few hours, they checked 206 trees off Chilton Place in Myers Park in Charlotte, North Carolina. Planting trees is helpful to the environment and is certainly a practice that should continue. However, what is as important as planting them is ensuring they grow well. The WeLoveU volunteers worked hand-in-hand with the Mecklenburg Storm Water Services Lane Use and Environmental Services Agency.

The Scoop on Planting Trees

Planting trees is very beneficial. Due to constant rainfall, areas suffer from erosion. To prevent this, planting trees in those areas helps stabilize the creeks banks and creates a natural buffer to soak up storm water runoff instead of flooding. All of these factors then stop erosion from affecting the environment. In addition, trees improve air quality and provides shade to the waterways like a creek, which then provides a better environment for fish and insects inhabiting those spaces.

Tree Maintenance for Growing Trees

All fifty volunteers made their way to the location by 10 a.m. They saw the tree seedlings covered with tubes, which protects them from deer and provides moisture—an important component in the early stages of growth. Volunteers also noticed signs of choking from the weeds and branches wrapping around the tree seedlings.

For about two hours, volunteers pulled up weeds, cut off branches, and picked up trash around the area. On top of that, they provided extra support for trees to grow straight if they showed signs of bending.

The environmental agency was glad to welcome a large group of volunteers as there’s sometimes not enough hands. Tree maintenance after the initial planting of them is necessary as the volunteers experienced. A local news station stopped by the park and aired a broadcast about the volunteers’ efforts.

>> Watch local news broadcast of WeLoveU’s tree maintenance project