Help Denver grow greener

Carol O'Meara, Special To The Rocky

Published June 29, 2007 at midnight

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More dig!

"Tree by Tree, the Mile High Million" is Denver's ambitious plan to add a million trees in 20 years. People along the Front Range are digging in and planting those trees to help cool our urban landscape.

If your gangly sapling is one of the million, proper care this summer will ensure that it lives to a ripe old age. Once it's snug in the ground, what's the next step for helping healthy trees grow?

"Water them the first season even if you think they're xeric," says Sara Jungblut, 32, coordinator of the Million Tree Initiative. "You have to keep soil moist so roots that are lost when they are dug up will regrow."

But don't overwater them, especially if they're planted in the lawn, where they get water from sprinkler systems.

The best thing to do is buy a $5 moisture meter, Jungblut says, and use the meter often to check if the tree has enough water. Moisture meters are available at most garden centers and hardware stores.

Looking the tree over every few days is also an important step, says Jungblut, a certified arborist.

Watch for signs that the tree is struggling, such as droopy leaves or crispy, scorched leaf edges. Both indicate not enough water, but once the tree is hydrated properly the new leaves will be fine.

The Tree by Tree program launched April 19 when the first tree, an oak, was planted at Slavens school, 3000 S. Clayton St. It is being cared for by students and staffers.

"People from Longmont south to Castle Rock and Golden east to Bennett are planting trees for the initiative," she says.

Tree-care tips

• Mulch around the tree 1 to 4 inches deep, but don't let mulch touch the trunk.

• Watch for signs of insects and disease on the leaves, branches and trunk.

• Don't stake the tree unless it's in a windy spot. Protected trees usually don't need support.

• Don't fertilize during the first few growing seasons as fertilizers can burn tender new roots.

• To have your tree count toward the million, register online at greenprintdenver.org, or call 720-913-1311. Registrants have the option to receive a newsletter filled with tips for care of trees, plus alerts should a pest be targeting your type of tree.

Carol O'Meara, a local gardening expert, can be reached at omearacarol@comcast.net.

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