Earth Action: Plan Before You Plant a Tree

"Like Earth Day, Arbor Day arrives in April. But while both are symbolic reminders of our responsibility to the planet, the best time to plant a tree isn't spring at all-it's fall. Cooler weather and seasonal rains give young roots a chance to establish without the stress of summer heat. That small shift in timing can mean the difference between a tree thriving for decades or dying before it ever gets started."

"When they thrive, trees are unmatched allies in building healthier, more resilient communities. Urban forests in the United States store an estimated 700 million metric tonnes of carbon and continue to remove 22.8 million tonnes annually. But their impact extends far beyond carbon. Trees save lives. By shading neighborhoods and lowering ambient temperatures, urban tree cover helps prevent roughly 1,200 heat-related deaths in the U.S. every year."

Arbor Day falls in April, but fall provides the optimal planting window because cooler temperatures and seasonal rains let young roots establish without summer heat stress. Planning before planting increases the odds a tree will survive and deliver benefits. Trees provide ecosystem services including improved physical and mental health, stormwater filtration, pollutant removal, shade, and microclimate cooling that reduce urban heat. Urban forests in the United States store roughly 700 million metric tonnes of carbon and remove about 22.8 million tonnes annually. Urban tree cover also helps prevent an estimated 1,200 heat-related deaths in the U.S. each year.

Read at Earth911