Trees

I pledge to protect our water with trees.

I pledge to plant native trees on my property.

I pledge to proactively maintain my trees using best practices.

Maintaining trees on an ongoing basis and adopting best practices can help trees live longer and grow bigger, which means they can do an even better job of improving water quality in our streams and lakes. Need a couple of ideas for starters? 

DON’T top trees or use improper pruning techniques. Doing so can leave a tree more susceptible to disease and decay. It can also cause fast growth, making branches weak and more likely to break during storms and high winds.

DO mulch around a tree. This helps prevent damage from mowers, reduces weeds, and insulates the soil. But remember to keep the mulch pulled back 1” - 2” from the trunk to prevent rot. 

I pledge to manage my woodlot.

What does it all mean?

Hard surfaces like roads and roofs create enormous volumes of stormwater. A one acre parking lot, for example, amasses 27,000 gallons of stormwater with one inch of rain. That stormwater channels pollution to our waterways and creates flooding issues, and controlling it requires huge public investments in underground infrastructure. We can offset the impact using trees. Consider the mighty oak: a single mature specimen will intercept 40,000 gallons of rain every year. That’s more than an average swimming pool holds!

Protecting our water relies on actions like yours. Thank you!