Plant a Tree That Will Last for Many Years

Plant a Tree That Will Last for Many Years

This time of year, in the U.S., many people are thinking about their gardens and getting their land ready for warmer weather.

Some people are thinking about planting flowers. Others want to plant trees.

For those who love trees, there is a national day for tree planting, called Arbor¹ Day. Arbor Day is observed on the last Friday in April. However, some states pick their own Arbor Day depending on their climate. The aim is to have the observance on the best day of the year to plant a tree.

When thinking about trees, remember that they will usually live many years longer than the people who plant them.

One gardening expert who spoke² to the Associated Press says it is important to make good choices today if you are considering planting trees for tomorrow.

Daniel Herms is an insect expert who centers his research on how trees respond to stress. He works³ for Davey Tree Expert Co., a landscaping business in the Midwestern state of Ohio. The company creates and cares for gardens, lawns⁴ and properties.

"Things are changing faster than the lifespan of trees," he said.

That means the weather and the kinds of insects that live in an area today – may be different in 20 or 30 years. However, many trees can live for 50 years or more.

That means people who plant trees today have to think about the results of their choices tomorrow.

Herms said some trees will thrive⁵ and some will not over the next 20 or 30 years "depending on the traits⁷ that make them adapt to the changing climate."

So, how do you choose a good tree?

One way to do it might be to choose the "state" tree where you live. However, Herms said, some state trees no longer thrive in their own states.

For example, the state trees of California are the very large redwoods and sequoias. They are two of the largest and tallest trees in the world.

However, the trees grew that way along the Northern California coast because of the moisture⁸ in the air that comes from the ocean. The wet air is called fog. Herms said there is less fog along the coast of California because of climate change. In the future, the sequoias and redwoods may not grow as well, he warned.

Other state trees are in the same situation. Herms said they could do well in other places, but they are not certain to live long lives in their "home" states. They include the blue spruce of Colorado, the Western white pine of Idaho, the Eastern white pine of Maine and West Virginia's sugar maple⁹.

But if you have a tree growing on your land that is now vulnerable¹⁰, Herms said it is not necessary to remove it. You just have to take care of it.

"In most cases, it can continue to grow...with a proactive healthcare program," Herms said. Proactive means making sure conditions are good for the growth and health of the tree. That includes giving the tree proper water if it is drier where you live today than when you planted the tree. In addition, you can add nutrients¹¹ to the soil to make sure the tree stays healthy. A trained arborist – a person who knows how to care for trees – can help.

People are concerned about keeping trees healthy not only because they look good when they grow. Trees produce oxygen, they provide shade and cooling during hot weather, and they reduce water runoff. Runoff is water that comes during storms that is not absorbed into the ground.

Herms said that trees also trap carbon, "so they can contribute to climate goals." In fact, trees need carbon dioxide to grow.

Even if you do not live in the U.S., you can still join in celebrating trees. If you are thinking of planting a tree this year, Herms suggests choosing a tree that will do well even if your area gets a little bit warmer as the tree grows. Check with a local college or university if you need some help finding¹² this information. If your city has an arboretum¹³, a place that grows and cares for trees, there is likely someone there who can help.

Here is some basic information about planting trees. First, dig a hole as deep and twice as large as the tree's root ball. Then add a generous amount of compost as extra material into the soil as you fill the hole. Water the tree for at least its first three years. Herms said young trees need at least 2.5 centimeters of water each week. That can come from rain or extra water you provide.

Words in This Story

stress –n. a state of tension¹⁴ or difficulty

thrive –v. to live well

trait⁶ –n. a quality that something has which makes it different from other things

adapt –v. to change to deal with new conditions or pressures

moisture –n. the amount of water present in something

vulnerable –adj. in danger of being hurt or damaged

absorb –v. to take in a liquid, such as water

root –n. the part of a plant or tree that is below the ground and that takes in nutrients from the soil

compost –n. organic material used to enrich soil and cover the ground for growing plants

1 arbor   

n.凉亭；树木

参考例句：

• They sat in the arbor and chatted over tea.他们坐在凉亭里，边喝茶边聊天。
• You may have heard of Arbor Day at school.你可能在学校里听过植树节。

2 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

3 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

4 lawns   

n.草地，草坪( lawn的名词复数 )；上等细棉布（或麻布）

参考例句：

• carefully tended lawns set in a girdle of trees 树木环绕、精心修整的草坪
• Every one was moving their lawns. 大家都在割自家草坪上的草。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 thrive   

v.兴旺，繁荣，茁壮成长

参考例句：

• These animals thrive on the leaves of certain trees.这些动物靠吃某些树的叶子长壮。
• This flowering plant will thrive and bloom wherever you plant it.这种花随便你种在哪儿都能活。

6 trait   

n.显著特点，特性

参考例句：

• Creativity is a human trait.创造力是人类的一种特性。
• Repose of manner is an estimable trait in a horse.神情镇定是一匹马可贵的特质。

7 traits   

n.人的个性，显著的特点，特征( trait的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• We do not know which behavioural traits are inherited and which acquired. 我们不知道哪些行为特征是遗传的，哪些是后天养成的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• His generosity is one of his good traits. 慷慨大方是他的好品质之一。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 moisture   

n.水分；降雨量；水气；湿气

参考例句：

• This tree drank up more moisture than that one.这棵树吸收的水分比那棵树多。
• The moisture in the air makes it humid today.今天空气中水气大，天气很潮湿。

9 maple   

n.槭树，枫树，槭木

参考例句：

• Maple sugar is made from the sap of maple trees.枫糖是由枫树的树液制成的。
• The maple leaves are tinge with autumn red.枫叶染上了秋天的红色。

10 vulnerable   

adj.易受伤的，脆弱的，易受攻击的

参考例句：

• He volunteered to protect her as she looked so vulnerable.她看上去很脆弱，他就主动去保护她。
• The company is in an economically vulnerable position.该公司目前经济状况不稳定。

11 nutrients   

n.（食品或化学品）营养物，营养品( nutrient的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a lack of essential nutrients 基本营养的缺乏
• Nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream. 营养素被吸收进血液。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 finding   

n.发现，发现物；调查的结果

参考例句：

• The finding makes some sense.该发现具有一定的意义。
• That's an encouraging finding.这是一个鼓舞人心的发现。

13 arboretum   

n.植物园

参考例句：

• We can go to the arboretum in the southern suburb.我们可以去南郊的植物园。
• The arboretum is full of exotic flowers and rare herbs.植物园里长满了各种奇花异草。

14 tension   

n.(紧张)状态；拉(绷)紧；张力，拉力

参考例句：

• I could feel the tension in the room. 我可以感觉到房间里的紧张气氛。
• Relaxaion is better than tension. 缓和比紧张好。