Crimson Pride Page 3
The idea for Arbor Day originally came from, Nebraska. A visit to Nebraska today wouldn’t
disclose that the state was once a treeless plain. Yet it was the lack of trees there that led
to the founding of Arbor Day in the 1800s.
Among pioneers moving into the Nebraska Territory in 1854 was J. Sterling Morton from Detroit. He and his wife were nature lovers, and the home they established in Nebraska was quickly planted with trees, shrubs and flowers. On January 4. 1872. Morton first proposed a tree-planting holiday to be called ‘y” at a meeting
of the State Board of Agriculture. The date was set for April 10, 1872. Prizes were offered
to counties and individuals for planting properly the largest number of trees on that day.
It was estimated that more than one million trees were planted in Nebraska on the first Arbor Day.
Arbor Day was officially proclaimed by the young states Goy. Robert W. Fumas on
March 12, 1874, and the day itself was observed April 8, 1874, In 1885, Arbor Day was named
a legal holiday in Nebraska and April 22, Morton’s birthday, was selected as the date for its
permanent observance.
Today the most common date for the state observances is the last Friday in April, and several
U.S. presidents have proclaimed a national Arbor Day on that date. But a number of state
Arbor Days are at other times to coincide with the best tree-planting from February in the south
to May in the far north.
J. Sterling Morton was proud of the success of Arbor Day and noted, “Other holidays repose upon
the past. Arbor Day proposes for the future." He thought trees much superior to cold marble as a
memorial to persons or events. How much more enduring are the animate trees of our own
planting, he said. Although celebrated for many years prior, legislation passed in 1953 established
the official observance of Arbor Day in Ohio as the last Friday in April.
And by the way, Proper Pruning Costs Less In The Long Run...
Topping a tree is bad for its health, but did you know it also causes you to work much harder at maintaining that tree’s excessive growth” This could be costly.
- Topping is defined as severely cutting back or removing large branches in a mature tree.
- Some individuals believe that topping a tree will reduce the amount of time and money spent on tree care and maintenance.
Let’s look at the facts
When large branches are cut back indiscriminately, a tree responds by quickly growing many branch shoots in order to replace the lost leaf surface(a tree’s food supply).
- The dense, bushy re-growth is very weakly attached to the main stem of the tree and grows so quickly that branches often regain the original height of the tree in just two to three years.
- As the shoots grow larger they increase in weight and must be pruned frequently in order to avoid potentially hazardous branch failures.
- The need for maintenance is increased - not decreased - and that means more of your time and money.
Expense of Tree Topping
The actual cost of topping is only the initial bill. Further expenses are incurred because:
- The tree needs maintenance more often.
- Poorly attached branches break off (possibly damaging something else),
- The tree will die prematurely and will need to be removed and replaced.
- Property values are reduced.
- Liability is increased.
- Research has shown that proper pruning techniques work with the trees biology, not against it.
- Remember the old saying. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Think before you plant.
- Research the maintenance requirements before you select the perfect tree for your yard.
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