Re-Tree - The Case For Planting A Tree

When we moved into our new house last year, there was a great big Locust tree in our side yard. I love Locusts for their soft fluttery branches of tiny leaves. They are almost Fern-like, and turn a beautiful golden color in the fall, when they shower you with tiny golden leaves. Of course those millions of tiny leaves get EVERYWHERE... but that's another story!

Shortly after moving in, I noticed that a long stretch of the trunk of the tree was soft, going hollow and obviously being eaten by insects. We brought out a certified Arborist to take a look and let us know if there was hope of saving it, as I really loved that tree. Unfortunately, he told us that the poor tree was a victim of bad tree trimming years ago and that when large branches had been cut off, they were cut too close to the trunk in a way that did not allow the tree to heal properly. Those cuts had started to rot, and that rot was stretching down the entire trunk. He told us that soon, the poor tree would snap and fall... probably on our cars in the driveway, and maybe on the house. It was not what we were hoping to hear.

A few weeks later, we brought out a tree service who cut down that beautiful old tree, ground out the stump and most of the expansive roots, and we re-graded and re-seeded the spot where the tree once was. Since then, we've been thinking and planning just what kind of tree we'd put in to replace it, as it's my personal philosophy that if you cut down a tree, you MUST replace it. Also, I always make a point of planting a new tree at each home we live in.

As we spent the spring and summer months, letting the new grass grow in, I got an email alerting me to a great program in my area. The Cincinnati Parks Foundation Re-Leaf program https://www.cincinnatiparks.com/apply-now-for-your-free-tree-fall-releaf-2020/

gives free trees to homeowners in the city in an effort to add trees back in to the city landscape. I wasted no time in filling out an application, and was thrilled to get the notification that we had been selected to receive a tree. The tree we selected is an Eastern Redbud.

The Eastern Redbud is an ornamental tree that maxes out at about 15-20 feet tall (nowhere near my giant Locust tree) and is a good candidate for our side lot as it's somewhat close to the house. The Redbud in Spring is absolutely covered with vibrant pink-purple bloom and than leaves out with soft heart-shaped leaves.

We picked up and planted our tree last weekend, and made sure to NOT plant it exactly where the old tree was. Unless you plan to wait several years for any remaining wood chips (from the stump grinding) to decompose, you do not want to put your new tree in where the old tree was. The process of the old wood breaking down sucks all the nitrogen from the soil and makes it inhospitable for a new tree for several years. We picked a spot about 10 feet away, and made sure to give our tree some nice compost to get it settled in for the winter.

Here are the lessons I've learned from this experience:

1. Find an expert. Don't just trust a tree trimmer, work with a certified Arborist to evaluate the health and wellness of your trees.

2. Work with a professional tree trimmer who knows how to treat your trees right and won't cause more damage.

3. If you must cut down a tree... plant a tree! And even if you don't have to cut down a tree... plant a tree!

4. Don't plant your new tree in the same spot as the old tree if you've had the stump ground out and some wood chips remain in the soil.