Celebrate Arbor Day on Friday by Planting a Tree

RALEIGH – The N.C. Division of Forest Resources is encouraging all North Carolinians to plant a tree on Friday, which is Arbor Day in the Tar Heel State.

Arbor Day is an opportunity to celebrate trees because they make communities better. Trees keep the air and water clean, provide shade, save energy, reduce carbon dioxide and look good. Trees also filter rainfall and reduce the amount of sediment and other pollutants entering waterways and drinking water sources.

Residents in North Carolina should consider planting native trees. Native plants typically require less maintenance because they are suited to the local soils and climate. Remember to plant trees in an appropriate and safe location. Before you plant a tree, know what it looks like at maturity and its site requirements such as height, crown spread and proximity to electrical wires and buildings. When planting a tree, the available planting space above and below ground is crucial to its survival.

The N.C. Division of Forest Resources collects seeds, grows and sells about 50 different native North Carolina tree species. This year, the agency collected the largest amount of seeds in its nursery program’s history with 77,265 pounds of seeds and 1,183 bushels of walnuts collected. You can order seedlings through the N.C. Division of Forest Resources online at http://dfr.nc.gov, by phone at (888) NC-TREES, at any division office, or from one of the agency’s free catalogs. The catalogs can be found at a county ranger’s office.

The division also will be celebrating with the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources at N.C. State University at the university’s Arbor Day Celebration from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. March 27 on the Raleigh campus. Events include a tree seedling give-away, a plant adoption center for youth as well as presentations from faculty and graduate students.

During the celebration at N.C. State University, this year’s 2010 N.C. Arbor Day Poster contest winner Adrian Dailey, a fifth grader from Village Christian Academy in Fayetteville, will receive a framed copy of her poster depicting this year’s theme “Trees are Terrific…and Energy Wise.” She also will receive a $250 savings bond donated by the N.C. Forestry Association. Her teacher, Julia Aber, will receive a framed copy of the poster and a $200 check from Duke Energy. The prizes will be awarded at noon. All the poster contest entries will be on display. For a schedule, please visit http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/forestry/arborday.

The official North Carolina Arbor Day is celebrated on the first Friday after March 15. National Arbor Day is on the last Friday in April. Municipalities may celebrate Arbor Day at different times, depending on the best time of the year to plant trees in that area.

To find out more about the benefits of trees, visit The International Society of Arboriculture Web site at www.treesaregood.com, or contact Leslie Moorman, the state’s Urban Forestry Program coordinator, at (919) 857-4842. For information on indigenous plants and trees, check out N.C. State University’s Web page "Going Native" at http://www.ncsu.edu/goingnative/index.html.