Javion_Thomas_FEATURE RELEASE
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This document provides 12 steps for celebrating Arbor Day by planting trees in Tarrant County, Texas. It details each step of selecting, digging, planting, and caring for trees. Some key steps include choosing the right tree for your location, digging the hole twice as wide as the root ball, and watering newly planted trees for at least the first two years. The document aims to help local residents get involved in tree planting to honor Arbor Day and enhance the Trinity River corridor.
Javion_Thomas_FEATURE RELEASE
- 1. Javion Thomas FOR IMMEDIATE RESPONSE 254-744-2547 Javion.thomas@mavs.uta.edu Celebrate Arbor Day in 12 easy steps FORT WORTH, TX-- With the first of November just around the corner, thoughts are already turning the holiday season. While Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukah or Kwanzaa may already be on your radar, keep in mind that some lesser-known holidays are also observed in the fall. Get your shovel ready, because one of them is Arbor Day, which is celebrated each November in Texas. “Texas Arbor Day, which is a holiday dedicated to the planting of new trees, was first celebrated in Temple in 1889,” said Stacey Pierce, executive director of Streams & Valleys. “While there isn’t a specific set date for Arbor Day, and many communities celebrate it at other times, we mark the occasion locally each November.” And Streams & Valleys knows a thing or two about planting trees. The organization has added more than 8,000 new trees to the Trinity River corridor in the last 40 years. “A lot of people don’t know what Streams & Valleys is or does,” said Pierce. “We are a nonprofit that plans and coordinates recreation enhancements, beautification efforts and public recognition of the Trinity River and its tributaries in Fort Worth and Tarrant County. Once of the ways we do that is reforestation.” In honor of Arbor Day, Streams & Valleys has some helpful tips for Tarrant County residents who would like to dig in and plant their own tree. 1) Select the right tree for your location. Use a tree that will grow well in your part of the state and make sure it has plenty of room — vertically and horizontally — for the canopy and roots to grow. 2) Dig the hole at least twice as wide as the root ball. Dig a square hole no deeper than the root ball. This keeps the roots from settling to deep while still allowing them to penetrate the surrounding soil. 3) Fill the empty hole with water and check the drainage. If it takes longer than 24 hours to drain, select another site. A tree will die if its roots are underwater for long periods of time.
- 2. 4) Prune the tree sparingly and only if necessary. Remove only dead, broken and diseased branches and roots that are crushed and girdling, or growing around the main stem. Removing even a small portion of healthy canopy actually slows root growth and delays establishment. A thoughtfully selected tree shouldn’t need to be pruned. 5) Set the Tree Set the tree in the hole with the root collar (just above the roots) flush or slightly above natural grade. Planting too deep is a leading cause of mortality in newly planted trees. Don’t pick up the tree by the trunk. Always handle by the container or root ball. 6) Remove all foreign materials from the root ball. This includes wires, twine, cords, containers and non-biodegradable bags. If planting a tree with roots wrapped in burlap, remove as much of the burlap as possible. This allows water to seep in and the roots to grow out. 7) Fill the hole Gently fill the hole with the same soil that came out of the hole. Do not add soil amendments. Settle the soil with water. Packing the soil damages and breaks fine roots. 8) Stake the tree only if necessary. Consult a professional if staking is required. Stakes should not be left in place more than one year. 9) Mulch Mulch around the tree at least out to the drip line, two to three inches deep, and up to but not touching the trunk. Wood chips, pine bark, leaf litter and hay are great mulches. Mulching keeps soil temperature fairly steady and boosts soil moisture retention and keeps weeds at bay. Organic mulches add nutrients to the soil as they decompose. 10) Water the tree for at least the first two years, but don’t over water. A newly planted tree requires six to eight gallons of water for every diameter inch of trunk — per week. A thorough soaking is much better than light, frequent watering. 11) Protect the tree from animals and humans. Staking to the ground a wire-mesh cage at least three feet in diameter and four feet tall can keep deer and livestock from eating your tree. It also can safeguard your tree from weed wackers, which can easily kill your tree. 12) Do not fertilize the tree during the first growing season. Too much nitrogen will burn tender roots, slowing growth and delaying establishment. Streams and Valleys host several yearly events including, Trinity River Kayak Tours, Daffodil planting, and Project Bluebird Kickoff Party that raise awareness and benefit the Trinity River. To volunteer or donate, visit www.streamsandvalleys.org.
- 3. ABOUT STREAMS AND VALLEYS Streams & Valleys, a nonprofit, has worked to preserve and enhance the Trinity River corridor in Fort Worth for more than 40 years. The organization helps to build more hike/bike trails, promote outdoor recreational opportunities such as boating and fishing, beautify the corridor with tree and flower plantings, and improve neighborhood access to the river. ###
- 4. QUERY LETTER To Fort Worth Business Press Dear Mrs. Dillard: A recent study by the Kaufman Foundation concluded that the Dallas-Arlington-Fort Worth area is in the top 15 list of entrepreneurial growth within the last 10 years. The study analyzed 40 different cities around the U.S. and based on city sizes and the amount of entrepreneurial startup information found. In 2006 there was a steep decline in entrepreneurial businesses. In that time the DFW Metroplex declined about 15 percent but starting in 2011 the area has increased 30 percent of entrepreneurial startups, double the amount of decline. The article includes hard data about the decline and the rise of start up in the 15 cities including the DFW Metroplex. It also includes charts, and professional analysis from the author and other credible sources in the industry. This information will give your readers the hard data and visual to show how well the Metroplex area is among other cities. Are you interested in the article I have outlined? If so, please call me at (254) 744-3547. Sincerely, Javion Thomas