Information for the citizens

WHY PLANT A TREE (the services that trees bring to us)

Here are some reasons to plant a tree and benefits we get from it:

- to free oxygen	- to distil water
- to capture carbon dioxide	- to fix nitrogen and make the ground fertile
- to reduce heat when hot	- to get fruits and flowers
- to filter out pollution and dust	- to reduce noise
- to act as a barrier to the wind and rain	- to mitigate the excesses of climate
- to create microclimates	- to be habitat and help ecological balance

These are some of the environmental services provided by trees. Others reasons may be the wellbeing of the community and of future generations, as well as a series of aesthetic, cultural, romantic and philosophical reasons.

The main reason however is that the tree is the most effective and less expensive way to increase the benefits that nature gives to us; at the same time it reduces some damages we cause to the environment, mainly the emission of carbon dioxide. Moreover trees provide grace and beauty to the landscape (urban or not), bring joy to our lives and have a long-lasting value.

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DEDICATE A TREE TO ...

For a child’s birth, a happy event, as a gift for an anniversary, or just to increase the environmental benefits for us, the community or philanthropy and the world. The reasons may be the most different and personals.

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CHOOSING A TREE



This is a subjective choice that can depend on the shape of the tree, or its leaves, its name or because a tree brings a memory to us, or simply because we like it.
What really matters is that the tree has to be suitable to the place it is going to stay (the so-called native trees) to be able to grow healthily in the ground it is planted. Beauty is in every tree, but they all have different needs to grow and live. Any given country has a variety of atmospheric conditions (temperature, wind, rain, etc..) to which the plants have adapted over the millennia. Fortunately, many plants are suitable in each zone, we are spoiled for choice.

If you are not sure about the right choice, it is better to ask for some advice from friends, experts or environmental groups. In some cases, the municipality can prepare a list of preferred species depending on the characteristics of the territory. Eventually ask your town council.

Regarding the age of the trees, they should not be too young or small, as they might not be robust enough. Here again, ask for advice: it can be useful to find the right balance between our preference and a good environmental choice.

Generally speaking, you’d better choose a trees which does not require too much water to grow, and plants have a strong constitution, able to withstand the changes of the area in which they are planted.

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THINGS TO HAVE

Besides the tree, you have better provide yourself a bit 'of gravel or crushed stone to put on the bottom of the hole (see below for more information) where you lay down the plant, a bit of good-quality fertile soil, a little water can, some wooden supports to eventually anchor the plant and some rope to tie the plant to the supports. If not provided, you might bring a shovel, even a small one, and if you feel a pair of gardening gloves.

We might already have some of these things at home. Otherwise the best places to buy the tools (and the trees as well) are the garden centres.

Also trees grown for instance on your balcony that you can no longer keep as they got too big, can be used for this purpose. Remember to be careful when moving a tree as this is a cause of stress for the plant.

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HOW AND WHEN TO PLANT



In order to arrange the laying of the tree in the assigned spot, you should make a hole, larger than the volume of the roots (in both width and depth). Do this operation carefully, because it is very important: the point where the roots start from the trunk (this point is called the "collar," imagine as in the human body) should be at the same level of the ground surface. If you have bought the tree in a garden nursery, ask exactly how deep it should be planted.

Regarding the space between plants, we have to consider the tree’s future growth, the distance will depend on whether we have tall trees such as chestnuts, oaks, pines trees, or normal trees. For the first ones, we should calculate 3m (almost 10 feet), while 1.5m (almost 5 feet) for the others. In any case, a dedicated municipality office/person should organise the spaces taking into account these elements.

The best period of the year for planting trees is during the so called “vegetative rest period" that, for the trees with leaves is from September to March, while for the evergreens it goes from October to April. It is not advisable to plant trees during extreme cold or frost.

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RULES OF CONDUCT

Besides the respect for the other people’s trees, the golden guiding principle should be to let nature take its course. The trees are living organisms that grow without special treatment. They always have done so since they appeared on earth.

The entry modalities and behaviour within the garden (or any other space dedicated to the trees) has to be decided by the municipality and has to be respected. If you have special needs, tell your town, it is possible that other citizens like you, have your own very same needs.

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REQUEST TO YOUR TOWN HALL

Feel free to write a letter to you municipality, and letting know the gift-a-tree. Write to the mayor or even better to the town councillorship more related to this kind of initiative. Generally, it is the Environmental Office, or Common Heritage Office.

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