This activity is great for all ages, with help. “Kids are thrilled to learn that the tree they plant can live hundreds or even a thousand years,” says Sean Fox, horticulturalist at The Arboretum at the University of Guelph, Ont.
You’ll need:
- one gallon pot holding a small native tree, such as sugar maple, white cedar, paper birch or tamarack (about $10 from a nursery)
- adult- and kid-sized shovels and gardening gloves
- large watering can
Directions:
- Dig a hole 2 to 3 times the diameter of the pot and deep enough to hold the soil and roots.
- Remove the tree from the pot and place it in the hole.
- Cover the roots with loose soil.
- Thoroughly soak the tree by emptying several large watering cans or using an irrigation soaker.
- For the first few years, water it well once a week if the weather is dry.
- Track your tree’s growth with regular photos.
Read more:
Earth Day: 17 eco-friendly celebrity parents
What are you doing to mark Earth Day?
FILED UNDER: Earth Day