Caring for the Environment

Caring for

Caring for the Environment

IN WHEAT RIDGE

By Andrew McDonald, Forestry & Open Space Supervisor, City of Wheat Ridge

The Wheat Ridge Forestry Department has continued it’s large-scale Tree Planting Program in spring of 2022, planting 150 new trees throughout the city. Residents will notice freshly planted young trees of many different varieties around Wheat Ridge parks, and up and down city streets. Tree species and varieties are carefully selected by the Forestry team for their physical attributes, such as fall color, but also for their growth characteristics, such as drought resistance and fruit production. Young trees are grown in local nurseries, in special air pots for the first several years of their lives. Once a site has been selected for planting, the soil is amended with compost, and a special dried formula of mycorrhizal fungi, which grows on tree roots and is essential for nutrient uptake. The Forestry team also maintains large, deep mulch rings around young trees to help retain moisture and assist in the development of “soil biology” around the growing tree root systems. Of course, young trees also need lots of water! Wheat Ridge Forestry staff will be busy watering trees throughout the summer. Some trees are watered by irrigation systems, however many are hand watered by staff and volunteers through the City’s Tree Steward Program. Each new tree is hand watered for at least it’s first three growing seasons. This year, Wheat Ridge celebrated their 42nd year as a Tree City USA! This is a national distinction as a city that prioritizes a healthy urban forest. A major reason for this accreditation is the City’s commitment to planting more trees then are lost each year. A heathy city tree population results in cleaner air, water, and countless other benefits. With this in mind, the City of Wheat Ridge aims to plant at least as many trees each year as years of Tree City USA designation, a goal which was far surpassed this year. Many of the new trees this year were planted by volunteers within the community! In addition to a highly trained Forestry team, City of Wheat Ridge relies on a strong community outreach program and marketing division who work tirelessly to organize volunteer events, such as tree plantings.

This year, Wheat Ridge celebrated their FORTY-SECOND year as a Tree City USA! This is a national distinction as a city that prioritizes a healthy urban forest.