April
Sturbridge will be presented with its 18th consecutive Tree City USA Designation and its 10th growth award from the National Arbor Day Foundation in an award ceremony on April 12th.
Be caucus of our 5th season, Mud Season; don’t be too anxious to get out on the lawns and in your garden until the soil has a chance to dry out. Damage to fine roots and soil compaction will occur.
April is Arbor Day in Massachusetts, usually celebrated on the last Friday in April. This year in Sturbridge there will be several events held. A tree planting and dedication of the Rotary centennial park at the corner of Cedar St and US Rt 20. and a tree planting and Arbor Day program at Burgess Elementary School at 1 PM, both of Friday April 27th. Also all students at Burgess will receive a tree seedling to plant. Details will be listed on the Town Website shortly. If your community does not celebrate Arbor Day contact your community’s tree warden and find out why, but more importantly, offer to help and get involved!
Speaking of Arbor Day, Planting the right tree in the right place is the golden rule! Take time to learn about the various tree species and their growth requirements then match your planting site to the needs of the tree before you plant it in your yard.
Once your yard has dried up and all frost is gone, now is the time to vigorously rake your lawn and apply lime, preferably a dolominic type. You can also overseed those areas where needed.
Rake out the mulched beds also. Breaking up and loosening the mulch will help make the mulch do its job better, and remember, do not over mulch! 3-4 inches of mulch is proper, more than that will encourage fungi and mold to develop and harm your plantings. And finally NO MULCH VOLCANOS! Mounding mulch around the woody stem plants will cause fungi damage and eventual death. Mulch volcanoes also provide an excellent place for mice and rodents to live, and as a food source, will eat off the bark of woody stem plants causing further damage.