Help Turn Marblehead Green With Annual April Tree Planting

MARBLEHEAD, MA — Sustainable Marblehead is looking to turn the town a bit greener with the planting of more than two dozen trees over the next two weeks.

And the community environmental organization is looking for a little help in doing so.

Sustainable Marblehead will work with Tree Warden Jon Forbert to plant 25 bare root trees on Colgate, Dartmouth and Cornell streets. Bare root trees start on the smaller side but adjust more rapidly than larger trees and grow vigorously with regular maintenance.

The goal of these trees is to increase the town's cooling canopy and reduce heat islands in Marblehead.

Those looking to volunteer are encouraged to meet at the corner of Cornell and Dartmouth streets on April 29 at 8:30 a.m. Volunteers should bring their gardening gloves, a shovel or stiff broom and a willingness to learn.

Holes will have been dug, soil provided, and a watering truck with tree gators ready and waiting.

Volunteers can sign up here.

Marblehead tree planting campaigns date back about five decades after the Dutch Elm disease eliminated many shade trees in the town. The trees planted then are now starting to die off because of harsh urban conditions and planting sites that did not provide the requirements for mature root growth.

The root troubles have led to sidewalk and road upheavals in all town neighborhoods with Forbort now leading a multiyear maintenance plan to create an urban tree canopy that will not interfere with traffic, utilities or pedestrians.

Trees selected for planting reduce reflected heat from roads and parking areas as well as shade buildings in the summer months. Because urban trees have a shorter lifespan than rural trees, regular pruning, removing and re-planing are required to maintain a healthy canopy.

Go here for more about supporting Marblehead's tree initiatives.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)