Written by Claire Lane

A group of concerned citizens has united to promote the preservation of the tree canopy in Carmel and beyond.  

In summer of 2022 a group of 10 individuals came together to discuss how to save a mature wooded area in our neighborhood.  We felt leaving mature trees was an important way to fight warming of the planet and to avoid unwanted environmental effects in our neighborhood, e.g., increases in noise, air pollution and traffic congestion.  Other people (in and outside our neighborhood) joined our effort to help defeat the developer’s proposal.  

The proposal was to build 33 condos on a parcel of 2.59 wooded acres that had never been developed. The buildings planned numbered 10-11 and were 3-story--a venture clearly not compatible with a neighborhood of mainly 1-story homes. The developer’s required “green space” was realistically non-existent as was the buffer between the development and adjacent homes. The development would have required a zoning change from “residential” to “mixed use,” and would have destroyed the woods.  The grassroots movement stopped what we considered to be an unwanted invasion in our neighborhood and helped, we believed in a small way, to stall the heating of the planet.  The initial movement continues as SAVE The TREE CANOPY, Ltd.  

We are now seeking members, and offering a choice of different levels of membership.  Our group does indeed focus locally; however, we encourage all like-minded people to join our cause and make their feelings known.  Our signs and stickers can be used in any area.  Many effective non-profits began with a small group of volunteers who wanted to make a difference in a cause about which they were passionate, e.g., Greenpeace, National Resources Defense Council, and World Wildlife Fund.  We ask you to join and work with us in your local area, or in connection with any wooded area that needs protection, wherever that might be.  We are happy to share any or all of the activities we chose to use to defeat the destruction of our neighborhood’s mature trees.  

​If you want to see the wooded area saved by grassroots volunteers, check out 96th Street between Haverstick Road and Wild Cherry Lane in Carmel, IN 46280.

Learn more about their efforts at their website: https://www.savethetreecanopy.org/

Written by Mark McCauley
​
Do trees and other plants get thirsty in the winter?  Well, it depends on the weather conditions, but generally yes, especially newly planted trees. Older established trees have a more extensive root system and are more resilient to dry winters. Since we recently had a tree sale this past fall, I will concentrate on “new” trees as opposed to older established trees, however even older trees can experience winter drought issues. 

Although trees go dormant during winter months, their root systems still need adequate moisture and can suffer from lack of it. Regarding evergreen trees, which keep their needles throughout the winter, watering can be even more important, as they lose moisture through their needles faster than deciduous trees, which lose their leaves in the fall.
​
So, when should you consider watering?  Well, you should water your newly planted trees on a regular basis up until freezing temperatures. Then also about 2 times per month during the winter if there is no snow cover on the ground or little precipitation.  It is also recommended that you water on days when the temperature is at least 40 degrees (with no snow or ice around the base of the tree) and do so in the morning so the tree roots have time to absorb the moisture before temperatures potentially drop back into the freezing range at night.  If it is a windy, dry winter, this is even more critical.  Trees that have experienced winter dryness may still look normal the next spring, but the damage may become apparent later in the summer with dieback of branches.

​Mulching with a good organic material will also help your new trees conserve moisture going into the winter, and weather the hard freezes better too.  However, keep in mind that mulch should not be piled up around the base of the tree like a small volcano, but more like a flat doughnut shape, leaving a “hole” (or space) around the base of the tree.  Stacking mulch up against the bark of the tree, which is meant to be above ground, can encourage disease and pest problems which can more easily enter the bark than the root system.

You may find it suitable to carry water to your trees, but a hose may be easier if you have access to it.  Laying a soaker hose around the base of the tree is also an option, but whatever hose you do use, remember to drain it and put it away, as frozen hoses are a pain to deal with.

So far this winter we have seemed to have quite a bit of moisture, so watering may not be a need in your location yet, but that could change quickly.  One method you could use to check soil moisture is to dig a small hole down at least 2 inches within the “dripline” (diameter of the crown spread) of the tree and feel the soil.  If is feels damp, the tree should be fine, but if it feels dry, then watering might be needed.
​
I know gray wintery days might not seem like the time to water, but if it is a dry ground, windy type of winter, it could be very important.  You invested time and money in your new trees, so be sure to take the necessary steps to protect that investment.