Adopt-A-Tree

 

What is the Adopt-A-Tree Program?

The Kalida Area Chamber of Commerce is interested in improving the quality of life for the people of our community. What better way than to promote tree planting in our public lawns! With your contribution of $50.00 per tree, the Chamber will pay the difference (at least 50% of the total cost), inspect the site prior to planting, and have the tree planted for you.

Who Qualifies?

All people within the Village of Kalida Corporation limits are eligible to Adopt-A-Tree.  The trees are designed for public tree lawns (the area between the road and sidewalk) and public road right-of-ways.

Tree Spacing Guidelines:

Small 4 foot tree lawn and at least 15 feet from the nearest tree.
Great for under overhead electric lines.
Medium 6 foot tree lawn and at least 25 feet from the nearest tree.
Large 8 foot tree lawn and at least 40 feet from the nearest tree.

All trees must be 10 feet from fire hydrants and streetlights, 8 feet from the curb cuts and street signs, and 35 feet from the corner curb of street intersections.  Trees can be planted in 20 feet from the edge of the road (trees must follow the road).

All trees are the property of the Village of Kalida.  Watering, mulching, and maintenance are the responsibility of the home owner.  For additional assistance or an application call the Adopt-A-Tree committee at 419-532-2001.

What Trees are Available?

SMALL TREES - Tatarian Maple (Acer tataricum)  Soft green leaves turn yellow in autumn sometimes with reddish tint.  Greenish-white flowers in summer. Slow to medium growth rate. 


Purple Prince Crabapple - (Malus)  Dark green leaves.   Rose colored flowers in spring.  Small, bluish-purple berries add fall/winter color.  Excellent for wide treelawns with overhead electric lines. 

Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry (Amelanchier) - Dark green lustrous leaves with white blossoms in the spring, turning brilliant orange to red in fall.


Amur Maple - (Acer ginnala) Slow growing tree with fragrant yellowish-white panicles then to small reddish brown fruit in summer.  Leaves turn variably yellow, orange or red in the fall.

 

MEDIUM TREES - Red Horschestnut (Aesculus parvifolia) Cousin to the beloved Ohio Buckeye!  Bright red upright flowers in summer.  Leaflets turn yellowish with buckeye-like seeds in the fall.  Fast growing.

State Maple (Acer miyabei) Dark green exquisite foliage with dark gray corky bark.  Leaves turn to somewhat of a yellow fall color.

Autumn Fantasy Maple (Acer x freemanii) - Broadly ovate with consistently orange-red leaves in the fall.

 

LARGE TREES - Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) Glossy green star shaped leaves in summer and brilliant shades of green, yellow, scarlet and purple in the fall.  Very popular tree because of it's fall color.  1-1 1/2 inch diameter spiny fruit capsules in the fall.

Tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera) - Grayish brown bark with bright green and orange tulip-shaped cone like flowers.  This tree has to mature for a few years before the tulip flowers appear.

Emerald Queen Maple (A.platanoides) Broadly ovate, dense and has rapid growth rate.  Leathery leaves that turn a better than usual yellow fall color


Baldcypress  (Taxodium distichum)  The tree trunk becomes buttressed and the bark is reddish or grayish brown and fibrous.  The growth rate is moderate to fast and has 1" needles that turn orange or pink to rusty-brown in the fall.  This does lose it's needles every year.

How do I care for my Young Trees?

 1.  Water - Watering is a single most important need of newly transplanted trees.  Once a week (if we don't get an inch of rain) is sufficient.  The best way to water trees is to make sure they get a deep, slow soaking. An easy way to do this is to punch two nail holes at the base of a 5 gallon bucket.  Place the bucket at the base of the tree and fill the bucket with water.  The water will trickle through the nail holes and you'll never forget to turn the hose off!

2.  Mulch - Mulch is very beneficial to trees.  It holds the water in the soil, reduces grass competition, and protects the tree trunk from lawnmower and weed eater damage.  Place 2-3 inches maximum of hardwood mulch around the tree to the edge of the branches.  Leave a couple of inches around the trunk of the tree free from mulch so that the tree doesn't feel like it is buried.  The mulch pile should look like a doughnut  not a large anthill.

3.  Monitor - Call the Chamber at 419-532-2001 if you see anything unusual with your new tree. Some things to look for are browning or discolored leaves, dead branches, broken branches, or anything else that just doesn't look right.

Why Plant Trees?

* Trees produce oxygen while cleaning our air and water.
* Trees are natural air-conditioners reducing cooling costs 25-50%.
* Trees increase property values 10-20%.
* Trees attract customers to local businesses.
* The presence of trees reduces human stress and decreases incidences of domestic violence.
* Trees produce a sense of rootedness and community.
* Trees are beautiful!

 Remember . . . . . Don't Top Trees!!