Tree Adventure

Have you ever climbed a tree before?

If not, try climbing one this summer. If it is a fruit tree, you’ll enjoy harvesting some of its fruits. If it is just a plain tree, just stay up there and watch the birds fly and sing away.

What I used to do was bring with me a book to read; somehow the book turns out to be more interesting than when I read it under the branches. Put it in a backpack so your hands are free to grip the trunk and branches as you climb up.

Whichever way you wish to enjoy your first tree climbing, it will be one of the greatest adventures you’ve ever had.  How sure am I?

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Try asking those who have had the joy of climbing trees. Up there, the air seems fresher, the sky is closer, and the view is more awesome than what you normally see at eye level.

When the branches where you are perched on sway with the wind, you sway along, like being in a hammock, only better.

There are trees to climb and enjoy today because years ago, your elders took time to plant them. Can you imagine a world without trees?

This reminds me of this Chinese proverb: “The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is now.”

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After climbing your first tree and all the tress you can climb right after, do the next best thing. Plant one—for others to enjoy years from now.  Get your friends, cousins, and siblings involved.

Schedule a day for your tree planting adventure. Bring along some drinking water and snacks in case you get hungry, and wear a hat to protect you from the sun.

If you’ve never planted a tree before, here are three things you need to consider:

1) Choose your tree.

2) Choose the place (your backyard or a friend’s maybe a good place to start).

3) Plant it the right way.

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What is the right way? Below are 10 easy suggestions. You may also ask an adult, who has planted trees before, for better guidance:

1. Pick a suitable shovel.

2.  Dig a hole – four to five times the width of the root ball to give room for the fresh roots to grow.

3.  Roughen the soil on the sides and bottom of your hole. This will make it easier for fresh roots to penetrate the soil.

4.  Remove the container gently and loosen the root ball.

5. Lower the tree seedling gently into the hole.

6. Separate the roots. Uncurl and straighten them with care. Don’t cover the trunk with soil.

7.  Make sure it’s standing. Look at it from a distance and see if it is standing straight.

8. Pack the soil. Use the heel of your foot or the handle end of the shovel to press down the soil firmly so the tree will be stable in the soil.

9. Water. You’ll need about 15 gallons of water.

10. Mulch. Cover the entire planting area with a three-to-four-inch layer of mulch (decaying leaves or other plant materials used for protecting the roots of plants and improving the soil).

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Plant a tree where you go for a summer vacation. Visit your tree as often as you can while you’re there and water it. You may also give it a special name. 

Next year, you’ll be surprised at how much it has grown. In a few years, younger kids would enjoy climbing it!

Visit my blog at www.leavesofgrace.blogspot.com or email me at [email protected].