Trees in Town

Jean Cossey and Teresa Wonder of the Carey Tree Commission will speak at The Link on Sunday July 19 at 7:00pm. They will discuss the many benefits of trees in residential areas, as well as tips on planting and caring for trees. The event will also introduce Carey Link’s new tree giveaway program for village residents. Free pizza will be provided before the talk for all who attend.
Cossey and Wonder became involved in the village’s tree commission in recent years, helping to regain the Arbor Day’s “Tree City USA” designation for Carey. The two have attended numerous classes and online seminars on topics such as tree biology, urban forestry, planting design, planting and pruning technique, and more. They will draw upon this education for their talk at The Link.
Wonder will share details about the many benefits of urban tree cover. Some are more well known, such as trees’ ability to clean air, provide habitat for animals, and make communities more attractive. Some tree benefits are more surprising, such as improving property values, increasing the mental health of residents, and even reducing crime. She’ll also talk about proper tree selection and placement around the home.
Cossey will speak about proper technique for tree planting and care. Proper technique is critical to ensure trees establish well and live a long healthy life. Failure to plant and care for trees properly can lead to disease, premature death, and other problems.
In order to help increase the tree canopy in Carey, Carey Link is partnering with tree commission members to give away trees and planting resources to village residents. The trees will be given away this fall, and a planting demonstration will be held October 24 for both the recipients and anyone interested in learning. Applications for the tree giveaway will be available at the July 19 talk, and are accessible at the following link:
forms.gle/mN52vwh2ABJoGP3n7
Cossey hopes to see residents participate in the talk and in the tree giveaway, “The tree commission is very limited in how many trees they can plant….So the canopy of the town would be helped so much if people put trees in their yards and take care of them.”