Source: Tree Pittsburgh
This summer, Tree Pittsburgh has been receiving help from a hard working SCA crew made up of high school students who have committed their summers to working outdoors and improving Pittsburgh’s green recreational infrastructure. 4 days out of the week this crew, many of whom come from Pittsburgh’s Beltzhoover neighborhood, have been working to build new trails in the forested slopes of South Side Park. And each Friday they have committed to helping Tree Pittsburgh maintain the new planting along the South Side Trail, where we planted over 400 new trees this past April.
The maintenance for this planting requires a great deal of work, as many of the new trees are small in size and therefore have increased susceptibility to competition from weeds. In addition, the intense drought that Pittsburgh experienced this past June was very stressful for these new trees, even causing some of them to drop their leaves.
Fortunately for Tree Pittsburgh and the new trees, this SCA crew provided a great boost to our maintenance abilities. Visiting once per week through July and August, we were able to water the trees and keep them all weeded. From week-to-week the difference was remarkable as trees that started out wilted or even brown from the drought sprung back with new vigor; some even pushing out an entirely new set of leaves!
We owe a great deal of thanks to this fantastic crew, and look forward to watching together as our new trees grow to maturity, providing shade as we enjoy the South Side Trail. Continue Reading.
