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District Tree Planting Contest Gets a Thousand Trees in the Ground in One Day
January 27, 2010
There is only one better way to honor Arbor Day than planting trees: Planting trees against the clock!
Teams raced to put more than 1,000 trees in the ground during the 2010 Regional Tree Planting Competition sponsored by the Harris County Flood Control District and the Houston Area Urban Forestry Council. The contest took place at the Mason Creek Stormwater Detention Basin near Porter and Franz roads.
Eleven teams competed in professional, amateur and youth categories to each plant 100 trees in a race against time at the stormwater detention basin excavated by the Flood Control District to reduce flooding risks from Mason Creek.
The winner in the professional category was Bio Landscape with a finish time of 19:07 minutes. The winner in the amateur category was the Florida Gators with a finish time of 1:21:04 hours. The winner in the youth category was Memorial High School with a finish time of 1:33:52 hours. Bio Landscape's time has qualified the team for a state competition.
Giving Back to the Environment... and the Community
"Planting trees is a way to give back to the environment. Having a competition just makes it more fun," said John Watson, an urban forester for the Flood Control District, which donated the trees and mulch for the event. "People love trees and nature and they like to be outside."
Saving Taxpayer Money with Trees
Trees that were planted were 5-gallon native species, including nuttall oak, bald cypress, loblolly pine, water oak and magnolia. They are grown at the Flood Control District's tree nursery in southeast Harris County. Once they mature, they will actually help reduce maintenance costs for the Flood Control District.
Thick canopies of trees slow the growth of grass and consequently reduce the need for frequent mowing. Their web-like root systems help reduce the risk of erosion by anchoring soil in place. Trees also discourage the spread of undesirable vegetation, improve air quality and aesthetics, and can even increase property values and energy conservation.
The event was co-sponsored by the Texas Urban Forestry Council, Texas Forest Service and AgriLIFE Extension of Texas A&M System.
Trees Louise!
Since 2001, the District has planted roughly 100,000 trees on project sites countywide. In fact, the District has planted so many trees it exhausted its local supply and had to launch its own tree nursery. There, the District currently growing about 6,600 trees, many of which are hard to find, including bald cypress and water tupelo - water-loving trees that can thrive in wet conditions. The tree nursery can accommodate more than 20,000 trees, if needed. Typically, the District plants native trees including loblolly pines, river birch, cherry laurels, sycamores and many types of oak.
> Learn more about the District's Tree Planting Program
> Learn more about the District's Vegetation Management Program
> Learn more about the District's Property Management Program
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