We Planted 27 New Trees During Alamosa Arbor Week 2014

More than 40 volunteers helped plant 27 trees during Alamosa’s recent Arbor Week.  Alamosa Scouts from Troop 307 and their families, Alamosa City councilors, as well as citizen volunteers, planted 17 crabapples of four varieties under the power lines just south of the Sunset Park ball fields along 8th Street just east of Highway 285.  Crabapples tend to do well in Alamosa – the goal is to start showcasing new varieties.

Above: 17 crabapples of four varieties grace the south end of Sunset Park. The trees should not interfere with the power lines. The project was partially funded through a Xcel Energy Foundation/Colorado Tree Coalition grant.

Right: Tree Board members Audrey Liu and Adam Moore join Alamosa Mayor Josef Lucero in backfilling a shade tree in the new section of the Alamosa Cemetery.

The crabapples replaced the Russian Olive trees that were interfering with the power lines and are on the noxious weed B list for Colorado. The goal for B list species is to stop their spread. Also, they can’t be sold in the state. The project was partially funded through an Xcel Energy Foundation/Colorado Tree Coalition grant obtained by the Alamosa Tree Board and the Alamosa Department of Parks and Recreation (ADPR).

 

 

Br..............  It was a chilly, windy morning when the first of 10 shade trees of five species were planted in the new section of the Alamosa Cemetery. Alamosa Mayor Josef Lucero, Tree Board members Audrey Liu and Adam Moore, Keith Luttrell, ADPR Director Heinz Bergann, and ADPR Crew Jeremy Arellano, Dennis DeHerrera, Danny Espinoza, Danny Govea, and Roman Cisneros, all helped.

Above: It took heavy equipment to place the three-inch caliper trees in the holes. The Alamosa Department Parks and Recreation crew removed any wire and burlap before planting to allow new roots to take hold.

Right: City Councilors Jan Vigil and Michael Stefano put their back into planting crabapple trees south of Sunset Park.

Trees were large, three-inch caliper, so the City Crew dug the holes and placed the trees using heavy equipment.  Volunteers straightened the trees, back filled the holes, and created basins to hold water. The trees will be protected for the first few years with wire fences and mulch. Cemetery trees will be staked for the first year as they are in a windy location. Stakes need to be removed after that so the trees develop roots to stand on their own. Visit AlamosaTrees.net to see specific tree names.

The trees will have plaques indicating tree type, year planted, and funding source.  This will help Alamosans see which trees thrive in our environment. Take a walk along 8th Street or the southeast section of the cemetery to view our new trees.

Above: Scouts of Troop 307 and siblings helped plant 17 crabapple trees along the south side of of the Sunset Park ball fields along 8th Street just east of Highway 285. Alamosa is a Tree City USA for the 24th year.

Right: Scouts Gabriel and Dakota Hansen, and their father Logan, display the sign indicating the project was supported by a grant from Xcel Energy Foundation and the Colorado Tree Coalition.

Sponsors 2014