Support your local businesses

DECORAH -- City Forester Sam Hogenson and the Decorah Tree Board will be planting 25 trees around the City of Decorah in celebration of Arbor Day. Volunteers are welcomed and encouraged to help plant. "The more the merrier," Hogenson confirmed enthusiastically. "This is also an educational event, so we are hoping for a good turnout." Volunteers are asked to meet at 8:30 a.m. on April 27 at the Street Department, located on 108 Railroad Ave., for a planting and tree care demonstration hosted by Hogenson and the Decorah Tree Board. From there, attendees will before disperse to plant the trees. "The primary focus for our tree plantings has been to replace trees that have been removed due to emerald ash borer, disease, and storms," Hogenson said. "When possible, we will plant where there is a need for trees even if we did not remove any in that location. Planting locations will be throughout the City of Decorah. Certain areas do not qualify to be part of our grant, so the Decorah Tree Board will use its funding to ensure that we are still able to plant trees in those areas." This project is made possible through a grant received from the USDA Forest Service Urban & Community Forestry Program and the Arbor Day Foundation. "I learned about the grant while I was attending a conference," Hogenson said. "The grant was a part of the Inflation Reduction Act and totals $629,652. The National Arbor Day Foundation is working with the USDA Forest Service and the City as we implement our grant. Primarily, we have been working with the National Arbor Day Foundation and they have been incredibly helpful ensuring a smooth start as we get to work on our grant." Volunteers can look forward to learning about and planting various species of trees during this event. "We have learned how important diversity is after recently losing all of our ash trees to emerald ash borer, so we are offering a variety of species," Hogenson explained. "The species we will be planting include Blue beech, Ivory silk tree lilac, Autumn brilliance serviceberry, Valley Forge elm, Boulevard linden, Hackberry, Northern acclaim honeylocust, Bur oak, Swamp white oak and London planetree." Hogenson is excited to continue this Arbor Day tradition, especially considering Decorah's newly established Tree Cities of the World recognition. "We have been planting trees throughout the City of Decorah in celebration of Arbor Day for several years," he said. "Typically, we plant around 20 trees and we love it when volunteers join us for this celebration and all of our other plantings. This year, we are celebrating our 20th year as a Tree City USA, our sixth year receiving the Growth Award, and receiving for the first time [a] Tree Cities of the World recognition (all Arbor Day Foundation programs)." The City of Decorah is one of only 48 cities in the nation and 200 globally to receive Tree Cities of the World recognition. Upcoming planting days include Saturdays May 4 and May 11, also held at 8:30 a.m. Sign up to volunteer for any of the planting days here. For more information, please contact Sam Hogenson at 563 277-5153 or by email at: cityforester@decorah.iowa.gov

Support your local businesses

Green Thumbs-Up: Grant Allows for Arbor Day Planting