OSU Extension in Paulding County to host FREE tree diagnostic & tree pruning workshop
Do you need help identifying problems with your trees? Would you like to know how to correctly prune your trees? The Ohio State University Extension Office in Paulding County and the Master Gardener Volunteers will be hosting a FREE tree diagnostic, tree evaluation and tree pruning workshop on October 16, 2014.
OSU Extension Educator in Agriculture and Natural Resources, Sarah Noggle feels this workshop would benefit Paulding County residents. “Over the spring and summer, our office has fielded many questions about trees – anything from planting, variety choices, diagnosing problems, insect damage to correct pruning techniques with trees. I am hoping by offering this workshop, we have a chance to educate our residents and give the community a chance to ensure the longevity of the trees in the area,” stated Noggle.
According to the National Arbor Day Foundation, trees are a valuable environmental, social, and economic benefit to our communities. In some cities, as many as four trees die or are removed for each new one added. And nationwide, each day 2,400 acres of rural land is absorbed for urban use and most of the trees on the land are not preserved. Surveys indicated that about 66-100 million spaces exist along our city streets where trees could be planted. This translates to the potential to absorb 33 million more tons of CO2 every year and at the same time save consumers $4 billion in energy costs.
Some of the main facts from the National Arbor Day Foundation show the extreme benefit of trees in our communities. Trees properly placed around a home can reduce air conditioning needs by 30% and save 20-30% in energy used for heating. One acre of trees absorbs six tons of carbon dioxide and puts out four tons of oxygen. This is enough to meet the annual needs of 18 people. Healthy, mature trees add an average of 10-15 percent to a property’s value. One shade tree can intercept 760-4,000 gallons of rainfall in its crown (leafy top) annually, depending on species. This reduces runoff of polluted storm water and can affect the size of drainpipes and retention ponds needed in new developments saving money for the community. Hospital patients have been shown to recover from surgery more quickly and require less pain medication when their room had a window that provided a view of trees. Living in a home surrounded by woods, meadows, or other natural setting can increase the attention capacities of children and generally improve their mental health. The net cooling effect of a young, healthy tree is equivalent to ten room sized air conditioners operating 20 hours a day. Nationally, the 60+ million street trees have an average value of $525 per tree each year.
“This workshop is for everyone. Trees are such a valuable part of our communities. The workshop hopes to ensure the proper care of the already established trees in Paulding County. This workshop can benefit our homeowners, business owners, landscaping companies and even the grounds keepers at all the local businesses,” said Noggle.
The workshop will begin at 8:30 a.m. with registration at The Ohio State University Extension Office in Paulding County, 503 Fairground Drive, Paulding, Ohio, 45879. The sessions will be as follows:
Session 1:
9:00 a.m. – OSU Extension Educator, Curtis Young – Tree Diagnostic & Evaluation
9:45 a.m. – Question and Answer with Curtis Young
Session 2:
10:00 a.m. – OSU Extension Horticulture Educator, Tim Malinich – Tree Pruning
10:45 a.m. – Question and Answer with Tim Malinich
11:00 a.m. – Dismiss for Home
Please dress for the outdoors as portions of the program may be outside. Handouts from the event will be available in email form or for a low cost price. Even though the workshop is FREE, space is limited to 150 registrations. RSVP is required by October 14. If we have room we will offer on-site registration. One can register by calling (419)399-8225 or by emailing Sarah Noggle at noggle.17@osu.edu. Registration forms are also available online at http://paulding.osu.edu under the Agriculture and Natural Resources tab.
“I hope our Paulding County and surrounding county residents take advantage of this event. If we see success with this event, I hope to offer more events like this next year. OSU Extension has a hand in creating Better Lives and Stronger Communities through these types of backyard and community gardening type workshops. Paulding County needs our trees so let’s just help keep them alive!” said Noggle.
