City plans Tree Week to help replace trees lost in summer storms

Fall is the perfect season to tailgate, play outdoor sports and even study for midterms.

And according to Nebraska Sen. Danielle Conrad, "fall is a good time to plant trees."

Conrad works with the Lincoln Parks Foundation, which is part of a coalition of public and private organizations putting on a week-long event called Tree Week in Lincoln. With a reception and tree planting demonstration Tuesday and a tree planting event on Saturday, Tree Week is part of an effort on behalf of Lincoln Parks & Recreation, Finke Gardens and Lincoln Parks Foundation to recover from the storm damage over the past summer.

Conrad said these storms had a significant impact on core neighborhoods and especially on trees in those neighborhoods. As a result, Conrad said "We (the three organizations) got together to try to figure out how to replant the trees."

However, replanting trees isn't as easy as it sounds. Conrad said the recent budget cuts prevented tree-planting programs from rebuilding the urban forest. So far, only one in five public trees are being replaced, she said.

This is where Tree Week comes in.

Luann Finke of Finke Gardens and Nursery said the purpose of Tree Week is to recognize that tree-planting "is a community-wide effort and not just a city or individual effort."

Finke said that during Tree Week, eligible participants would receive a $50 street tree voucher from the Lincoln Parks Department along with $50 from the Lincoln Parks Foundation. This would alleviate two-thirds of the cost of buying a new tree, Finke said.

In addition, Finke Gardens is offering free installation of these new trees, a service that can usually be as high as $75.

Conrad said tree planting can be more than just a time to restore the beauty of trees. She said is a good activity for individuals and groups to get involved in, and that tree planting has a lot of fun and positive aspects to it.

Conrad said it's all worth it because "you get to see the fruits of your labor."

jordanmartin@dailynebraskan.com

Guide to planting a tree during Tree Week

Lincoln Parks & Recreation launched Tree Week in an effort to restore the public forests in Lincoln that were damaged by summer storms. The city is offering special benefits to those who wish to plant a tree during the event happening Sept. 26 through Oct. 1 who live in neighborhoods affected by storm damage. The department's website states that only one in five removed trees in the city have been replaced. Here's a step-by-step guide to cashing in on the benefits offered during Tree Week and to planting a tree.

1.    If planting on city property, obtain a no-fee permit from the Forestry department. Call Forestry with questions: 402-441-7035.

2.    Visit Lincoln Parks & Recreation department to see what trees work – they will assess what kind of tree is suitable for your area

3.    Take information to Finke Gardens and Nursery

4.    Get $100 toward a tree if eligible from Lincoln Parks & Recreation and the Lincoln Parks Foundation during Tree Week

5.    Get free planting service by Finke Gardens during month of October if done with money from Parks Department and the Parks Foundation