Volunteers at a previous Harrisburg tree planting.
While many Harrisburg trees begin to shed their leaves for the season, the city will get busy planting new ones.
From Oct. 27 through 29, Harrisburg plans to plant 74 street trees in South Allison Hill and Uptown and needs the help of volunteers to do it.
The city conducts plantings each spring and fall, and according to city Forester Ellen Roane, autumn is a great time for new trees to go in the ground.
“In the fall, the weather is cooling off, but the ground is still warm, allowing roots to establish without worrying about the heat of summer coming on,” Roane said, in a statement. “The tree doesn’t have to push out leaves, so it can just focus on growing its roots.”
To help with the plantings, Harrisburg is calling on volunteers to join the city.
Volunteers will help plant 44 trees between the 2100- and 2400-blocks of Kensington Street in South Allison Hill, and 30 in parks at 4th and Dauphin streets and 4th and Emerald streets in Uptown.
Trees will be of 21 different varieties, such as the Amur Maackia, Japanese Tree Lilac, Redbud, Sargent Cherry, Accolade Cherry and Oak-Leaf Mountain Ash, among others. They will all be between 7 feet to 9 feet tall and are easy to handle, according to Roane.
Plantings will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day. Volunteers on Friday and Saturday will meet at the corner of Kensington and 22nd streets, and Sunday volunteers will meet at 4th & Dauphin Park, located at 1821 N. 4th St. Volunteers should arrive between 8:30 to 8:45 a.m.
Planting will happen, rain or shine, and hand tools, work gloves, water and snacks will be provided. Volunteers are invited to bring their own tools, as well as a refillable water bottle.
The city purchased the street trees using a grant from the Arbor Day Foundation, with additional funds from the United Parcel Service (UPS), which will send volunteers to help with planting on Oct. 27.
“Trees make the city of Harrisburg more beautiful and add so much to the quality of life in our city,” said Mayor Wanda Williams. “We are grateful to UPS and the Arbor Day Foundation for funding this project and to the many volunteers who give of their time to help plant the trees.”
Each spring and fall, Harrisburg plants trees in different areas of the city at no cost to residents. Since 2019, more than 500 trees have been planted as part of the program.
“Trees offer vast benefits for any community,” Roane said. “Thriving urban forests bolster human health, filter the air by removing pollution, and they also reduce runoff of sediment, pollutants, and organic matter into streams, improving our water quality. Trees have also been shown to reduce crime, lower stress levels, and develop community pride.”
To sign up to volunteer at the tree plantings or for more information, click here.
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