Marianne's Response

What Type of Tree

Hello Marianne,
I am a teacher at Sunrise Elementary in Enumclaw and we have an outdoor learning area that has, unfortunately, not been used to the potential we had hoped it would be. I believe when this area was first created you may have been involved by answering questions for us and providing us your wisdom. Recently, a parent of students that attended Sunrise passed away. She helped a great deal in getting the outdoor learning area started. We would like to plant a tree in her memory. Which type of tree do you suggest would be best? The main problem we have is lack of water in the area. Many many small trees , flowers, and bushes have been planted in the past and they never grow due to lack of water. (I haven’t given up on the idea of rain barrels, but those are never in our budget.) Anyway, what type of tree could we plant in memory of this parent that would actually grow and honor her in years to come? Thank you so much for your time and expertise. Diane

Posted by Diane Dal Santo on February 12, 2021

Marianne's Response

What a lovely way to honor a gardening volunteer. Planting a tree and working with youth are both investments in a better future so thank you for that. In the Western Washington zone 7 region most trees will do fine without additional water but only if they are watered the first crucial summer when they are building a root system. This is why you may see plastic bags filled with water around newly planted street trees. Adding 5 gallons of extra water each week from August until October is a general rule for how much more water a newly planted tree will need the first summer. My favorite trees to suggest are the Japanese maples. They come in many sizes included the grafted low growing ones as well as those with spectacular fall color to welcome the kids back to school.   Varieties such as 'Blood Good', 'Autumn Moon' and 'Emperor' are much loved but you can also go with the varieties recommended at the local nurseries. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti

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