Get a Free Tree On Earth Day: Varieties, Care, and Planting Information
Every year, the Co-op celebrates Earth Day with a free tree giveaway. So come get yours Tuesday, April 22! For those of you who want to plant an entire forest, we see you, but one tree per customer, please. Coming from Bellingham-based Fourth Corner Nurseries, this year's varieties are Red Twig Dogwood, Mock Orange, and Bitter Cherry.
And! If you come in to shop with your reusable shopping bag, we’ll give you TWO Tokens for Tomorrow instead of one, to donate to one of these local non-profits: Skagit PFLAG, Sound Water Steward of Island County, Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland, and La Conner Community News.
Earth Day Trees
The Red Twig Dogwood, Mock Orange, and Bitter Cherry trees are all grown in the Northwest and are perfectly adapted to our region. Read on to learn how to care for your new tree with each tree’s sun, soil, and water requirements, as well as how big you can expect them to grow.
Red Twig Dogwood
Cornus sericea
Native location: Grows from Alaska to California (including British Columbia), east to the Great Plains, Great Lakes region, and northeastern North America. Allows grows on the Washington coast. Excellent plant for restoration purposes.Sun requirements: Full sun to mostly sunny.
Soil/Water Requirements: Moist, well-drained soil, including riparian zones. Does well planted along streambanks and shorelines, and other areas that are seasonally inundated with water.
Sun Requirements: Direct or partial sun, tolerates shade.
Size: Grows 8-20 feet tall; begins flowering at 3 feet tall.
Mock Orange
Philadelphus lewisii
Native location: Grows from Alaska to California (including British Columbia), and east to Idaho. This plant grows on both sides of the Cascades crest and at the coast in Washington. Consider planting along stream banks to prevent erosion.
Sun requirements: Mostly sunny or partial shade/sun. Tolerates full sun.
Soil/Water Requirements: Moist soil. Prefers nutrient-rich soils and mineral soils. Has excellent soil-binding qualities.
Size: Grows 15-18 feet tall, grows aggressively.
Bitter Cherry
Prunus emarginata
Native location: Grows from British Columbia to California, and east to the Rocky Mountains. This tree grows on both sides of the Cascades crest and at the coast in Washington. Common in moist forests, along streams, and in open areas.
Sun requirements: Full sun, mostly sunny.
Soil/Water Requirement: Can handle sandy, gravelly, and nutrient-rich soils.
Size: Grows up to 45 feet tall.
Care of Bare Root Trees
Our Earth Day trees are bare root, and have some important care instructions to consider between the time you get them at the Co-op and when you plant them. Here are some helpful tips from Fourth Corner Nurseries:
When storing bare-root plants, avoid exposing roots to the open air as it will dry them out.
Keep plants in a humid, well-ventilated cold storage area at 33-39 degrees F until planting. If cold storage is not available, remove packaging and heel plants into moist sawdust, straw, or soil.
Soaking roots prior to transplanting is recommended.
Planting Bare Root Trees
Before planting, soak the tree for 30-60 minutes in a 5-gallon bucket.
Dig a hole 2x as wide and 1x as deep as the roots. Water the holes before planting.
Place one plant in the hole and fill with enough soil to reach the top of the roots.
Water again to elimiate any air gaps.
If possible, mulch around the new plant. Make a mulch-donut, where the outside of the ring is thicker than in the middle—make sure to not pile mulch up on the stem.