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Putnamville UMC giving away trees April 15
PUTNAMVILLE — Hundreds of free trees will be on offer from Putnamville United Methodist Church on the morning of Saturday, April 15.
Church members will be passing out 800 small trees beginning at 8 a.m. in front of the church door at intersection of U.S. 40 and State Road 243.
The types of trees were selected by church member and self-proclaimed “tree hugger” Lee Stewart.
“Having planted hundreds in my lifetime, I know what does well in our part of the county,” Stewart said. “These are trees that are not presently being eaten by the latest bug or affected by crop spray too much.”
Stewart selected mostly oaks, as they are slow growing and will withstand nature, with the exception of deer. The suggestion is to protect the trees for 10 years from deer, weed eaters, lawn mower and drought.
“I’ve found that three or four stout limbs are placed in the soft ground after you lovingly have planted the seedling, with the roots facing downward,” Stewart said. “Connect the sticks with binder twine or chicken wire.”
Among these are about 200 swamp oaks which, as the name implies, love wet spots. However, they also do well after the ground dries.
“They are tough. One does not easily break a branch,” Stewart said. “They put out leaves early and stay late. They make you wish to live long in order to see a big tree result. I think they are nearly deer resistant.
The selection will also include 100 tulip poplars, which grow quickly and don’t do as well in adverse conditions, “but qualify as our state tree because it looks good until it doesn’t — sort of like some of our state politicians,” Stewart said.
The limit is five trees per family, so Stewart advises to plant with care, hopefully with a youngster and “do it with love.”
The easiest parking is next door at Abundant Life Baptist Church, though that requires crossing SR 243 on foot.
“Trees are like a pet,” Stewart advised. “If you take care of them, they will reward you. Treat them poorly and they will just die from lack of love. Our state needs more trees, and you can make a small difference.”