Libby celebrates Arbor Day with tree planning

The Libby Tree City USA board and the City of Libby are committed to continued management of its public trees.

In 2013 they were able to plant 52 deciduous trees, in a wide variety of species at Riverfront Park and on Mineral Avenue. Volunteers also helped to plant and net 170 ponderosa pine seedlings at Riverfront Park.

The City of Libby annually recognizes Arbor Day with the mayor’s proclamation and a planting effort on the last Friday of April.

This year’s celebration will occur at 4 p.m. on April 25 meeting at the corner of Lincoln Boulevard and Louisiana Avenue. The event will include planting five hardwood trees, four on Louisiana Avenue and one out in front of the Memorial Center.

The purchase of these trees was financed by a $750 state Department of Natural Resources and Conservation grant.

Libby is one of 3,400 towns that are part of the Tree City USA program that provides the framework for community forestry management for cities and towns across America.

Sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation, communities achieve Tree City USA status by meeting four core standards of sound urban forestry management: maintaining a tree board or department, having a community tree ordinance, spending at least $2 per capita on urban forestry and celebrating Arbor Day.

This year Libby celebrates 21 years as a Tree City USA member. To this  point, the city has added more than 600 trees to Libby’s urban forest for future generations to enjoy. These projects have been possible because of volunteers.

In the coming growing season, the tree board encourage folks to give some tender love and care to trees so that they can survive and thrive for the benefit of the community. Deep watering once a week, during the summer months, is essential for tree survival, especially for younger trees.

It is recommended that before applying herbicides to lawns, for killing broadleaf weeds, that folks carefully read the product’s specifications and consider seeking professional assistance, as chemical damage to trees is becoming more common.

The tree board is still interested in having some new volunteers join our group. Volunteers don’t have to be a professional, but should be a resident of the city and have an interest in city beautification through tree planting and maintenance.

For information on Libby’s tree ordinance or the management of the city trees, please contact Jim Hammons, Supervisor of City Services at 293-2731.

Members of the tree board are Russ Gautreaux, April Rainey, Gary Huntsberger and Dave Friedman.