Quickly narrow down the potential species by learning to recognize the different bud arrangements.
Save time and money all while helping the environment by doing one thing this fall.
Early fall color can be an indicator that your tree is stressed.
“Willow Oaks are not a common sight this far north; we are fortunate to have several in our arboretum.”
“bring your dog and a tennis ball and enjoy your local dog park”
Tree spars like this provide important habitat and food to a plethora of native animals
Help Ohio defend its native biodiversity by removing honeysuckle in areas you have control over.
A properly mulched tree is a healthy tree and a healthy tree is more resilient to the inherent stressors urban trees face.
“I am 78 years old and I still smile at my tree… When I moved to Bexley 10 years ago, I wanted to plant a tree and never got around to it. When I saw the information on the Tree Give Away program I applied… I would never have gotten a tree if not for this plan. Thank you!” - Marcie O.
In the same way zoos play a vital role in educating the public about animals, their habitats, and preserving endangered species, arboretums are places where plants and trees can be protected and propagated to preserve the biological diversity of our planet and our communities. The City of Bexley, Ohio is fortunate enough to be recognized as an arboretum by The Morton Arboretum based in Chicago, IL – the first city in the United States to be designated as such.
Our responsibility as an “Arboretum City” is to, of course, maintain it. Each year, resident volunteers work with City leadership to help develop and implement a series of events to celebrate Arbor Day. Creative ideas come to life at the end of each April to help expand the community’s understanding of the Bexley Arboretum, why it exists, and how each of us play a role in helping it thrive. With grant money awarded by the Bexley Community Foundation, hundreds of trees have been given away to residents. 259 trees to be exact! Residents choose between three tree species, ranging in size, leaf spread, and color, and winners are chosen from a blind drawing. Though you can only enter once per year, residents can apply every year!
If you’re a Bexley resident and are interested in entering the raffle for a free tree, stay tuned to the City of Bexley, Ohio social media channels for instructions on entering! Raffles occur in April, with most of the trees being delivered on or by Arbor Day. The perfect way to celebrate our Arboretum City!
If you’re interested in exploring the Bexley Arboretum, check out the Tree Walks and Special Gems pages on this website. Happy Exploring!
Additional Comments from Tree Recipients:
Lisa B: “We received a beautiful tree last year. The Tree Give Away is a great program, and I love all the trees in Bexley and feel that’s what makes Bexley so unique and incredibly special.
Amanda H: “Our family loves the program, and we are grateful for it. It was a family event and learning experience about Bexley and its being an Arboretum for our 5.5-year-old and 2.5-year-old children.”
Judson D: “The tree is great! We planted it in the front yard. Would like to get another tree this year to replace a diseased pear tree in the backyard.”
Alex B: “This was amazing. We’ve won two trees! The red maple replaced a pear tree. My neighbors had a watering bag which kept the one tree hydrated over the summer. Cannot wait to see the trees this spring. Thank you, Bexley. We appreciate all you do.
When to Water
Newly planted trees or shrubs require more frequent watering than established trees and shrubs, until root systems establish. They should be watered at planting time and at these intervals:
1-2 weeks after planting, water daily.
3-12 weeks after planting, water every 2 to 3 days.
After 12 weeks, water weekly until roots are established.
How Long Does it Take for Tree and Shrub Roots to Establish?
Newly planted shrubs are considered established when their root spread equals the spread of the above-ground canopy.
Where to Water
Apply water directly over the root ball.
Be sure to keep the backfill soil in the planting hole moist. This encourages the roots to expand beyond the root ball into the backfill soil.
Tree roots grow approximately 18 inches per year, so expand the area being watered over time.
Create a water reservoir by making a circular mound of earth 3 to 4 inches high around the plant at the edge of the root ball.
Use a slow trickle of water to fill the reservoir to allow water to slowly infiltrate into and around the root ball.
Treegator® bags can also be used to provide a slow delivery of water over the root balls of establishing trees and shrubs.
How to Measure Tree Caliper
Establishment times for trees increases with tree size. Trunk caliper at planting time can be used to determine the time it takes for roots to establish.
Find the Caliper of Your Tree:
Measure the trunk diameter at 6 inches above the ground for diameters up to 4 inches.
If the diameter is more than 4 inches, measure at 12 inches above the ground.
How Much to Water
When watering newly planted trees, apply 1-1.5 gallons per inch of stem caliper at each watering (see table).
When watering newly planted shrubs, apply a volume of water that is 1/4 - 1/3 of the volume of the container that the shrub was purchased in.
As roots grow and spread, irrigation volume will need to be increased.
Mulching Trees and Shrubs Maximizes Water Uptake
When trees and shrubs are planted into turf, competition for nutrients, water, and space occurs below ground between turf roots and woody plant roots. Turf wins because its dense fibrous root system prevents woody plants from producing water and nutrient-absorbing roots in the top few inches of soil. As a result, woody plant establishment and growth is slower in turf areas than in mulched or bare soil areas.
To Optimize Root Production, Water Uptake, and Establishment of Newly Planted Trees and Shrubs:
Eliminate turf and weeds from the base of the plant out to several feet beyond the plant canopy.
Leave the top of the root ball bare and start the mulch application at the outer edge of the root ball.
Apply a 3-inch layer of organic mulch around newly planted trees and shrubs in a circle that extends several feet beyond the tree or shrub canopy.
Mulching around newly planted trees and shrubs with organic materials (wood chips, pine needles, etc.) has several advantages over bare soil cultivation.
Mulch:
Decreases water evaporation from soil.
Serves as a sponge that prevents runoff around plants growing in heavy clay soils or on sloped sites.
Helps to control seed germination and growth of weeds.
Insulates soil and buffers extreme summer and winter soil temperatures.
Reduces soil compaction from mowing equipment.
Prevents damage to stems and trunks by lawn mowers and weed cutters.
Improves soil health (increases microbial activity, nutrient-and water-holding capacity, soil pore spaces, and air penetration) as it decomposes.
Don't Add More Than a 3-inch Layer of Mulch! Deep Mulch Applications May Result In:
Prevent movement of rain or irrigation water into the root ball of newly planted trees and shrubs. This can result in roots drying up and plant stress.
Lead to root production and growth in the mulch. This often results in circling and stem-girdling roots.
Reduce oxygen levels around roots and cause root suffocation.
Keep poorly drained soils too wet, which favors root rot development.
Keep bark excessively wet when piled around trunks and stems. This may lead to bark decay.
Create habitat for rodents that chew bark and girdle trunks and stems.
A special thank you to the Bexley Bloomers for another year of helping maintain and beautify the grounds of Jeffrey Mansion and Park. These volunteers work together on a weekly basis between May-October and spend their Thursday morning pulling weeds, trimming hedges, planting flowers, and working alongside Bexley Recreation and Parks maintenance staff. Their final day of the 2022 season was yesterday, October 27!
What are the "Bexley Bloomers"? Great question! Founded in 2021, the Bloomers provide gardening and maintenance support for city-owned properties. The group's leadership has a wealth of gardening experience, including Master Gardener volunteers and many gardening enthusiasts. If interested in joining this group for next year, please let us know and we will put you in contact with the appropriate person!
Bexley City Code §1026.08 PROHIBITED SPECIES indicates the following species cannot be planted along the public streets or public places:
(1) Acer negundo (box elder);
(2) Acer saccharinum (silver maple);
(3) Ailanthus altissima (tree of heaven);
(4) Catalpa (catalpa - all common species, cultivars and varieties);
(5) Ginkgo biloba (Ginkgo): female only
(6) Morus (mulberry - all fruiting species, cultivars and varieties);
(7) Populus (poplar - all common species, cultivars or varieties);
(8) Salix (willow - all common species, cultivars or varieties);
(9) Ulmus pumila (siberian elm).
(10) Shrubs;
(11) Horse chestnut (all fruiting species; cultivars and varieties);
(12) Apple;
(13) Black locust;
(14) American elm (all fruiting species; cultivars and varieties);
(15) European white birch;
(16) European Mountain ash;
(17) American sweet gum (unless fruitless variety);
(18) Bradford pear.
Ord. 7-12. Passed 3-12-13.
BEXLEY, OHIO: A small, central Ohio city has been accredited as an arboretum in a nod to the special pride its residents take in its trees.
The Columbus Dispatch reports Bexley is the first U.S. city to get such accreditation from the Illinois-based Morton Register of Arboreta.
Some of the Columbus suburb’s 13,000 residents had sought the designation, a label more typical for land used for cultivating trees and plants. They learned on Wednesday that their effort was successful.
Bexley met criteria such as having more than 100 types of woody plants and offering public access and educational efforts.