By PAUL HETZLER

Arbor Day, an unofficial commemoration, is traditionally celebrated in the U.S. on the last Friday in April.

No turkey dinners, no tinsel and presents, no candy hearts; ignored by the greeting card industry. Even humble Groundhog Day gets a cute fuzzy icon.

Arbor Day, begun in 1872, is always the last Friday in April and is generally the last annual observance on people's minds. What does Arbor Day have? Virtue. Well, some, anyway. Planting a tree is an investment in the future, a symbol of hope, a gift to generations to come. So what if it increases our property value, beefs up retail business in commercial districts and significantly cuts our heating and cooling bills? We planted it out of the goodness of our hearts; how could you suggest otherwise?

Whatever one's motivation, adding trees to our communities does all of the above, as well as reduces atmospheric CO2, absorbs many airborne pollutants and lowers blood pressure (really).

Proper planting is critical to tree longevity. Though trees can and do survive sloppy planting, they very often decline and die within 20 or 30 years instead of the 100 or more years (500-plus for bur oak) that many native species attain.

The planting hole should be two to three times the diameter of the root system, but, and this is important, no deeper. The root ball should be set on undisturbed soil so that the root flare is just at ground level. All burlap and twine must be (not should be) removed, and any wire must be cut away. If container-grown, straighten out any circling roots before backfilling.

In native soil that is reasonably fertile (i.e., the grass grows well), amendments like peat moss or compost are usually not necessary. If the soil is fill, construction debris or very sandy, blend in organic matter up to one-third by volume.

When backfilling, add water and tamp gently as you go. Use a shovel handle to poke around the roots to eliminate air pockets. Two to four inches of mulch over the planting area (but not touching the trunk) will conserve moisture and suppress weeds. Stake and guy only if necessary, and never for more than a year.

Water, obviously, is critical in the first season, and if the tree is over one inch diameter, additional water is a good idea in the second season too. Water three or four times a week in most cases, but in clay or fill/ debris soils, check to be sure the roots aren't getting waterlogged.

Please don't hesitate to call Cooperative extension at 379-9192 or email ph59@cornell.edu for further tree health tips or species recommendations.

Have a happy, and virtuous, Arbor Day!

Paul Hetzler is a forester and a horticulture and natural resources educator for Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County.