Local volunteers will help rescue trees

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - With the extremely hot, dry weather much of the vegetation across the Wabash Valley has suffered: from flowers to trees.

However, in Terre Haute, TREES Inc. plans on utilizing some local volunteers to help preserve the life of more than 100 trees.

Friday afternoon, volunteers will participate in helping maintain the good health of the trees around Terre Haute, by mulching around 139 trees.

TREES Inc. and the volunteers plan on mulching around 75 tree son Ohio Boulevard, 24 trees on Blakely Avenue and 40 trees on Brown Boulevard between Wabash and Locust streets.

Here's a list of benefits mulch provides, based on information from TREES Inc.:

• Helps maintain soil moisture. Evaporation is reduced, and the need for watering can be minimized.
• Helps control weeds. A 2- to 4-inch layer of mulch will reduce the germination and growth of weeds.
• Mulch serves as nature’s insulating blanket. Mulch keeps soils warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.
• Many types of mulch can improve soil aeration, structure and drainage over time.
• Mulching around trees helps facilitate maintenance and can reduce the likelihood of damage from “weed whackers” or the dreaded “lawn mower blight.”

The city of Terre Haute and TREES Inc. will split the cost of the mulching project.