City of Plymouth Volunteer Tree Planting Event

Employees from across the City of Plymouth recently came together for a volunteer tree planting event in partnership with Let’s Plant Trees, helping to expand native tree cover, while building connections across the community they serve.

Employees from several city departments participated, including:

• Maintenance

• Forestry

• Parks and Recreation

• City Hall

• Fire Department

Many participants had not worked together before, but the shared goal of planting trees quickly bonded the group. Planting groups formed quickly, tools were shared, and volunteers worked side by side throughout the project - demonstrating their teamwork and community pride.

After reviewing proper planting techniques and how to care for young trees during establishment, the team planted native red oak, bur oak, and black walnut seedlings. They were planted across the upland portion of the site, as these species require more well-drained soil. Seedlings were planted close together, as there will be some natural thinning over time.

Volunteers also installed protective tree tubes to shield the seedlings from deer browsing, limit competition from surrounding vegetation, and boost survival as the young trees take root and adapt to site conditions.

One of the most rewarding parts of the event was seeing employees from different departments at the City of Plymouth connect with one another in a hands-on way, while improving a shared public space. The project reflected the kind of collaboration that helps communities grow stronger - both above ground and below it.

Thank you to the City of Plymouth and everyone who volunteered their time and energy to support this project! These newly planted trees will provide long-term benefits for the community for decades to come.