Univ. of Wash.

Five coast redwood saplings were delivered to the University of Washington on Feb 1, 2017.

Sara Shores, UW Urban Forest Specialist, accepts delivery of 5 redwood saplings, which will be planted on the University of Washington campus on Feb 23, 2017. On the right is Wren Wagenbach, Coordinator of the Seattle Chapter of Plant for the Planet, a worldwide, kid-run organization of eight to 14 year-olds interested in tree planting, keeping fossil fuels in the ground and fighting poverty through climate justice, Climate Justice Ambassadors from Plant for the Planet will help plant the trees on the UW campus on Feb 23.

The photo Sara is holding is of the Fieldbrook stump, from which one of the UW trees was cloned. The Fieldbrook tree was cut down in 1890, but if it were alive today, it would likely be over 400 feet tall and over 3500 years old. It would be the largest tree by height and volume on the planet.

Thursday morning, Feb 23, 2017, five folks from the UW staff met up with the Plant for the Planet kids in the UW parking lot south of Husky Stadium to plant three redwood saplings.

On a knoll on the UW campus overlooking the ship canal, two holes were readied for redwood tree plantings by the Climate Justice Ambassadors from Plant for the Planet.

The first redwood sapling is being gently removed from its pot in preparation to being put in the ground.

The first tree is planted and mulch placed around it.

Be sure to give it plenty of mulch, but keep the mulch 2-3 inches away from the tree trunk.

Kids from Plant for the Planet listen carefully to the UW arborist explaining the proper mulching technique.

The first redwood sapling in its new home on the UW campus, overlooking the ship canal.

Nearby where the first two redwood saplings were planted is a 100 foot high redwood tree whose girth is so large that it takes many kids with their arms linked to wrap around the entire tree.

Getting ready to plant the third redwood sapling by the UW Campus Conibear Shellhouse.

There are lots of suggestions on how to remove the sapling from the pot it has lived in for four years.

Sometimes the sapling’s roots get stuck to the edge of the pot since they have been there so long, so they need to be pushed out from a hole in the bottom of the pot.

Got the tree planted. Now it’s time to spread the mulch for the third tree planted today.

UW arborists and Plant for the Planet parents discussing the day’s adventure of planting these giants-to-be.

The final step is staking a protective fence around the tree so that it is protected from people, pets, and lawnmowers.

Five coast redwood saplings ready for delivery to the University of Washington in January 2017.