Thank you for attending Mayfest & visiting the Tree booth this year.  The free trees are provided through a collaboration of several local groups.  Our partners are:
 

The Botanical Research Institute of Texas is a non-profit research and education organization dedicated to conserving our natural heritage by deepening our knowledge of the plant world. BRIT provides funds to pay for trees and staff members volunteer to distribute them at Mayfest. www.brit.org	The Fort Worth Botanical Society is a support organization for the Fort Worth Botanic Garden.  They are involved in outreach & education concerning the importance of plants & gardening.
The Fort Worth Garden Club is the oldest and one of the largest clubs in Texas – 553 members strong. It has a long history  of community involvement, civic beautification and environmental advocacy. Fort Worth Garden Club has proudly co-sponsored the Mayfest Tree project for the past eight years.	City of Fort Worth Parks & Community Services Department, Forestry Section maintain all trees on public property within the city of Fort Worth.  They also have tree planting programs & several volunteer programs & opportunities. Forestry provides the organizational & logistical support for the Mayfest Tree booth, as well as recruits volunteers to operate it.

Tell us your Mayfest tree story!  We want to hear how your tree is doing.  If you picked up a free Mayfest tree 5 years ago & it's grown as fast as lightening, e-mail us!

Tree Planting & Care Instructions

	PLANTING Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and as deep •Roughen the sides and bottom of the hole •Add soil to bottom to bring root ball level to surrounding soil line or slightly higher •Orient the tree •Check for circling roots, loosen them, score the root ball •Backfill with same native soil, tamp down & water
MULCH •Build mulch ring around root ball •Add mulch about 1 -2 inches deep •Keep mulch away from the trunk of tree (mulch around the trunk can cause bark suffocation or rot) •Avoid injury to trunk with weed-eaters or lawn mowers – the mulch ring will help protect the tree		WATERING •Water seedling once a week through summer, until established •Water slowly & deeply so that water soaks deep into the soil (not like you would water grass)
FERTILIZING •Do not fertilize your seedling
	STAKING •You should not have to stake the tree because it is so small(it will establish a stronger root system when not staked) •In the future, if you feel staking is necessary, stake loosely so that tree can sway (this encourages lateral root growth) •Remove staking within one year	Staking damage.  The staking system girdled the tree trunk because it was not removed as the tree grew.  This causes permanent damage & it compromises the health & safety of the tree.
PRUNING •Prune any dead or damaged limbs at time of planting •Do not do any aesthetic pruning until the end of the second growing season •Remove co-dominant leaders (so that there is only one main dominant branch)

Join Cross Timbers Urban Forestry Council & "grow" with us! 

Mayfest Tree Species for 2008
 

Live Oak Quercus virginiana    Growth Rate: Moderate Height:  50 +’, Spread:  50’ + Soils:  sand, loam, clay, limestone Shade Tolerance: Full sun, part shade Water Requirements: Drought resistant Wildlife Value: acorns are eaten by variety of wildlife, good cover & nesting tree, good substrate for insectivorous birds, larval host for Horace’s Duskywing & Northern White Hairstreak butterflies Native: North Texas native Comments: Beautiful, spreading canopy with mostly evergreen leaves; symbol of the South, susceptible to Oak Wilt

Shumard Red Oak Quercus shumardii Growth Rate: Rapid Height:  50’ +, Spread:  25’ - 50’  Soils: Sand, loam, clay, limestone, caliche Shade Tolerance: Full sun, part shade Water Requirements: Drought resistant Wildlife Value: Excellent nesting & cover, good substrate for insectivorous birds, acorns are relished by many mammals, gamebirds & songbirds, larval host for Horace’s Duskywing & Northern White Hairstreak Native: North Texas native Comments: Beautiful fall color, upright shape; provides good shade, susceptible to Oak Wilt

Mayfest Tree Species for 2007
 

Bald Cypress Taxodium distichum Growth Rate:  Rapid Height:  50’ +, Spread:  25-50’ Soils: Sand, loam, clay, limestone Shade Tolerance:  Full sun, part shade Water Requirements:  Drought resistant Wildlife Value: structure & branching provides habitat for wildlife Native:  Central & East Texas native Comments:  Brilliant burnt orange fall color; naturally occurring in moist areas, but does well in dry areas, ancient tree: known to the dinosaurs, “knees” arise if soil has poor drainage

Cedar Elm Ulmus crassifolia    Growth Rate: Moderate Height:  25’ - 50’, Spread:  25’ - 35’ Soils:  sand, loam, clay, limestone Shade Tolerance: Full sun, part sun Water Requirements: Drought resistant Wildlife Value: Seeds & buds eaten by many birds, good nesting & cover tree for birds, some mammals browse leaves, larval host for Mourning Cloak & Question Mark butterflies Native: North Texas native Comments: Very hardy tree, susceptible to mistletoe, bark has “wings,” unique shape, long-lived

Live Oak Quercus virginiana    Growth Rate: Moderate Height:  50 +’, Spread:  50’ + Soils:  sand, loam, clay, limestone Shade Tolerance: Full sun, part shade Water Requirements: Drought resistant Wildlife Value: acorns are eaten by variety of wildlife, good cover & nesting tree, good substrate for insectivorous birds, larval host for Horace’s Duskywing & Northern White Hairstreak butterflies Native: North Texas native Comments: Beautiful, spreading canopy with mostly evergreen leaves; symbol of the South, susceptible to Oak Wilt

Pecan Carya illinoinensis              Growth Rate: Fast Height:  up to 50’, Spread:  up to 90’ Soils:  sand, sandy loam Shade Tolerance: Full sun, part shade Water Requirements: Drought resistant Wildlife Value: Many bird & mammal species indulge in the nuts Native: North Texas native Comments: The state tree of Texas, Pecan provides deep shade & a crop of pecans for a pie!

Shumard Red Oak Quercus shumardii Growth Rate: Rapid Height:  50’ +, Spread:  25’ - 50’  Soils: Sand, loam, clay, limestone, caliche Shade Tolerance: Full sun, part shade Water Requirements: Drought resistant Wildlife Value: Excellent nesting & cover, good substrate for insectivorous birds, acorns are relished by many mammals, gamebirds & songbirds, larval host for Horace’s Duskywing & Northern White Hairstreak Native: North Texas native Comments: Beautiful fall color, upright shape; provides good shade, susceptible to Oak Wilt