Setting up a Tree Trek
|
Creating a successful Tree Trek requires a little work and some basic materials. Below are the basic steps and an example.
Basic Steps:
Example: Locate and identify the tree species of interest in your city park or natural area. Trees of interest might be rare species, native species, historic trees, or simply trees you find interesting. If you map their locations you could include a walking map as part of the Tree Trek. Write-up some basic information for each tree. At minimum we recommend, including common name and scientific name. See our References section for potential resource material. If you choose to provide additional information about your trees of interest, you will need to create a website to host all of your tree information. There are free website building services, such as Weebly.com, that make creating a custom website fairly simply and user-friendly. Once your Tree Trek website is completed, you can use the individual tree species webpage internet address, called a URL, (example: http://treetrek.weebly.com/american-elm.html) to create a Quick Response (QR) Code. QR codes can be generated for free using various websites such as https://www.the-qrcode-generator.com/. This site converts the URL into a custom QR code that can be downloaded as an image to add to the tree information sticker that will be affixed to the sign. At the Mounds Park, St Paul, Minnesota Tree Trek, flat posts with custom-printed stickers were installed near trees of interest. Flexible utility markers (4" wide by 66" long) were used as the sign posts and custom printed stickers with tree information were affixed directly to the posts (Image 1). Creating the signage or the graphics to be used for the stickers can be accomplished using your preferred design software. We used Microsoft Office Publisher which allowed us to create custom sign template of 4” wide by 18” long. The flexible posts mentioned are 4.5” wide. Since the size of your posts may be larger or smaller, play around with the format that works for you. An example of one of the signs we created can be seen in Image 2. Flexible utility posts can be purchased from online retailers at around $10.00-$20.00 each and the stickers can be printed at one of many office supply stores for around $5.00-$10.00 per sticker. Order stickers that are weather-resistant. The final stage is to install the signs. Using a specialized post ponder for these flat posts, can position the signs just inside a mulch ring. Some trees may have a larger root flare or exposed roots that will make installation this close to the tree hard to accomplish. In this case, it may be advisable to move the sign out to the point where there is no obstruction from the root system. The goal is not for the posts to be placed in perfect symmetry with the trees but rather to be usable by the park patrons for years to come. If you are interested in this program for your community, we are happy to answer any questions and offer advice. Please feel free to contact us with any questions that you may have. |
Image 1. Example of Tree Trek with sign
Image 2. Example of a 4" x 18" adhesive sign
Purchase information
Posts:
ProMark Model# PM-301: 66" Brown Flexible Utility Marker (no decals). Stickers: FastSigns - 4" by 18" custom decal - outdoor |
