Monthly Gardening Tips

MAY 2025 GARDEN TIPS
Pennsylvania's Big Trees

Here's a great educational tip!

Jenkins Arboretum and Gardens

I listened to a free webinar in late March and found it so fascinating!

The webinar was Pennsylvania's Big Trees, presented by Aaron Greenberg.
Presently, he is the state co-ordinator for the PA Big Tree Program. The program was started 50 years ago. ( A little history- In the late 19th century, the entire state was almost clear-cut after being known as the state completely covered by trees. The PA Forestry Association was founded in 1886 in response to the devastation and is the oldest grassroots forestry association in the country.)

The PA Big Tree Program has a register of all the largest trees (of their species) listed as well as a map location, both available online! There are nearly 2000. I just checked it out. Time for a road trip to see some of them! (New Jersey has a big tree program, as well-run by the NJ Forestry Service.)

3 measurements are taken on a tree with rules of how to measure the trunk circumference and the trunk height, which are the main points of growth. A measurement of the canopy spread is also requested. The how-tos are in the webinar and are national rules.

FYI, the largest Sycamore ( Platanus occidentalis )Tree is the Kimberton Sycamore found in Chester County, which is 30 feet in circumference and 120 feet tall!
There are many large Sycamore's. They love to grow near water, they grow relatively fast, and were often spared as they weren't great for the timber industry.
(Interesting - the colonists planted them on the SW corner of their home for shade. They have big, wide leaves AND their branches are large and thick and open in branching so the warmth of the sun gets in during the winter.)

After I saw this webinar, I emailed Jenkins Arboretum and Gardens.
They were happy to share their third Thursday lectures.
I plan to visit them and their nursery shop this growing season!

Hope you enjoy all these websites have to offer!
Provided by Ellen Seward