Volunteers Are Needed to Remove Grass and Add Mulch Rings to Specimen Trees
Sugar House Park Authority Board and TreeUtah are organizing ‘Mulch Madness’, a volunteer event to prepare 35 specimen trees in Sugar House Park for an upcoming arboretum accreditation. Volunteers will assist in removing grass and applying mulch rings around selected trees, an essential step in achieving Level 1 Accreditation through Arbnet.org. The application will be submitted in March, with results expected by May 2025.
We need community and neighborhood volunteers on Saturday, March 8, 2025, 1 – 4 PM for Mulch Madness, an event led by TreeUtah to remove grass and add mulch rings around the specimen trees.
Sign up for event reminders and R.S.V.P on Facebook.
Project Overview
Volunteers will meet at the new Fabian Lakeside Pavilion for sign-in and instructions from TreeUtah before splitting across the five zones of the park to prepare the specimen trees. Volunteers will use hands or shovels to remove grass from the base of each tree and add a mulch ring. Volunteers should wear closed-toe shoes, long pants, the necessary layers to stay comfortable for the day’s weather, and a reusable water bottle. All necessary tools and a water station will be provided. Anyone interested should be able to walk, kneel, and push a wheelbarrow.
Significance of an Arboretum Accreditation
Sugar House Park is a 110-acre green space in the Salt Lake Valley and has been a beloved destination for recreation and community gatherings for decades. Known for its breathtaking views of the Wasatch Mountains, Parley’s Creek, and Sugar House Pond, the park boasts over 1,200 trees. An arboretum accreditation with Arbnet.org displays professionalism, brings recognition to the park, and is a tool to educate the community on the important role trees play. The Sugar House Park Authority will be the organizational governance group using existing park staff to manage the arboretum. The last of the five requirements for a Level 1 application is to add the mulch ring around the trees and place a tree tag.
Engage and Celebrate the Arboretum
Next time you stroll through Sugar House Park, look for an identification tag on each specimen tree that lists the tree’s common name, genus, and species. Scan the QR code on the tag to view the online arboretum map, learn more about each tree, report a maintenance need, or send an email message to the tree. Under the Level 1 accreditation, an annual event for the public will be held to volunteer, learn, and connect with the trees of Sugar House Park. For 2025, a tree-planting event is tentatively planned for September. Stay informed by following Sugar House Park, TreeUtah, and Salt Lake County Parks & Recreation.
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