Basic 6 · Our World and Our People · The Environment and the Weather

Planting and Caring for Trees

In this topic you will plant tree seedlings in your community and learn how to care for them until they grow.

By the end of these notes you should be able to:

Raise or obtain seedlings
Plant seedlings correctly
Care for and monitor young trees

What you already know

Tree planting as a civic duty

Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.

Strand: All Around Us
Sub-strand: The Environment and the Weather
Indicator: B6.2.1.1.1 – Plant trees in their communities as a civic duty

Introduction

Planting a tree takes a few minutes, but caring for it takes years. Many seedlings die because they are planted and forgotten. Now you will learn to plant and nurture trees.

1. Raising Seedlings in a Nursery

Collect healthy seeds from good trees (e.g. mango stones, neem seeds).
Fill polythene bags or old containers with fertile soil mixed with compost.
Sow the seeds and water them daily.
Keep them in partial shade.
After 2–3 months, the seedlings are ready for planting out.

2. Planting Out

Steps for planting a seedling

Step	Action
1	plant at the start of the rainy season
2	choose a spot with enough space, away from buildings and electric lines
3	dig a hole about twice the size of the root ball
4	remove the polythene bag carefully without breaking the soil
5	place the seedling upright and fill the hole with soil and compost
6	press the soil firmly and water well
7	protect it with a fence of sticks or old tyres

Step-by-step pictures of planting a tree seedling — Figure 1: How to plant a seedling Draw the steps of planting a seedling.Illustration: Sirbus

3. Caring for Young Trees

Water regularly, especially in the dry season (early morning or evening).
Mulch around the base with dry leaves to keep the soil moist.
Weed around the tree.
Protect it from goats, sheep and people.
Replace seedlings that die.
Do not burn bush near young trees.

4. Monitoring Growth

Tree care record

Date	Height (cm)	Watered	Weeded	Condition
1st week	30	yes	yes	healthy
4th week	34	yes	yes	new leaves
8th week	40	yes	no	healthy

Assign each tree to a pupil or group as its "guardian". Name tags and a watering rota help everyone remember their duties.

Celebrate success: when the trees survive the first dry season, the class can hold a small ceremony to thank the guardians.

If a seedling dies, find out why (lack of water, animals, pests) and correct the problem before replanting.

New words

nursery: A place where seedlings are raised.
seedling: A young plant grown from seed.
planting out: Moving a seedling from the nursery to its final place.
mulch: A covering of dead leaves or straw on soil.
root ball: The soil and roots around a seedling.
guardian: A person responsible for caring for something.

Summary

Seedlings are raised in a nursery for 2–3 months.
Plant out at the start of the rains in a well-chosen spot.
Water, mulch, weed and protect young trees.
Keep records and assign tree guardians.

Class activity: Adopt a Tree

Plant a seedling in the school compound or community.
Make a name tag and a watering rota.
Keep a record of its growth for the rest of the term.

You need: Local tree seedlings, Hand hoe, Watering can

Exercises

Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.

1. Where are seedlings raised?
- A. Nursery
- B. Market
- C. Classroom only
- D. Road
Show answer
Answer: NurseryBefore planting out.
2. The best time to plant out seedlings is…
- A. the start of the rainy season
- B. the middle of the harmattan
- C. midnight
- D. any dry day
Show answer
Answer: the start of the rainy seasonEnough water.
3. Covering soil with dry leaves is called…
- A. mulching
- B. weeding
- C. pruning
- D. burning
Show answer
Answer: mulchingKeeps soil moist.
4. Young trees should be protected from goats.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueGoats eat them.
5. Once planted, a tree needs no more care.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: FalseIt needs watering and protection.
6. Moving a seedling to its final place is called planting ______.
Show answer
Answer: outTransplanting.
7. List four ways to care for a young tree.
Show answer
Answer: Water, mulch, weed, protect it with a fence.Any four.
8. Why should trees not be planted close to buildings and electric lines?
Show answer
Answer: Roots can damage foundations and branches can touch electric lines, causing danger.Safety.

Homework

Water and check a tree at home or school every day for a week and record its condition.