Oak tree planted in Pintail Park for Arbor Day

(April 26, 2024) AC Plant and Turf on Friday planted a tree in Pintail Park in Ocean Pines, to help commemorate Arbor Day.

Arborist Terry Wooters said the tree, a willow oak, is native to the area and can handle salt spray from the nearby canal.

“I wanted an oak tree, specifically, because they can root deeper and offer a lot of value to wildlife,” he said. That includes more than 450 species of caterpillars.

He also said planting a younger tree will help it better establish a roots system.

“We often run into issues with large trees failing because they cannot establish roots. They take a lot more shock when planted,” he said.

Wooters said the tree will eventually grow to roughly 30 feet tall.

“We’re planting it here specifically so that, one day, it will offer some relief on the hottest afternoons for the fringe tree here and the serviceberry, which both prefer that,” he said.

The nearby trees in the park were planted by the Ocean Pines Garden Club. Since 1991, the Garden Club has participated in Arbor Day by planting a tree in memory of family and friends who passed away during the prior year.

AC Plant and Turf Marketing Director Joe Cooper said planting the tree is the company’s way of giving back – and commemorating an important holiday.

“We thought about planting a nice tree here in Pintail Park that will help the other trees,” he said. “We just wanted to give back to the community that we’re trying to grow in.”