Honoring The New Year Of Trees

By Phran Novelli

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - This week, you can celebrate the Jewish New Year of Trees with lots of events at the Morris Arboretum, including music and tree planting activities for kids on Sunday, January 20 from 1 to 3 pm.

The holiday is traditionally a time in Israel when trees are counted and their age recorded. Whether you celebrate it or not, it's a good reminder to pay attention to the trees where you live - young and old, the newly planted and those that have been living for decades or centuries - to see how they're doing.

During winter when deciduous trees are bare, you can get a better look at how the tree is growing, check for signs of disease on bark and branches and see if pruning is needed. You may want to call in an arborist to examine your trees for you.

Paying attention to your trees and taking care of them now can help prevent unexpected problems during storms in the future. So why not use the New Year of the Trees as a cue? Go take a look at how the trees around you are doing, and help them stay strong for years to come.