BYHALIA, Mississippi – A recent tree planting in front of Byhalia Town Hall shows what can happen when volunteers come together for a shared purpose.
“This project will have such a positive impact on the community,” said Marti Markham, a member of the Marshall County Master Gardeners.
The Master Gardeners partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation, Byhalia Chamber of Commerce, Marshall County Extension Office, Niagara Bottling Company, and the Town of Byhalia to plant 18 native species trees, including Sweetbay Magnolias, Ginkgoes, Eastern Redbuds, and Yoshino Cherries, on November 13.
Funded by an Arbor Day Foundation grant, the trees were procured by Michael Hatcher & Associates after Markham reached out to the commercial landscape company in June. The collaboration began when the Arbor Day Foundation and Niagara Bottling approached the Master Gardeners about planting trees in the Northwest Mississippi town of just over 1,300 residents.
With input from Mayor Donald Hollingsworth, the groups decided to replace 15 trees infested with Crape Myrtle bark scale in front of Byhalia Town Hall. Alex Moore, ISA-certified arborist and Commercial Maintenance Account Manager at Michael Hatcher & Associates, guided the tree selection process and assisted volunteers during planting.
“He’s a wealth of information,” Markham said about Moore, who also helped Niagara Bottling volunteers and the Master Gardeners with proper planting techniques.
Moore, who coordinated crews from the Hatcher’s Commercial Construction division to pre-dig the holes for the tree planting, explained how the trees were chosen.
“We made the decision on these species based on site conditions, different textures, and different assortments of flowering trees,” he said. “We also made a point to use more native trees in the landscape and for the community tree giveaway of magnolias, dogwoods, and oaks.”
Moore called the project an important investment in Byhalia’s future.
“These trees we planted today and the giveaway trees will provide great benefits for the years to come for the next generation,” he said. “It brings the community together to work as a team for a common goal.”
Ready to protect and enhance your property’s landscape? Our ISA-certified arborist and maintenance experts can help you keep the trees on your commercial property healthy and your grounds thriving year-round. Call Business Developer Nick Gardner today at 901-378-6106!
