Parkersburg South High School and Wood County Technical Center students planted nine trees in the outdoor classroom area at South on Tuesday during an Arbor Day event with the Parkersburg Tree Commission. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

PARKERSBURG — Students marked Arbor Day with the Parkersburg Tree Commission Tuesday by planting trees behind Parkersburg South High School.

After a proclamation naming Parkersburg a Tree City USA for the 24th year and some tips on proper planting from Ohio State University Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator Marcus McCartney, students from South and the Wood County Technical Center were ready to dig in.

Nine holes had been dug in advance for the trees, but the students had to adjust them based on McCartney’s instructions. Each hole needed to be no deeper than the root ball in the pots the trees came in, but the diameter should be two to three times wider.

If the ground around them is too compacted, the roots will circle back in on themselves, which could gradually strangle the trunk in a process called root girdling.

“Now that soil is loose and those tree roots can penetrate,” McCartney said.

Ohio State University Agriculture and Natural Resource Extension Educator Marcus McCartney discusses the proper planting of trees during an Arbor Day presentation Tuesday in the outdoor classroom area at Parkersburg South High School. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

He also warned students against piling mulch up around the tree’s trunk, a process he called “volcano mulching.” That can cause the bark to rot or roots to shoot out from the trunk and begin girdling.

“If you see anyone doing tree mulch volcanoes, you’ve got to yell at them,” he laughed.

The activity was part of the Tree Commission’s efforts to celebrate Arbor Day, one of four standards it must meet to maintain that Tree City USA designation. The others are having a tree board or commission, having a tree ordinance and spending at least $2 per capita on urban forestry.

Parkersburg South science teacher Jaime Moss said it gave students in the environmental science, botany and zoology classes and the Technical Center’s forestry program the opportunity to apply what they’re learning and increase the biodiversity in the outdoor classroom area behind the school.

South senior Seth Meadows said he enjoyed being outside.

Bob Hannah, second from left, state urban forestry coordinator with the West Virginia Division of Forestry, announces Parkersburg’s 24th recognition as a Tree City USA during an event Tuesday at the outdoor classroom area behind Parkersburg South High School. Standing with him are, from left, Parkersburg Tree Commission members Craig Minton, Betty Camp and Dan Hickman. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

“I think it’s cool that we actually get to do something like this,” he said.

Parkersburg South High School juniors Rayna Short, Cidney Duke and Abby Burner prepare a hole to plant a tree Tuesday in the outdoor classroom area behind the school during an Arbor Day event with the Parkersburg Tree Commission. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

From left, Parkersburg South High School sophomore Ty Davis, junior Tay Tibbs and sophomore Brandt Butler fill in the hole where they planted a tree in the outdoor classroom area Tuesday during an Arbor Day event with the Parkersburg Tree Commission. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

From left, Parkersburg South High School sophomore Ty Davis, junior Tay Tibbs and sophomore Brandt Butler fill in the hole where they planted a tree in the outdoor classroom area Tuesday during an Arbor Day event with the Parkersburg Tree Commission. (Photo by Evan Bevins)