Arbor Day to be celebrated at Sagamore Hill with tree planting, pruning

As many as 100 arborists volunteers are expected at Sagamore Hill National Historic Site on Saturday morning to prune damaged and diseased trees.

Members of the Long Island Arboricultural Association have been volunteering at a Long Island park every Arbor Day since 1990. The group is returning to Sagamore Hill for the first time since 1991.

“It’s a big volunteer event and it’s very important to us, especially after all the trees damaged by superstorm Sandy,” said Sagamore Hill Superintendent Thomas Ross. The value of the donated labor is more than $80,000.

Ross said the grounds will be open while the arborists are working between 7 a.m. and noon but there will safety zones around the crews to prevent injury.

In recognition of Arbor Day, there will be a tree-planting ceremony at noon, and the public is invited to attend, Ross said.