Parks Volunteer Training Naperville Park District.

Parks Volunteer Training

Naperville Park District

This training will cover the following volunteer activities in parks

• Litter Removal• Teasel Removal• Moving Mulch• Proper Use of Tools• Planting a Tree• Cutting Invasive Plants• Removing Garlic Mustard• Buckthorn and Honeysuckle• Parks Volunteer Training Quiz

Parks Volunteers Training

Litter Removal

Litter removal is available for individuals and groups. The Naperville Park District will provide bags and gloves to assist with litter removal from our parks.

Litter Removal: Recycling

We encourage our volunteers to separate the litter from the recyclable materials.

Start by cutting the teasel stock low near the ground.

Teasel is cut with lopping shears; it is best to wear gloves when working with teasel.

Teasel Removal

Be sure to bag the teasel with the head of the plant going into the bag.

Here are some volunteers working with teasel.

Teasel Removal

Bagging Teasel for Removal

Teasel Removal

Click on image above to play video

Video: Correctly Bagging Teasel

Mulch is best moved with a pitch fork.

Load the mulch into a wheel barrow and move to the location to be spread.

Moving Mulch

Dump the mulch in the center of the area identified that needs mulch coverage.

Spread the mulch with a rake; mulch must be 4-5 inches deep and the path must be 8 feet wide.

Moving Mulch

Mulching Trails

Dump the mulch near the outer edge of the tree ring. Mulch 2 inches deep around the tree ring.

Do not “volcano” the tree; build the mulch ring away from the base of the tree.

Moving Mulch

Mulching a Tree Ring

Do not leave tools with the tines facing up.

This is the correct resting position for all tools.

Proper Use of Tools

Dig the hole four times larger than the root ball of the tree.

Bury the tree with the root ball covered.

Planting a Tree

Planting a Tree

Click on image above to play video

Video: Planting a Tree Sapling

Planting a Tree

Plant trees with the tree flare above the ground.

Back fill the hole with the dirt that was dug out to make the hole.

Tamp down the ground around the tree. Cover area with mulch.

Planting a Tree

Planting a Tree

Make sure the tree is planted straight.

How low to the ground should you cut an invasive? As low as you can!

These cuts, which are too high, should have been made lower to the ground.

Cutting Invasive Plants

Cutting Invasive Plants

Click on image above to play video

Video: Cutting Undergrowth

This is garlic mustard just before it flowers. Pull out the plant as close to the ground as possible to remove the entire root base.

This is flowering garlic mustard before it seeds. This is the last chance to remove it before it seeds for the season.

Removing Garlic Mustard

Young Mustard Garlic Mustard Flowers

Removing Garlic Mustard

Identifying garlic mustard:

Mature Buckthorn growing in a clump.

Young Honeysuckle

Buckthorn and Honeysuckle

Buckthorn and Honeysuckle

Identifying Honeysuckle

Invasive removal will be supervised by park staff

A close-up of a thorn from the branch of a buckthorn.

Young Buckthorn.

Buckthorn and Honeysuckle

Identifying Buckthorn

Parks Training Quiz*

1. True or False? Teasel should be bagged with the head of the plant going into the bag to prevent spread of the seeds.

2. True or False? It is best to wear protective clothing while working to remove teasel.

3. True or False? The two best tools to use when working with mulch are a pitch fork and a rake.

4. True or False? A tree ring should be buried in 2 inches of mulch.

5. True or False? When you are not using your tools, it is best to leave them on the ground with the tines facing down.

6. True or False? When planting a tree the hole should be 2x larger than the root ball.

7. True or False? Garlic mustard is easily pulled when it is young growth in the spring.*Answers are on the following page.

Answers to the Parks Training Quiz

1. True. The seeds spread easily, so putting the head into the bag first minimizes the release of seeds.

2. True. Gloves and long pants should be worn when working with teasel.

3. True. A pitch fork and a rake are the best tools to use when working with mulch.

4. True. Be sure to use 2 inches of mulch around a tree.

5. True. It is a best safety practice to leave tools lying tines down.

6. False. A hole that is four times larger than the root ball is the correct size for planting a tree.

7. True. Garlic mustard is the easiest to pull in the spring before it flowers.

The Naperville Park District would like to thank you for taking this online training. If you have any questions or need clarification

please contact : Lynnette Hoole, Volunteer Coordinator

[email protected]

630-848-3606