Friends of Kensico Cemetery will host a free Tree Root Systems Seminar and Air Spade Demonstration on Saturday, April 18, from 10:00 to 11:15 AM at the Kensico Cemetery Arboretum.
This educational program will help home gardeners, beginners, and green‑industry professionals better understand how tree root systems function, soil conditions, and how improper planting or maintenance techniques can impact long-term tree stability.
“Tree root systems are really the engine of the tree, but they’re often the part people understand the least,” said Michael Cook, Jr., ISA Certified Arborist and Superintendent of Kensico Cemetery, who will lead the seminar alongside Frank Molina, ISA Certified Arborist and Branch Manager at Davey Tree Experts, Inc. “This seminar will provide context so they can make informed decisions about tree care.”
The program will include a live air spade demonstration, showing how arborists safely expose roots to diagnose and address common issues. Participants should wear comfortable shoes, as the session includes walking to the demonstration site on the Cemetery grounds.
This event is presented as part of the Kensico Cemetery Arboretum’s ongoing public education initiative. Kensico is the only Level II Arboretum in Westchester County, recognized through the ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program and the Morton Register of Arboreta. The Arboretum features hundreds of diverse trees and plants, including 101 identified and labeled species from regions around the world. As an officially designated public garden, Kensico serves as a resource for learning about native and non‑native trees, shrubs, and landscape ecology.
This seminar is free, but advance registration is required. You can register and find out more about Friends events at https://www.kensico.org/events
Coffee and donuts will be served. In the event of rain, the program will be held on Saturday, April 25.
For information about the Arboretum, upcoming events, or collaboration opportunities, please visit the Kensico Cemetery website or email events@kensico.org.