On June 25th, we met with a group of 18 Google employees near Bemowo Forest in Warsaw to care for young tree plantings together. For three hours, despite the high temperature, the whole group systematically firmed and pressed the soil around the saplings, covering a very large part of the site.
Why firming the soil matters so much for young trees
It might sound counterintuitive, but firming the soil around saplings is one of the most important steps in post-planting care. When a tree goes into the ground, some air always remains around its roots – freshly turned soil is loose and doesn’t yet sit tightly against them. Pressing the soil down by hand and foot closes those air pockets and gives the roots full, direct contact with the ground.
This has several key effects: the tree absorbs water and nutrients more effectively, since the roots are no longer “hanging” in air pockets, the sapling becomes more stable and less likely to be uprooted in strong wind, and the soil itself retains moisture longer because there are no channels for it to escape through. For a young tree already coping with the stress of a new environment in its first year, this can be the difference between successfully taking root and dying off. So although the task itself looks simple, its effect is very real and directly shapes how many of the planted trees make it through their first, hardest year.
A site with a particular history
The place where we worked holds special meaning for us – the trees here grow on land that was previously contaminated by a garbage pile that used to sit there. Every step of aftercare carried out during this event is real support for these trees’ recovery and for rebuilding an ecosystem that was once damaged.
The day, guided by a forester
Throughout the event, we were accompanied by a forester who knows this site well and understands exactly what young-tree aftercare looks like in practice. At the start of the day, he gave a short briefing, showing everyone how to firm the soil around the saplings correctly, what to watch out for, and how to tell when a given tree had been cared for enough. This let the group work efficiently and confidently, without worrying about doing it wrong – whenever there was any doubt, the forester was right there, advising on how to adjust the pressure and technique to the type of soil in a given spot. The collaboration went smoothly, and despite the heat, the participants finished the day satisfied and full of energy.
Continuing our partnership with Google
We work with Google on a regular basis, running many joint corporate volunteering events with their team in Warsaw and the surrounding area. As a fun coincidence, exactly a year ago – also on June 25th – we worked together with Google employees removing invasive plants. It’s purely a coincidence of dates, but it nicely illustrates how steadily this partnership has grown and how many different forms of environmental action we’ve already carried out together.
Thank you to the whole Google team for your commitment, energy, and care for these young trees!
