Tree Planting Tips
Planting Trees: There is a saying regarding planting trees that “the best time to plant a tree is yesterday and the 2nd best time is today.” When we plant a tree, we are giving benefits to ourselves, our community, and future generations. Benefits from trees include contributions to cleaner air and water, erosion control, wildlife habitat, energy conservation, and more. Studies have even shown that urban vegetation and trees help to improve personal health and wellness such as helping lower blood pressure, reducing stress, and promoting relaxation. To learn more about planting, visit https://www.arborday.org/trees/planting/
Tree Planting Location: Knowing what to plant and where to plant is an important decision. Understanding that a small tree ,when planted, could grow into a larger tree someday is an important consideration. Avoid planting trees in areas that could be problematic in the future, such as under or near a utility or against a house or structure. Make sure you call 811 prior to putting a shovel in the ground for even small projects. To learn more visit http://call811.com/ or https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/
Pruning Plants: A common question is when is the best time to prune? There are different thoughts on this. Generally, the best time is late winter/early spring when the first signs of growth are seen, prior to buds developing for spring bloomers. You do not want to prune when buds are developed because you want to enjoy the blooms. It is important to understand that pruning stimulates growth, so pruning in the middle of the summer or early winter could be traumatic to a plant, starve it of nutrients, or create wounds that are difficult to heal, potentially making it vulnerable to diseases or pests. Plants are pruned for a wide variety of reasons and situations. Sometimes a light pruning can reach our desired results without compromising the health of a plant. To learn more about pruning, visit https://extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/FNR/FNR-506-W.pdf
Tree and Limb Removal: Trees and limbs may need to be removed for a variety of reasons and situations. Safety and care should be taken with any project to protect people, property, and the health of the tree. Make sure you have the proper tools for the job, that the tools are in good condition, that you are knowledgeable on the tools and abide by all safety guidelines and regulations. A professional Arborist can be a valuable resource regarding tree health and tree maintenance considerations, including removal. To find an Arborist, visit https://www.isa-arbor.com/
Rain Barrels: Consider installing a rain barrel to reduce dependency on municipal or potable water. Rain barrels reduce the flow of storm runoff, reducing erosion, and have the ability to save the average homeowner hundreds gallons of water per year. Rain barrels are relatively easy to install and maintain. Screens at the gutter inlet at the top of the barrel will need to be kept debris free, and the spigot or value at the base should be opened or removed during the winter to prevent the barrel from freezing and cracking. To learn more about rain barrels visit https://www.epa.gov/soakuptherain/soak-rain-rain-barrels
Plant selection: Pick native plants! To be considered a native plant, it needs to be a species that occurred naturally in our region without human introduction. These are plants that have existed in our area for hundreds of years prior to human settlement. Native plants require little care and maintenance, so planting natives can save you time and money. Native plants do not require fertilizers and offer great benefits such as drought, disease, and pest tolerance. Native plants also offer wildlife benefits including providing essential nutrients to our wildlife, especially pollinators, like hummingbirds and butterflies. To learn more about native plants, visit https://indiananativeplants.org/