Trees make our world beautiful and provide us with many obvious benefits - shade, privacy, increased property values, shelter and food for birds and other small creatures, and even a place for childhood tree houses.
Besides these obvious benefits, trees also contribute to the health of our planet. They clean the air by giving off oxygen, storing carbon, and recycling moisture into the atmosphere. Trees help prevent soil erosion, help modify temperatures, and act as windbreaks.
Planting trees is not only a nice thing to do - it's one way each of us can help improve the environment. Tree planting is not difficult if you remember to follow these simple steps and "keep the green side up!" Plan Ahead A tree's biological needs, its shape and size at maturity, and its function in your landscape help determine the best tree to plant in a particular location. Select trees that grow well in your local climate and soil.
Each species has a different tolerance to late spring or early fall frosts, flooding or drying, to high winds or low light levels, and to compacted, heavy, acidic or alkaline soils. Think about what the trees will look like at maturity. How tall will they grow? What shape will they be? Are coniferous (evergreen) or deciduous species preferable? Be conscious of scale; very large trees or shrubs can be overpowering on a small property.
Trees should enhance the look of a building and not overshadow it or block windows. Do not plant tall trees close to overhead utility lines. Large deciduous trees on the southeast, southwest and west provide cooling shade in summer without obstructing the low winter sun.
An evergreen windbreak along the north side of a property blocks cold winter winds. Remember, the roots of willows and poplars spread to seek water and are likely to plug water and sewer pipes, so don't plant them near underground piping.
Deciduous trees can be planted in the spring, as soon as the frost is out of the ground or in the fall, from leaf-fall until freeze-up. Poplars, willows, ash, elms, and birches tend to overwinter better if planted in the spring. Evergreens can be planted early in the spring until four weeks after deciduous trees have opened their leaves or in the fall, from about the first week of August to the end of October.
