For the Trees

I am for trees. I've always been for trees...I'm not a tree hugger, just a devotee of the sound of leaves blowing in the breeze, the joy of the spring greening of the bare limbs and branches that support choirs of song birds, the red and yellow and purple array of leaves in the fall, the lacy pattern of branches in a winter sky, and the canopy of shade that allows me to sit in comfort on a sunny day (and turn the AC just a few degrees higher). There's something comforting and eternal about trees. Other people value trees that provide a windbreak or more privacy. And any realtor can testify to the value they add to property values. The right tree in the right place is not only a thing of beauty but also money in the bank.

Did you know that late fall and winter is a good time to plant a tree? According to Pamela C. Louks, IN DNR, Division of Forestry, Community & Urban Forestry Coordinator, “It depends on what type of treeyou want to plant. Seedlings--no; balled and burlapped--not when the ground is frozen;trees grown in containers---okay, as long as ground is not frozen. Basically, we plant from Feb. through May, and then stop until late September--due to droughty conditions and heat stress. Then we plant from Sept. until the first freeze.”

Don't wait for spring after the sap begins to rise. If you are thinking of planting a tree, here are a few tips to help you select a tree that will help your investment pay off. Plant a shorter tree under utility lines to avoid trimming or mutilating your tree later. If your tree space is on the south or west of the house, large deciduous trees (ones that shed their leaves in the fall) will provide cooling shade in the summer but not obstruct the warm winter sun. If your space is on the north side of the house, consider planting evergreens to block the winter winds.

According to the Indiana Department of Resources, the following trees are not recommended for planting in Indiana’s landscapes because they may have invasive tendencies, be weak-wooded and break easily or prone to insect and disease problems.

Boxelder or Ashleaf Maple
Black Locust
Bradford Pear
Corktree
Cottonwood
Crabapple; unimproved varieties
Elm, Red Slippery and Siberian
Lombardy Poplar
Mulberry
Norway Maple -escaping into woodlots and forests
Osage Orange
Russian Olive
Sawtooth Oak
Siberian Elm
Silver Maple
Tree of Heaven -invasive
Willow

See the Department of Natural Resources website at http://www.in.gov/dnr/forestry/3605.htm#urban for a helpful list of publications on this topic. Making our local citizens more aware of the value of trees to the community is a focus of the Brownstown Development Committee. I offer these comments on their behalf at their request. Linda Schwenn

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