Careful Tree Selection Protects Your Investment

For Immediate Release
For Further Information Contact Sonia Garth:
(217) 355-9411 Ext 217

Careful Tree Selection Protects Your Investment

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- If you think of your landscape as an investment, it makes good sense that you would choose each plant, especially trees, with care. Planting a tree that is ill-suited to your property could result in more maintenance costs than you anticipated. Since trees have the possibility of outliving the people who planted them, the impact of this decision will be lasting. The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) has compiled a list of questions homeowners need to consider before deciding which tree to plant.

1. Why is the tree being planted?

• Do you want the tree to provide shade, fruit, or seasonal color, or to act as a windbreak or screen? Maybe serve more than one function?

2. What is the size and location of the planting site?

• Does the space lend itself to a large, medium, or small tree?
• Are there overhead or below ground wires or utilities in the vicinity?
• Do you need to consider clearance for sidewalks, patios, or driveways?
• Are there other trees in the area?

3. What conditions exist?

• Is the soil deep, fertile, and well-drained, or is it shallow, compacted, and infertile?
• How much sunlight is available?

4. What type of maintenance are you willing to provide?

• Do you have time to water, fertilize, and prune the newly planted tree until it is established, or will you be relying on your garden or tree service for assistance?

Early spring, before new bud break, is one of the best times to plant new trees. Weather conditions are generally cool and allow plants to establish roots in a new location before spring rains and summer heat stimulate new top growth. Choosing the right tree for the right place will allow for healthy, longer-living trees that can provide all the maximum benefits for your landscape and location.

Homeowners who are having difficulties deciding which trees are appropriate for their property should contact an ISA Certified Arborist. An arborist can assist you in selection, planting, and maintenance of new trees. For more information on tree selection or to find an ISA Certified Arborist in your area, visit www.treesaregood.org.

The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), headquartered in Champaign, IL, is a nonprofit organization supporting tree care research and education around the world. To promote the importance of arboriculture, ISA manages the consumer education web site,www.treesaregood.org. Also, as a part of ISA's dedication to the care and preservation of shade and ornamental trees, it offers the only internationally-recognized certification program in the industry. For more information on ISA and ISA Certified Arborists, visit www.isa-arbor.com.