How to Select and Plant Native Trees for Your Home Landscape

Planting a tree is one of the most significant things that homeowners do in their yards. The size, longevity, and immobility of trees create a dominant visual presence for generations and impact the nutrients, light, and moisture available to all other plants and organisms in their environs. This class provides an overview of tree biology and the roles of trees in natural ecosystems, then focuses on how to select native trees of different sizes suitable for your site conditions that also meet your aesthetic goals and support the local ecosystem. In addition, we will review how to properly plant and mulch trees and to create supportive understory plant communities and “soft landings.”

This 2-hour class can be taught in two 1-hour segments: Part I covering the main body of the presentation and Part II the appendix of recommended tree species.