The importance of Trees
While everyone knows trees provide the oxygen we use to breathe, there are many more reasons that trees are important to us! Who doesn't love sitting under the shade of large tree on summer's day, or watching wildlife enjoy the habitat and food provided by trees? But there are even more benefits beyond these! Trees can make cities up to 10 degrees cooler, clean our air, and can protect our homes & crops from wind. Having more trees in neighborhoods has also been found to improve people's overall health, reduce stress, and encourage physical activity! Finally, at the end of their lives, trees provide the timber and pulp we need to create the wood & paper products we use every.
A Brief History of Arbor Day
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Planting Your Tree
Planting tips:
- Plant away from the foundation of a house, driveway, sidewalk or other structure to avoid damage from growing roots
- Avoid planting under or close to power lines
- Avoid planting close roads to prevent salt damage to the tree
- Do not create a "mulch volcano", this can cause the bark to rot and kill the tree
Get to know your trees!
White Oak
This stately tree is one of the most dominant in our woodlands, easily found on well-drained ridges and slopes throughout Southeast Ohio. It's acorns are one of the most preferred foods by regional wildlife, and it's buds & twigs are often eaten by birds & deer. White Oaks are also one of the most valuable timber sources in Ohio, often used for furniture, cabinetry, flooring. It is also used for barrel-making, as the wood contains microscopic vessels called tyloses that help the wood seal out water. White Oak bark is light gray and forms into large strips once mature. The twigs are greenish to purple-gray with multiple buds on the end of the twigs. Their leaves have rounded lobes that turn red in the Fall. They may grow up to an average of 80 feet tall and do best in moist, well-drained soils but can also grow in drier soils.
This stately tree is one of the most dominant in our woodlands, easily found on well-drained ridges and slopes throughout Southeast Ohio. It's acorns are one of the most preferred foods by regional wildlife, and it's buds & twigs are often eaten by birds & deer. White Oaks are also one of the most valuable timber sources in Ohio, often used for furniture, cabinetry, flooring. It is also used for barrel-making, as the wood contains microscopic vessels called tyloses that help the wood seal out water. White Oak bark is light gray and forms into large strips once mature. The twigs are greenish to purple-gray with multiple buds on the end of the twigs. Their leaves have rounded lobes that turn red in the Fall. They may grow up to an average of 80 feet tall and do best in moist, well-drained soils but can also grow in drier soils.
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Red Oak
These are another one of the dominant tree species in our forests. The acorns they produce are commonly eaten by several wildlife species including deer, wild turkey, Blue jays, and squirrels. The wood from Red Oaks is often used in cabinetry, furniture, and flooring. They can grow to an average of 75 feet tall with a canopy spreading 50 to 75 feet in diameter. Red Oak bark is gray to gray-brown and is smooth with narrow furrows developing as it matures. The twigs are reddish-brown with a cluster of reddish-brown buds on the end. The leaves have pointed lobes and turn a vibrant shade of red in the Fall.
These are another one of the dominant tree species in our forests. The acorns they produce are commonly eaten by several wildlife species including deer, wild turkey, Blue jays, and squirrels. The wood from Red Oaks is often used in cabinetry, furniture, and flooring. They can grow to an average of 75 feet tall with a canopy spreading 50 to 75 feet in diameter. Red Oak bark is gray to gray-brown and is smooth with narrow furrows developing as it matures. The twigs are reddish-brown with a cluster of reddish-brown buds on the end. The leaves have pointed lobes and turn a vibrant shade of red in the Fall.
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Redbud
Redbud trees are commonly found in yards, parks, and lower, and younger forest areas. While the buds on Redbud don't look very red, their flowers which are often the first to bloom in the Spring, are bright pink. These flowers are an important food source for our pollinating insects, such as bees and butterflies! Redbuds are legumes, meaning their seeds come in bean pods. Redbuds have smooth, heart-shaped leaves and smooth gray bark. They are not very tall, reaching a maximum height of 20-30 feet.
Redbud trees are commonly found in yards, parks, and lower, and younger forest areas. While the buds on Redbud don't look very red, their flowers which are often the first to bloom in the Spring, are bright pink. These flowers are an important food source for our pollinating insects, such as bees and butterflies! Redbuds are legumes, meaning their seeds come in bean pods. Redbuds have smooth, heart-shaped leaves and smooth gray bark. They are not very tall, reaching a maximum height of 20-30 feet.
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White Pine
A very commonly planted tree in our area, White Pines can be found along roads, in parks, in yards, and in planted forests all around Southeastern Ohio. It's fast growth and year-round greenery make it a favorite in urban areas as well as wind & privacy screens along fields. The seeds from the large pine cones of White Pines is often eaten by rabbits, squirrels, and many species of birds and the bark is sometimes eaten by beavers, snowshoe hare, porcupines, rabbits, and mice. The year-round needles also provide important shelter for birds, in both warm & cold weather. White Pines can be used for building wood products are even as Christmas trees but are often used to create pulp for making paper products. They can easily grow over 100 feet tall with needles growing in clumps of 5. The bark is smooth and gray-green when young but becomes rougher and dark gray as it matures.
A very commonly planted tree in our area, White Pines can be found along roads, in parks, in yards, and in planted forests all around Southeastern Ohio. It's fast growth and year-round greenery make it a favorite in urban areas as well as wind & privacy screens along fields. The seeds from the large pine cones of White Pines is often eaten by rabbits, squirrels, and many species of birds and the bark is sometimes eaten by beavers, snowshoe hare, porcupines, rabbits, and mice. The year-round needles also provide important shelter for birds, in both warm & cold weather. White Pines can be used for building wood products are even as Christmas trees but are often used to create pulp for making paper products. They can easily grow over 100 feet tall with needles growing in clumps of 5. The bark is smooth and gray-green when young but becomes rougher and dark gray as it matures.
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Silky Dogwood
These aren't trees, but shrubs! Silky Dogwoods are a favorite ornamental tree due to their showy white flowers and is also often used for streambank stabilization & field borders. Wildlife feed on the bluish fruit they produce in early Fall. They grow to an average height of 12 feet and do best in moist to wet soil in partial shade. Their twigs are bright red and turn reddish brown in the Summer.
These aren't trees, but shrubs! Silky Dogwoods are a favorite ornamental tree due to their showy white flowers and is also often used for streambank stabilization & field borders. Wildlife feed on the bluish fruit they produce in early Fall. They grow to an average height of 12 feet and do best in moist to wet soil in partial shade. Their twigs are bright red and turn reddish brown in the Summer.
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A special thank you to TransCanada Energy for supporting us with their Build Strong program! Without them, this tree giveaway would not be possible!
Images provided by the Arbor Day Foundation and the Morton Arboretum.