Contact Us

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, IL - 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 for your property could result in more maintenance costs than you anticipated. Since trees have the possibility to outlive 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 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 a 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 Certified Arborists, visit www.isa-arbor.com.

	News
	Warning: Check Tree-care Credentials Several autumn fatalities linked to dangerous tree care practices are prompting a coalition of arborists and urban foresters to urge contractors (and others) to hire only certified tree-care professionals. MORE >> Fire-resistant Landscaping Saves Southern California Homes More than a dozen fires charred hundreds of thousands of acres and burned close to 1,700 homes to the ground in Southern California in October. But the toll was limited by defensible space created by landscape architects and contractors, a number of experts said. MORE >> Bradford Pears Not Kind to Cities This tree species has weak branch connections and limbs are prone to falling down. MORE >> Best Trees For The Street Scientist John Hammond of the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s chief scientific research agency, has announced the findings of a four-year project to determine the best trees to use in urban spaces. MORE >> Selling Houses By the Yard Worried home owners hope landscaping adds value- from the Wall Street Journal MORE >> NADF Hardiness Zone Map Find out the right tree to plant where you live MORE >>

"The mighty oak was once a little nut that firmly stood it's ground."

	Resources
	Tree Selection Brochure Introduction to Arboricutlure: Planting & Early Care DVD Available through the ISA Web store