With the arrival last week of spring and Arbor Day, I encourage North Carolinians to get outside and plant a tree.
In addition to their scenic beauty, trees are an excellent low-tech green solution to many of the issues we face today. Trees help reduce energy needs by providing cool shade in the summer and acting as a wind break in the winter. They also filter nonpoint sources of pollution, and sequester carbon, to name a few.
One of the best ways to ensure that you are planting a healthy tree is to use species that are native to the North Carolina. They typically require less maintenance, and are well-suited to the local soils and climate.
Planting a variety of indigenous plants and trees helps local wildlife, such as birds and butterflies, to flourish. Native plants and trees assist in preventing the spread of invasive, exotic plants, which pose a threat to indigenous plants and animals and often create wildfire hazards when they become overgrown.
Native species can be found in many nurseries throughout the state, including nurseries operated through the N.C. Division of Forest Resources. The division’s Web site lists information related to the state’s native tree nurseries at http://www.dfr.state.nc.us/urban/native_trees/urban_native_select.asp.