Whether your trees are established or newly planted, Home Tree Care 101 (HTC 101) classes can help you care for your tree (s). Classes are available through a partnership between Conservation Montgomery and the County Department of Environmental Protection. If you organize a neighborhood class, a certified arborist will visit your community to walk around and evaluate trees on home lots. The arborists also offer hands-on demonstrations of pruning, mulching and tree care that you can manage at home. The classes are available in the Spanish language as well as in English.
If you are yearning to have a new street tree planted near your property, yet another option is available. The County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) manages the street tree maintenance program and planting of trees in the Right of Way. You can call 311 or go to the County Government website to request that a street tree be planted. MCDOT determines the location and species of trees that may be planted in the ROW and plants large shade species wherever possible to maximize canopy cover in the county. (See Chapter 7 for more on the county street tree program.) DIY Tree Planting If your heart is set on choosing and planting a tree, do a little homework before you head to a local nursery. The Montgomery Parks Department periodically offers horticulture classes, either online or at Brookside Gardens. Look at the Parks Department website to see if there is a topic that would be helpful. Locating a site for your tree is crucial to the success of the project. First, look at the site you have in mind and decide what size and species will be best suited to that location. For example, planting a fast- growing shade tree too close to your house might not work out well. The tree may grow to be too large for its location and may eventually give you more shade than you want in that location. An understory tree such as an Eastern redbud or a flowering dogwood might be a better choice. If you have ample overhead clearance and the right light and soil conditions, a shade tree will give you years of environmental benefits and an aesthetic focal point for your landscaping. You will want to avoid planting what will grow to become a tall shade tree under utility wires. You certainly want to avoid cutting into a gas line that can result in an explosion. In 2021, Maryland passed a “Miss Utility Dig Law” to prevent accidents involving underground utility lines. Call 811 to get a site checked and marked for utility lines before you dig. When you plant a new tree, you have the advantage of putting the tree in a place where soil conditions are optimal for that species. Before purchasing a tree or putting a shovel in the ground, look at the soil and put your hands in it. Some of the characteristics of sustainable soil xiv include: ● Drains well and is not compacted. ● Does not crust. ● Soaks up heavy rains. ● Stores moisture in droughts. ● Resists erosion and nutrient loss. ● Supports high populations of organisms like fungi, worms, nematodes, algae and insects.
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