Fresh Christmas Tree

When selecting a tree to plant, consider: Is there enough space for the tree to grow? How much space is available for the tree when it reaches its mature height, width and depth? Look at nearby buildings, trees, plants, sidewalks and roads that may not allow the tree to grow tall and wide as it matures. Check for overhead and underground utilities. How much sunlight is available for the new tree? Is the tree shade tolerant or shade intolerant? A tree that is shade tolerant doesn’t mind competition from other trees and buildings. A tree that is shade intolerant needs full sunlight to grow properly. Do you want a fast growing or slowing growing tree? A fast-growing tree will fill a vacant spot more quickly. A slow-growing tree to replace an older tree when it matures and dies or becomes too big for the site. Is there enough water available at the site for the new tree? Once established, native trees are considered more adaptable to Maryland’s climate conditions. What is the purpose of the tree? Beauty, shade, wildlife habitat, increased property value, reducing erosion? Consider the color of the leaves in the spring and fall, flower shapes, and bark texture.

One of my customers just sent this to me. http://www.trees.maryland.gov/pdfs/coupon.pdf

Deforestation can cause large changes in carbon stocks over a short period of time. Deforestation causes an immediate reduction in aboveground biomass carbon stocks, followed by several years of decreases in other carbon stocks. The differing pace of response among different activities since 1990 creates outcomes that are not intuitively obvious. An afforestation and reforestation program with a fixed amount of land afforested or reforested each year will yield large positive stock changes after an initial period of slow carbon accumulation. In the first few years, afforestation and reforestation tree growth is slow, and not all land in the program will have been afforested or reforested. Over time, more and more land will become part of the program, and benefits will continue to increase for decades (Nilsson and Schopfhauser, 1995). Because the carbon gain is low at the beginning of afforestation and reforestation programs, in most parts of the world such programs will yield only small carbon gains during the first commitment period. Converting non-forest land to forests will typically increase the diversity of flora and fauna, except in situations where biologically diverse non-forest ecosystems are replaced by forests that consist of single or a few species (e.g., plantations of monocultures and especially exotic species). What an urban Christmas Tree program can do for your town. Urban forestry is the cultivation and management of trees in and around the places we live -- cities, suburbs, and rural communities -- for their contribution to the environment, the community, and the economic well-being of our society.