Arbor Day is a day set aside every year for public tree planting, and why wouldn’t you? Trees improve our air and water, increase property values, provide shade, offer shelter to wildlife and last but not least, are beautiful to look at.
The USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) has a Plant Hardiness Zone Map that is the standard for gardeners and growers to determine which plants (and trees) are most likely to thrive in a particular location. Madison County falls into Zone 9, according to its temperatures, elevation and precipitation.
The Arbor Day Foundation is a nonprofit conservation and education organization with a mission to “inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees" and was founded in 1972 by John Rosenow. Most people know them for trees they give away for planting on Arbor Day. If you decide to take advantage of their 10 free trees, all you have to do is visit their website and follow the links to choose your trees. If you prefer to purchase a tree locally, the foundation is listed on their site, the 30 most popular trees for Zone 9 here in Madison.
A few common trees on the list are Red Maple, Eastern Redbud, Camellia, White Dogwood, Southern Magnolia, Loblolly Pine and Live Oak. To see a full list of the trees for our area or to learn more about buying trees, tree planting and care, or choosing a tree for your yard, visit the Arbor Day Foundation site at www.arborday.org.
