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Planting for the future

DNR’s Residential Tree program to provide large trees to area residents

Area residents looking to replace trees struck by the emerald ash borer or to plant trees to help with utility costs, can do so this month at a heavily discounted rate as part of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR)’s Residential Tree Distribution program.

The DNR’s partnership program with the U.S. Forest Service provides a variety of landscape-sized native Iowa trees to homeowners with the hope that the trees will help to reduce home heating and cooling costs, decrease stormwater runoff, create shade for outdoor activities, and bring higher home values.

“These trees provide a variety of benefits for landowners and communities, from reducing energy bills to even controlling erosion,” said Webster County Conservation Director Matt Cosgrove. “This program offers quality native trees at a reduced price for landowners. The program is a great way to add species diversity to your yard and reduce utility costs.”

Webster County Conservation will have landscape-sized trees available to residents from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 10 at the Matt Cosgrove River’s Edge Discovery Center in Fort Dodge. According to the DNR, the trees retail for $75 or more, but Iowa residents can purchase them as part of the program for $25 each.

The varieties available in Fort Dodge include pecan, northern catalpa, tulip tree, sycamore, bur oak, serviceberry-autumn brilliance, and dwarf chinkapin oak.

Residents can purchase no more than two trees per private property. No more than three property orders can be made by a homeowner each season.

To order trees as part of the DNR’s Residential Tree program, residents can order online at IowaDNR.gov, via a link on Webster County Conservation’s Facebook page, or by contacting Webster County Conservation.

Trees must be picked up at the Oct. 10 event. Trees that are not picked up will be forfeited and be offered for sale at the end of the event.

“Over the past few years, we have lost a significant number of trees to the emerald ash borer,” said Cosgrove. “This program provides a cost-effective way to replace residential trees and add new species to your yard.”

Residents are reminded to dial Iowa One Call at 811 or log on to IowaOneCall.com at least two business days before planting the trees to ensure that underground utilities are not hit.


Available trees

Native trees available to area residents include:

• Pecan

• Northern Catalpa

• Tuliptree

• Sycamore

• Bur Oak

• Serviceberry-Autumn Brilliance

• Dwarf Chinkapin Oak

Starting at $2.99/week.

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