burlapped

December is a time when many people think about buying a tree to bring in the house to decorate for Christmas.  But it’s also a good time to consider buying a tree to plant in your yard, or give to someone as a gift.  Planting a tree while it’s dormant in the winter gives it a head start when the weather warms up in the spring.  All it takes is a little planning.

There are different ways that trees are prepared when they’re sold.  You can purchase trees that are “bare-root” (meaning the roots are just hanging out in a little bit of soil), or trees in containers, or trees that include a lot of soil around their roots, referred to as “balled and burlapped.”  If you’re not sure which kind of tree would be best to plant where you live, the Department of Forestry has a lot of information available.  They have a guide to help you decide which kind of tree is best for your area, as well as the size and habits of trees to consider before you plant.

The Virginia Department of Forestry not only knows all about selecting trees, they also sell them!  They have been growing seedlings for more than 100 years, and they offer the stock that is the best suited for Virginia soils and climate.

Their website boasts that you will benefit from their 60+ years of Virginia tree improvement research because:

• Due to the cooperative sharing of genetic material, all of the best varieties that are suitable for Virginia are in their program;
• Selections have continuously placed extra emphasis on properties (straightness, crown characteristics) desirable for solid wood products; and
• Some families from other provenances and cold hardiness zones either fail in Virginia or perform erratically.

The VDOF further provides professional forestry assistance to help homeowners manage their tree resources through education, advice, and connecting homeowners with appropriate resources.  They have additional information about planting trees, proper tree care, and hiring a certified arborist.

So consider greening up your yard with the help of the Virginia Department of Forestry!