Spring outdoor work

by Lisa Ralls
WCCB Naturalist
Spring has been late in coming this year, but it will arrive. And, when it does, hopefully you’ll be ready for it. Now is the time to prepare for that inevitable warm weather and the yard and garden work that will need to be done. And, while you’re preparing, make sure to think about how you can help out the environment.
One of the best things you can do to help the environment is tree-planting. Trees provide us with a whole host of benefits, including cleaning our air, holding our soil in place, and providing us with cooling shade. They also provide important wildlife habitat and look beautiful. And, some species can even provide us with fruit to eat.
When choosing a tree to plant, make sure you check out the site where you will be planting it. Look to see how close other trees are, or where there are power lines. Then, make sure to plant a tree that won’t interfere with either of those. Trees planted close to your house can save you money by providing shade that lowers your summer cooling bill. But, make sure you don’t plant too close to your house, otherwise the tree’s roots may eventually impact the foundation of your house. Also, make sure you plant a tree that will do well in your type of soil. Some trees prefer well-drained soils, while others do well in moist soils. You can find information about specific tree species online.
Perhaps you don’t have room to plant a tree. There are many wonderful shrub species that provide many of the same benefits of trees, including providing excellent wildlife cover and food, but take up less space. Consider planting shrubs such as aroniaberry, buttonbush, dogwood, serviceberry, ninebark, and highbush cranberry. Many of these have very showy flowers, so be sure to check them out. And, of course, whether you are planting a tree or a shrub, always make sure that you call Iowa One Call (811) before you dig to make sure that there are no underground power lines where you want to plant.
Maybe you don’t have plans to plant any trees or shrubs this year, but would still like to help out the environment. There are always a lot of different wildflower species you can plant. If you have a shady area, flowers such as columbines, violets, Dutchman’s breeches, and bluebells work well, and wild ginger makes a great ground cover. In a sunny location, blazing stars, goldenrods, butterfly milkweed, and coneflowers provide lots of color. They are also wonderful sources of nectar for important pollinators such as butterflies and bees.
So, as the weather warms up this Spring, be sure to consider planting a tree, a shrub, or simply a few flowers. They will add immeasurably to the appearance of your yard, and will provide numerous benefits to our environment. You don’t have to do much. But, if we all do a small part, we can all make a big difference.