Tips for successPlant a tree, save the planet:

Tips for successPlant a tree, save the planet: Tips for success

There's something about the simple act of establishing a new tree that taps into the spiritual and often complex relationship between humans and trees. And, since the original Earth Day celebration more than 40 years ago, it's been the symbol for healing our ailing environment.

Tree planting is seen as a small scale solution that one person can offer to improve the community and curb the effects of global warming, pollution and stress from urban living. These are tangible benefits that can be quantified in cost savings to the community and enhanced property values.

To see how, check out the National Tree Benefit Calculator (treebenefits.com). Based on your location plus the size, age and species of tree, the calculator estimates the dollar value and impact of the tree in terms of its effect on storm water, electricity, air quality, property value, natural gas and carbon dioxide.

Tree planting may seem simple enough, but without attention to key details, it can fail completely. In order to achieve success, keep these considerations in mind:

Select the right tree for the aspect, soil and sunlight characteristics of the location. Which tree species to plant makes a difference when you consider its adaptability to urban stresses, whether it will be in a streetscape, a park or residential setting, and your expectations of the tree's longevity and ecological value.

If you care about supporting insect biodiversity to sustain wildlife and enhance your garden, plant a tree species that produces the most insects. Douglas Tallamy of the University of Delaware puts the oak at the top of his list, followed by willow, cherry, birch, poplar, crabapple, maple, elm, pine and hickory rounding out the top 10 choices.

Consult local tree sources for the best species for your climate.