MONROE - Green County Department of Land Conservation has an opportunity to purchase seven varieties of hardwood trees at a discounted price for landowners interested in planting trees in spring of 2009. The varieties are: Bur Oak, Red Oak, White Oak, Swamp White Oak, Black Cherry, Sugar Maple, and Butternut. The trees would be bare root, 1.5-2' tall for the Butternut, 2-3' tall for the White and Swamp White Oaks and 3-4' tall for all the others. The cost is only $2 a tree with a minimum order of five of one species. People interested are asked to contact the Department of Land Conservation by Friday, March 13, 2009 to order the trees. The Department can be reached at 325-4195.
• Black Cherry: Medium-sized tree growing to a height of 60 feet and 1-3 feet in diameter. Prefers rich, moist soils. Wood is a deep, rich red color prized by furniture makers. Fruit is eaten by many wildlife species. Reproduces well from coppice growth.
• Bur Oak: Medium to large tree. Commonly grows up to 60-80 feet in height and 2-3 feet in height. Some trees reach 5 feet in diameter. Slow growing. Will grow on dry upland sites as well as moist 'bottoms.' Most wide spread of the oaks. Often seen in pure stands on old pasture sites. A member of the white oak group, it is used to make whiskey barrels, railroad ties, flooring, and furniture. Tolerates alkaline soils. Should be included in any planting.
• Red Oak: Medium to large-sized tree growing 70-90 feet tall and 2-4 feet in diameter. Grows best on moist sites with black oak and walnut. One of the fastest growing oaks. Wood is most desirable of all red oaks and supplies the majority of all red oak lumber. Self-prunes very well as large clear stems bringing added value. Fall color ranges from vibrant red to brown. Should be included in any planting.
• Swamp White Oak: Medium-sized tree reaching 50-70 feet tall and 2-3 feet in diameter. Tolerates high moisture, though not long periods of standing water. One of the faster growing species in the white oak group. Wood is used for lumber and veneer. Acorns eaten by a variety of wildlife species.
• White Oak: Large tree reaching 80-100 feet tall and 2-3 feet in diameter. Grows well on dry uplands and hillsides. Slow growing. Wood is historically the most valued of all the oaks. Early ships were built almost entirely of white oak. Currently used for whiskey barrels, flooring, furniture and veneer. Becoming more rare in natural stands. Should be planted in any upland planting.
• Sugar Maple: This shade tree grows to be 60-75' in height with a spread of about 40-50' at full maturity. Grows in deep, well drained, acidic, to slightly alkaline soil. Prefers moist soil conditions but has moderate drought resistance. This maple has an oval, rounded shape with leaves that are 3-5 in. across with 5, or rarely 3, distinctive lobes. Flower colors are green and yellow and they bloom in April and May. Do not plant in confined areas or where salt is a problem. The wood of the Sugar Maple tree has always been highly valued for furniture because of its beauty and extreme hardness. Once mature enough it can be tapped to make maple sugar.
• Butternut (White Walnut): Medium sized tree grows to 40-60' in height and has a spread of 35-50' in diameter. It grows in a wide range of soils and moistures, but prefers moist soils. The leaf is somewhat brighter, yellower green than many other tree leaves. The flowers are inconspicuous yellow-green produced in spring at the same time as the new leaves appear. Has distinctive ridged and furrowed bark. It produces drooping clusters of sweet nuts. The nuts are usually used in baking and making candies, having an oily texture and pleasant flavor. The attractive, light golden wood is used for paneling and furniture. Plant two for pollination.
• Black Cherry: Medium-sized tree growing to a height of 60 feet and 1-3 feet in diameter. Prefers rich, moist soils. Wood is a deep, rich red color prized by furniture makers. Fruit is eaten by many wildlife species. Reproduces well from coppice growth.
• Bur Oak: Medium to large tree. Commonly grows up to 60-80 feet in height and 2-3 feet in height. Some trees reach 5 feet in diameter. Slow growing. Will grow on dry upland sites as well as moist 'bottoms.' Most wide spread of the oaks. Often seen in pure stands on old pasture sites. A member of the white oak group, it is used to make whiskey barrels, railroad ties, flooring, and furniture. Tolerates alkaline soils. Should be included in any planting.
• Red Oak: Medium to large-sized tree growing 70-90 feet tall and 2-4 feet in diameter. Grows best on moist sites with black oak and walnut. One of the fastest growing oaks. Wood is most desirable of all red oaks and supplies the majority of all red oak lumber. Self-prunes very well as large clear stems bringing added value. Fall color ranges from vibrant red to brown. Should be included in any planting.
• Swamp White Oak: Medium-sized tree reaching 50-70 feet tall and 2-3 feet in diameter. Tolerates high moisture, though not long periods of standing water. One of the faster growing species in the white oak group. Wood is used for lumber and veneer. Acorns eaten by a variety of wildlife species.
• White Oak: Large tree reaching 80-100 feet tall and 2-3 feet in diameter. Grows well on dry uplands and hillsides. Slow growing. Wood is historically the most valued of all the oaks. Early ships were built almost entirely of white oak. Currently used for whiskey barrels, flooring, furniture and veneer. Becoming more rare in natural stands. Should be planted in any upland planting.
• Sugar Maple: This shade tree grows to be 60-75' in height with a spread of about 40-50' at full maturity. Grows in deep, well drained, acidic, to slightly alkaline soil. Prefers moist soil conditions but has moderate drought resistance. This maple has an oval, rounded shape with leaves that are 3-5 in. across with 5, or rarely 3, distinctive lobes. Flower colors are green and yellow and they bloom in April and May. Do not plant in confined areas or where salt is a problem. The wood of the Sugar Maple tree has always been highly valued for furniture because of its beauty and extreme hardness. Once mature enough it can be tapped to make maple sugar.
• Butternut (White Walnut): Medium sized tree grows to 40-60' in height and has a spread of 35-50' in diameter. It grows in a wide range of soils and moistures, but prefers moist soils. The leaf is somewhat brighter, yellower green than many other tree leaves. The flowers are inconspicuous yellow-green produced in spring at the same time as the new leaves appear. Has distinctive ridged and furrowed bark. It produces drooping clusters of sweet nuts. The nuts are usually used in baking and making candies, having an oily texture and pleasant flavor. The attractive, light golden wood is used for paneling and furniture. Plant two for pollination.
