PLANT TREES TO SAVE MONEY ON HEATING COSTS, ATTRACT WILDLIFE AND BEAUTIFY YOUR LANSCAPE

Homeowners can reduce their heating costs by planting tree and shrub windbreaks.  Windbreaks provide protection for up to 10 times their height by reducing wind speeds that cool your home, causing your furnace to run longer and burn more fuel to keep you comfortable during the winter.  They also reduce wind erosion, reduce stress on crops and gardens, which increases yields, act as excellent wildlife habitat, and provide privacy screening. 

 If you want to attract wildlife to your property, planting properly selected plants can provide food and cover for a variety of animals.  Evergreens provide good nesting cover for birds and thermal cover for larger animals.  Cones from pines and spruces are an excellent food source for songbirds, while the leaves and berries from other plants provide needed winter food for many birds and animals.  A well designed planting can provide food and cover for the whole year.

If you are experiencing soil erosion on slopes around your home or property, part of the solution to your problem may be to plant a variety of grasses, ground covers, shrubs and trees, plus mulches, used with grading for proper drainage, to help stabilize eroding soil. 

 Many Eaton County landowners are using naturalized landscaping to reduce maintenance costs, provide habitat for wildlife, and add beauty to their property.  Planting a variety of trees shrubs, wildflowers and prairie grasses can help increase plant diversity for wildlife, reduce landscape maintenance costs, reduce soil erosion, filter runoff, and add beauty to your property.

Trees, shrubs, prairie grass and wildflower plants for these conservation uses are available for order from the Eaton Conservation District Spring Tree and Plants Sale.

Trees and shrubs purchased through the Conservation District are not intended for commercial uses, such as nursery stock.  Public Act 89 of 1929 prohibits planting stock purchased from conservation districts from being resold with the roots attached.  Purchases through this program support work by the Conservation District in Eaton County.  

Orders for tree and shrub seedlings will be accepted through March 20, 2015, while supplies last.  Distribution of seedlings and other conservation materials will take place on April 17, 2015 at the Eaton Fair Grounds, Charlotte.

To obtain a catalog for the Spring Tree and Plants Sale, call or visit the Eaton Conservation District office, 551 Courthouse Drive, Ste 3, Charlotte; telephone: (517) 543-5848 ext. 5.  Information on the sale and a downloadable order form are also available on the District web site at: www.eatoncd.org/plant-sales

The mission of the Eaton Conservation District is to promote and encourage cooperation with other individuals, groups, organizations, or agencies in an organized effort to conserve and improve the natural resources in Eaton County.  The District works cooperatively with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

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