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Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Free Tree Seedlings Available on Lower Eastern Shore

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is offering free tree plantings to help improve water quality in targeted Lower Eastern Shore communities.

Somerset and Worcester County landowners who have a creek, drainage ditch, stream or other waterway on or near their property are eligible for free tree seedlings through the department’s Backyard Buffer program.

Trees planted along waterways help enhance and improve water quality by absorbing excess nutrients, reducing sediment, stabilizing stream banks and lowering water temperatures.

Each “buffer in a bag” contains 25 native, bare-root tree seedlings suited for planting in wet soil conditions. The bundle will include five river birch, five swamp white oak and five black locust, in addition to 10 loblolly pine. All seedlings are 1-year-old and about 8 to 10 inches tall.

Maryland Forest Service staff will provide information on tree maintenance and planting techniques, in addition to suggestions on other good native species at the time of pick up.

All tree requests must be received by March 23. Interested homeowners should contact Dakota Durcho by cellphone at 443-235-1634 or email to reserve their seedlings for an early April pick up. Quantities are limited so reservations will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a great way for the county/state to get you to self identify that you have a potential critical area on your property. No thanks.

Anonymous said...

I live in Wicomico county near a stream and wooded area. Paid extra for the lot. However, my neighbors see it fit to cut down trees in their back yard. The stream is just covered in "green" slime - go figure!

Anonymous said...

I ordered trees for my yard (wicomico next to a ditch/pond) and they forgot about me. Can I get some from Worcester or Somerset?

They should do the same around farms- create a 7 foot buffer near any ditch or stream. Would prevent half of the nutrients ending up in the bays. In my unscientific opinion.

Anonymous said...

"... create a 7 foot buffer near any ditch or stream. Would prevent half of the nutrients ending up in the bays. In my unscientific opinion."

Yes, your opinion is well-meaning but still unscientific. Tree do very little to prevent nutrient movement on the surface or below. The best filter, hands down, is plain old grass.

Anonymous said...

1051 environmental engineer knowledge - BINGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!