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Friday, March 23, 2018

Free Tree Seedlings Available for Lower Eastern Shore Landowners

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

Dorchester and Wicomico 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 Buffers 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 of each species: buttonbush, hazel alder, red osier dogwood, willow oak and white oak. All seedlings are 1-year-old and approximately 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 pick up which will take place April 21 for both counties. The Dorchester pick up location is the Spocott Windmill on Route 343 near Cambridge from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Wicomico pick up location is the University of Maryland Extension Office at 28674 Old Quantico Road in Salisbury from 10 a.m. to noon.

The deadline for placing orders is April 20. Dorchester residents should contact Scott Daniels at 410-228-1861, and Wicomico residents should contact Matthew Hurd at 410-543-1950. Quantities are limited so reservations will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

We need a tax payer buffer program! Hey Maryland stop wasting our tax dollars!

Anonymous said...

This is a great program at a low cost. Stabilizing streams may keep your house dry longer.

Anonymous said...

Scrooge. They are probably pennies each!

And yes we do need the program.

Anonymous said...

We got something like this about 30 years ago when living near the marsh in Somerset County. There weren't as many varieties, but they made a big difference with the backyard drainage (which often was flooded in high tides) once they grew to maturity.

Anonymous said...

Come on in and explain to us why you think you have a critical area and we will take your name/address and add it to our database for a few dollars worth of trees. I'll buy my own thanks.

Anonymous said...

I want the free cannabis plants!

Anonymous said...

Critical areas have been mapped for decades. The state knows dam well where they are. They know if you are in a critical area

Anonymous said...

Waste. Pure waste, as is DNR period. There is too much money thrown away for a gun toting paramilitary clan that’s there for the sake of itself. All tree programs, research and studies, put and take fish programs, civilian harassment programs and associated mercenaries, all their surveillance toys, boats, trucks and weapons aimed at dads taking their kids fishing or bunny hunting is a joke. CUT their funding by 90%. Leave them with a small mobile staff to monitor commercial fishing. Eliminate the recreational fishing license and watch the tax receipts soar! The people own the land and water, Not DNR.