Forestry and Tree Care in Western Nebraska Western Nebraska brings to mind single trees and small groups of trees in yards along city streets, as well as larger groups of trees sometimes in isolated communities and certainly trees along our creeks and rivers. Trees in communities provide many benefits, including economic value in reducing energy costs, decreasing storm water runoff and attracting visitors to shopping and business districts. Trees grown in shelterbelts or windbreaks provide relief from the wind and weather and provide a valuable conservation practice to reduce erosion, while protecting crops and livestock. This website will provide current and professional information needed to properly plant, grow, prune, and care for trees and landscapes.

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Tending the Garden . . . August 18, 2008

by Rachel Allison, district forester

I hope most of you have been able to get some of the rain in the last couple of days. It has helped to cool the temperature a bit too. The last 2 weeks in July I was on vacation and it was really hot in the southwest US (Utah). When I got back to the Garden - WOW! the weeds that were either insignificant or not too large apparently sprouted overnight.

So of course I’ve been working on “catching” up as I know many of you are too. On Monday I was out taking some pictures and what I want to share with you this time is about all the “volunteers” in our gardens: the good, the bad, and well, the others.

The good volunteers are the seedlings that come from nature and are perfectly planted. The ones in my garden are: An Austrian pine seedling, goldenraintree, skunkbush sumac, currant or gooseberry, dogwood, these are just a few of them. Sure I have some that are growing in areas I don't want and of course I won't keep those. However, I also have 4 goldenraintrees right now and I plan to keep at least 3. Out behind the Garden there were 3 old trees, but the only one we have left will soon be gone from old age. So what better way to plant a tree than to use a direct seed source!

The bad volunteers of course are the weeds. I've just come back from an hour in the Garden and with all the rain the weeds grow quickly; but at least they pull up pretty easily, too. I've got lots of elm seedlings, and some have told me about the cottonwood seedlings in their gardens. And there are always the green ash, mulberry, hackberry and even oak seedlings, too. Other kinds of weeds include grasses, kochia, spurge, puncture vine, even henbit is coming back; and the list goes on.

The others? Well, that is you and all the other great folks that keep your gardens “weed free.” Dave Mooter, retired community forester, and I inspected some of the Community Enhancement Program (CEP) grants around the southwest part of the state on Tuesday. Both Dave and I were really impressed with the care that many of them receive. In fact, Dave said that most of the ones he’s looked at across the state are in really good shape.

So here’s to all of you – the Great Volunteers in the Garden. Thanks, and for some of you reading this “column,” I hope you can find a community garden and become a “volunteer” too!

Thanks – See you next time.

Tending the Garden, July 11, 2008: Planning new plantings

Tending the Garden, July 2, 2008: Removing weeds from the Memorial Garden