(SBA) - Fall is usually a good time to plant trees with mild temperatures and adequate ground moisture. With drought conditions across Iowa this fall, watering newly planted trees on a regular schedule through the 2025 growing season is essential for a strong start and healthy life.
Shade trees can reduce heating and cooling costs, improve the air we breathe, add beauty and color to backyards, provide shelter from the wind and sun, and make our communities a better place to live.
A properly planted and maintained tree will grow faster and live longer than one that is incorrectly planted.
“Properly planted and maintained trees will have a better opportunity for a long, healthy life,” said Iowa DNR district forester Mark Vitosh. “Improperly planted and maintained trees can become stressed more easily or may look otherwise healthy, but then suddenly die in the first 10 to 20 years after planting.”
“The work does not stop after planting,” explains Vitosh. “Proper tree health monitoring and long-term maintenance like watering, mulching, and structural pruning helps promote quality trees long-term.”
Follow these simple tips to properly plant and maintain a healthy tree:
Find more tips on how to properly plant a tree, select diverse trees and proper tree care after planting on the DNR webpage at www.iowadnr.gov/UrbanForestry.