Fast Growing Trees are the longest living organisms on the planet and one of the earth’s greatest natural resources. They keep our air supply clean by absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen, reduce noise pollution by acting as sound barriers, improve water quality by filtering rain water, help prevent soil erosion, provide food and building materials, create shade, and help make landscapes look beautiful.
Trees can help to make the homeowners surroundings more enjoyable and if trees are properly placed and maintained, they can increase the value of ones home. Trees serve several different functions. They also provide privacy, emphasize views, or screen out objectionable views. They reduce glare and reflection on city streets, reduce runoff, filter out pollutants and they provide background to complement or enhance architecture.
Shade trees like Tulip Poplar Trees provide relief from summer’s heat and can reduce summer cooling costs. An ornamental tree such as the Royal Empress provides beautiful flowers, leaves, bark, or fruit. Arborvitae Thuja Green Giant, an evergreen with dense foliage, can be used to provide a windbreak or a screen for privacy from neighbors or an unsightly area.
A deciduous tree that drops its leaves in the fall like the Summer Red Maple or perhaps the Crimson King Maple allows the sun to warm a house in the winter. Fruit bearing trees such as EZ Pick Apple, Peach or Cherry can provide food for the owner and/or attract birds and wildlife into your home landscape. Trees can also improve the overall appearance and quality of life in your neighborhood.
By planting trees, the environment has a chance to return to a more normal or natural state. Birds, beneficial insects and other wildlife will be attracted to the area and the natural cycle of plant growth, reproduction, and decomposition will be present, both above and below ground and natural harmony will be restored to the environment. Because of their potential for long life, trees frequently are planted as living memorials.
A memorial tree can promote healing for grieving families and friends who have suffered the loss of a loved one or pet. A tree can also be planted to signify the celebration of a joyful event such as a holiday, anniversary, birth or wedding.
How to Plant a Tree: First, prepare a hole two to three times as wide as the root ball of your tree. Handle the root ball carefully to keep it intact while you place it in the hole. Once it's in, turn it so the best side of the tree is facing the direction you want. Backfill around the root ball, lightly packing the soil as you go. Frequently check the trunk to ensure that it's straight. Use leftover soil as a berm to create a watering well. It is recommended to stake your new tree for the first year. The stake should be tied to the trunk; do not lash it tightly.
Large trees may need two or three stakes placed several feet from the trunk. Water the tree soon after planting and every day for several weeks afterward. By that point, the roots will have begun to grow out into the surrounding soil, and you can begin to gradually reduce the frequency of watering. Apply a 3-inch layer of mulch around the base of the tree will keep weeds out and reduce water loss. 
