Let's work together to plant trees & shrubs on unused portions of your lawn;
An environmentally-friendly yard can save you time & money in the future!

Do you need more privacy, or a barrier to block wind and noise from reaching your home?
...Our foresters can meet with you to help you pick the right trees and shrubs for a natural property boundary.

Do you enjoy watching birds and butterflies?
...Attend our workshop and for tips on creating safe and attractive wildlife habitat.

Are you spending extra time mowing or fertilizing unused areas of your lawn? Watch new trees grow instead!
...We may be able to help you pay for a tree planting project, complete with deer protection shelters. 


Eastern Redbud trees popping up through deer protection shelters

**Please note: enrollment for our 2013 program has ended. Stay tuned for future opportunities!**

Frederick County’s Office of Sustainability & Environmental Resources (OSER) recently received grant money from the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation to help keep local drinking water clean. When we work with neighbors to plant trees and shrubs in their yards, we all help to prevent polluted runoff from reaching our drinking water. These same trees and shrubs will grow to provide valuable wildlife habitat and provide our families with clean air, welcome shade, and scenic views to enjoy. By changing areas of unused, mowed lawn to environmentally-friendly, natural areas filled with beautiful trees and shrubs, you can reduce the time and money spent mowing and fertilizing while enjoying increased privacy, wildlife viewing, and seasonal colors and blooms.  

In Spring 2013 we worked with neighbors in Frederick and Carroll Counties to plant more than 14 acres of trees and shrubs. In previous years we planted more than 10 additional acres in Frederick County. You and your neighbors could be planting the next acres of new forest toward clean water and healthy communities! 

"Like" us on Facebook!

*****
 

Photos taken 2 months after planting (May 2013) - From top left: Mr. Muller, Mr. Hardin, and Mrs. Clark with their new seedlings

Thank you to all of the participants of the May 18, 2013 Neighborhood Green workshop! We had a great, informative day and we are looking forward to performing site visits this summer. If you were unable to attend our workshop this year, but are interested in our program, we would be happy to keep your information on file and share future opportunities with you. Submit an interest form here.

*****

More projects from the spring 2013 Neighborhood Green planting season (2 months after planting):
 
We encourage mowing in rows - it is not necessary to mow around each shelter, and mowing in rows reduces the likelihood of hitting and possibly knocking over shelters.

Trees can be planted near areas of water to add beauty (think flowering redbuds, dogwoods, serviceberry) and/or to help keep pollution from entering streams and ponds.

 

For a larger planting, like this 5-acre project, mowing 3x a year (in rows) is perfectly acceptable. We recommend mowing in June, August, and late September/early October.





Seedling growth depends on site conditions, weather conditions, tree species and other variables. Here are some examples of seedling growth over time: Top left -  two months of growth; top right - 2 years of growth; bottom left - 4 years of growth; bottom right - 6 years of growth (sycamores are very fast-growing with the right conditions!)

Neighborhood Green partners include: National Fish & Wildlife Foundation; Frederick County Office of Sustainability & Environmental Resources; Carroll County Department of Land Use, Planning, and Development; Maryland Forest Service; University of Maryland Extension; Frederick County Forestry Board; Potomac Conservancy; Center for Watershed Protection; Forestry for the Bay; Catoctin Land Trust

PERSONAL STORIES
Read about local families that have been doing their part to create environmentally-friendly landscapes:

Claude & Pilar Eans