Berries that grow on native trees and shrubs are wildlife powerhouses. Despite that, some of the best producers are labeled “junk trees” in today’s gardening and landscaping industries because they aren’t someone’s idea of what a yard tree should look like. 

Some tree care companies do provide a free arborist consultation—but you still must analyze the wide range of recommendations you will get.

We all know that chronic stress affects our health and well-being, causing us to go into “fight or flight” mode. Ongoing stress also affects the health of trees.

Dreams of warmer days are lovely, but if you have trees in your yard or if they are in a nearby park, winter might also be the time to learn how to appreciate and protect their incredible beauty.

Autumn is a perfect time for trees to go in the ground. Instead of facing a long, hot summer, trees have time to get acclimated to their new space, and then they cheerfully spend the winter in a dormant state.

This year, the entire month of October is Native Tree Month across Virginia!

It’s no myth that trees hold a special place in our collective psyche. Trees play a prominent role in myths, often symbolizing life and rebirth. Unfortunately, some of the stories about them are just plain wrong.

Residents who are interested in installing solar panels often face a dilemma. Which is better for the environment, solar panels or shade trees?

If your community owns some wooded common land, or if you yourself own a wooded property, you may have noticed that the woods around here have been slowly changing, and not for the better.

September marks the first anniversary of the launch of Plant NOVA Trees, a regionwide effort by over a hundred local organizations and thousands of individuals to promote native trees and shrubs in Northern Virginia.

We all try to stay in the shade in hot weather, competing for the parking spaces under trees. What we may not realize is that tree-lined neighborhoods are cooler not just because of the shade but because the trees themselves act as air conditioners.

As community associations around Northern Virginia ramp up their native tree planting efforts, they are looking around to find ways to make it affordable.

Native groundcovers are becoming increasingly popular, for good reason: even if they have minimal time for gardening, people want to use native plants to support our local birds and butterflies.

If your yard sits in the blazing sun in the summer, it may have already occurred to you that a native shade tree would benefit you tremendously. But even if your yard is already graced by one or more mature trees, you should give some serious thought as to whether it is time to start the next generation.

Every tree counts! And counting every tree also helps show whether Northern Virginia is meeting its environmental goals.

Arlington National Cemetery is a place to honor, remember, and explore. The beauty of the grounds and the comfort of its visitors is enhanced by close to 10,000 trees, some dating back to before the Civil War.

This fall is for celebrating trees as well as planting them. Plant NoVa Natives is launching a PLANT NOVA TREES campaign that will continue for five years, according to Margaret Fisher, PNN’s Outreach Coordinat

Plant NoVA Trees is live! Check out this brand new initiative from Plant NOVA Natives to encourage planting more native trees.