Home Gardening

Trees benefit our lives in many ways, but we often take them for granted. We may not notice their struggles with environmental stresses and poor cultural practices until it's too late to make a difference. The Tree Smarts program is designed to educate anyone who has an interest in trees--whether in your own landscape or the landscapes of your neighborhood and community--about trees and how to be proactive in caring for them.

Join us at the following Tree Smarts seminars, a three-part series being held at Henrico County Recreation Centers. The seminars are free, but registration is requested. Call the Henrico Extension Office at (804) 501-5160 to register and for more information.

Choosing the Right Tree

Putting the "right tree in the right place for the right reason" optimizes tree health and longevity. Being knowledgeable about tree species common to Virginia and their specific cultural needs is critical to the selection process and ultimate success of your landscape.

Raising a Healthy Tree

After proper selection, nothing is more important to the successful growth of a young tree than how it is planted and cared for its first few years. Factors to consider include watering, fertilizing, mulching, pruning, and protecting from insects, diseases, and other stresses.

Caring for an Older Tree

As trees age, their ability to respond to stress is greatly decreased. Mature trees have heavier demands on their energy than do young trees. Maintaining a stable environment around mature trees is an absolute necessity for keeping healthy trees healthy.

Tree Smarts Consultations 

Do you have questions about the trees around your home? Enroll in Tree Smarts today! 

Click here for your enrollment form!

The Henrico County Master Gardeners in conjunction with the Henrico Extension Office, are offering assistance to Henrico residents providing on-site consultations regarding the care and health of trees.

Enrollment is $10 and includes a copy of "Your Yard, Your Trees: A Homeowner's Guide" -a 70 page full color book created by the Hoosier Heartland Resource Conservation and Development Council, Backyard Trees Committee.

When you enroll in the Tree Smarts Program, a volunteer team of Master Gardeners will:

• Help you identify tree problems.
• Show you how to maintain healthy trees.
• Advise you on new trees and planting.

You will receive:

• Publications related to your specific needs.
• A comprehensive, easy to read book on tree care.
• A face-to-face session with a Henrico Master Gardener, for up to 45 minutes.

You will learn:

• How to handle "tree trauma."
• How to care for an older tree.
• Proper planting, pruning, and mulching techniques.
• How to select the right tree for the right spot.

Schedule your personal, at-home consultation today and start enjoying healthy, happy trees! It's the SMART thing to do and enrollment is easy!

Program runs from Thursday, April 1, 2011 to Friday, October 14, 2011.

For additional information, please contact the Henrico Extension Office at: (804) 501-5160.

The Henrico County Master Gardeners providing this service have been trained by the Agriculture and Natural Resources extension agents of the Henrico County Office of Virginia Cooperative Extension to make available the information listed in this brochure to homeowners. They are not Certified Arborists. Certified Arborists are individuals who have achieved a level of knowledge in the art and science of tree care through experience and by passing a comprehensive examination developed by some of the nation's leading experts on tree care. To find a Certified Arborist near you, please visit the ISA website at: http://www.isa-arbor.com/