The Mighty Oak

I have a test I administer, in secret and in silence, to traveling companions along a stretch of road in southeast Nebraska. It is not a test of knowledge,or of character, but of timbre

TREES FOR WESTERN NEBRASKA

The following species are recommended for areas in the western half of Nebraska and/or typically receive less than 20” of moisture per year

The Seed

Not that long ago most Nebraska communities were full of large American elms. Their tall, arching habit, fast growth and adaptability to a wide range of soil conditions made them a popular choice for planting in towns from Falls City to Chadron and all points in between. Because of its wide-spreading habit, American elm was especially popular for planting along streets. Often the canopies of individual trees met over the middle of the street, creating a ceiling of green that would sometimes stretch for blocks at a time. Unfortunately Dutch elm disease raced across the state in the 1960s and 70s and, in what now seems like the blink of an eye, the elms were gone. And they have been sorely missed

The Seed

Water—the giver of life, so preciously scarce and yet sometimes so abundant. As I write this in August 2008, much of Nebraska has seen above average rainfall for the year. At my home in Waverly, over 24” of rain has fallen since April 1st. That is nearly 6” above average. After several years of below average precipitation, that is a nice change of pace! Things are lush and green like we haven’t seen in years (although for the last several weeks we have been in a typical late-summer dry pattern). When it rains it pours and in some places of the Midwest, there was way too much rain. Just ask our neighbors to the east in Iowa who suffered devastating flooding from the spring and early summer rains

The Mighty Oak

I have a test I administer, in secret and in silence, to traveling companions along a stretch of road in southeast Nebraska. It is not a test of knowledge,or of character, but of timbre

G98-1349 Woody Landscape Plants: Selection and Planting

This NebGuide discusses how to select the right tree or shrub for any location and how to properly plant and care for it. Properly planted and cared for trees and shrubs add beauty, protection, diversity and value to almost any property, whether they are planted in a park, in front of your house, or along a street or highway. Planting is only the first step in the process of maintaining a well kept, desirable landscape. Proper maintenance practices need to be considered and performed on an annual basis to ensure the plant\u27s long term health and vigor. Landscape trees and shrubs are not difficult to plant, but proper species selection and planting techniques are necessary to ensure success. Successful planting also requires a knowledge of growth characteristics, site requirements and intended landscape function

The Seed

When it comes to managing our planted landscapes, we humans seem to prefer working against Mother Nature. Where she would provide a diverse mix of flora and fauna, we prefer trying to carpet the ground with a monoculture of lawn and then sprinkle a few colorful (and often foreign) trees, shrubs and other plants here and there as accents. We like to think that we’re in control, that we’ve created some- thing static and beautiful, but in reality we are regularly doing battle against natural processes and in many ways against our own best interests. We’ve come to accept near-constant mowing and trimming, regular use of pesticides to kill unintended plants and insects, lots of irrigation to keep things green, leaf blowing and sidewalk edging for even more tidiness and the regular removal of grass clippings, leaves and other plant residue to the landfill—necessitating a regular use of fertilizers to maintain soil fertility

TREES FOR WESTERN NEBRASKA

The following species are recommended for areas in the western half of Nebraska and/or typically receive less than 20” of moisture per year

Trees for Nebraska Ice Storm Recovery

Geographic Adaptability;Drought/Wet Adaptability;Size Range;Ice Damage Susceptibility;Large Deciduous Trees (typically over 40 feet tall at maturity);Medium Deciduous Trees (20 to 40 feet tall at maturity);Small Deciduous Trees (under 20’ tall);Evergreen Trees

Oaks for Nebraska

R = belongs to red oak group—acorns mature over two seasons & leaves typically have pointed lobes. W = belongs to white oak group— acorns mature in one season & leaves typically have rounded lobes. Estimated size range is height x spread for trees growing in eastern Nebraska. A few places to see oaks: Indian Cave State Park; Krumme Arboretum in Falls City; Peru State College; Fontenelle Nature Center in Bellevue; Elmwood Park in Omaha; Wayne Park in Waverly; University of Nebraska Lincoln; Lincoln Regional Center Arboretum; Ehman Park in Gothenburg; Highland Park in Hastings; UNL Extension Center & Cody Park in North Platte; and UNL Extension Center in Scottsbluff