The Vine News

A year after a Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley launched a citizen component of Marylanders Plant Trees, the program could come in handy for homeowners who suffered landscaping losses during the harsh winter.

The program, designed to greatly increase tree cover across the state, provides homeowners with $25 coupons for purchases of native trees costing $50 or more. Through the program, the state is partnering with businesses, communities and citizens to reach its goal of planting 1 million new trees by 2011. The program, which also includes several longer term goals, is part of Smart, Green & Growing, a statewide initiative to involve every Marylander in creating a more sustainable future.

And after a harsh winter that left countless broken branches and felled trees in its wake, state officials are hoping the program will be a welcome invitation to re-invest not only in home and commercial beautification, but also to perform a small act with substantial long-term impact.

“What to some may be the seemingly small action of planting a tree actually has a substantial impact on our ecosystem,” O’Malley said in a press release. “Our new citizen program will enable citizens, who may not otherwise have been able to participate, to support local businesses, and do their part to think “globally and act locally” to create a smarter, greener, more sustainable future for our State.”

Whether taking advantage of the coupon program or not, citizens who plant new trees are asked to use the State’s website, www.trees.maryland.gov – which offers valuable planting advice -- to register the trees they’ve planted and calculate their benefits. The website offers an interactive map to site individual trees on their property.

“Forests are our most strategically important natural resource,” said Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary John Griffin. “In addition to protecting water quality, cleaning our air and providing wildlife habitat, one large tree can eliminate 5,000 gallons of stormwater runoff from our beloved Chesapeake Bay each year. Well placed trees can also help reduce energy costs for citizens by 15 to 35 percent.”

“The Maryland Nursery and Landscape Association is honored to help promote this program; its goals align with those of our member companies and we are very pleased that many of our retail members have chosen to participate in Marylander's Plant Trees,” said Don Riddle, President of Homestead Gardens in a press release. “Not only will the planting of trees contribute to a cleaner environment, it will also produce a more beautiful state landscape.”