Trees can improve well-being

February is American Heart Month. It’s time to get back to a big, healthy life with simple steps to improve your heart health.

Spending time near trees where you live, work and play can improve your overall well-being. A growing pool of research shows that trees reduce pollution, lower blood pressure and heart rate, lower stress and increase physical activity.

The Million Hearts initiative and CDC Foundation encourage you to “Start Small. Live Big.” Live big by taking healthy steps to get outside and stay active.

Walking or biking in nature is a great start to a more active lifestyle. A wealth of research has linked tree cover and green space to increase in activity and lower obesity rates.

Help your neighborhood live big by planting a tree.

It is never too early to start planning for spring. You can make a difference in your community by planting a tree in your yard, local park or school.

Here are some great opportunities to get affordable trees to plant this spring:

•Alliant Energy customers can purchase up to two trees per planting address at $25 per tree. Submit your order online today to reserve your trees.

•State and local governments, schools, and nonprofit groups in the 27 Iowa counties impacted by the August 2020 Derecho can apply for reimbursable grants. Community Forestry Grant applications are due March 3.

•IRA Trees For Schools Grant applications are available online. Eligibility is determined by 25% or higher free and reduced lunches and/or schools in communities eligible through the Forest Cover and Socioeconomic Assessment Tool. The deadline to submit a spring application is March 21.

The Iowa DNR State Forest Nursery offers spring delivery in April and May for hardwood, conifer and shrub seedlings. Visit our online store to view seedling varieties and to place your spring order.

All trees are grown from Iowa seed sources to harvest the bounty of native genetics that have thrived in our soils and weather against disease, insects, droughts and floods for many thousands of years.

DNR’s expert nursery staff can assist with species selection and answer questions about your tree needs and nursery offerings.

If you’re thinking of branching out and adding a new tree to your yard, keep these things in mind:

•Start with research — Some species thrive under different conditions, so it’s always a good idea to study up on which trees would do the best in your yard.

•Consider all your needs — Different trees have different benefits, such as quick growth and how much shade they’ll give.

•Know what your yard has to offer — If you have heavy clay soil, you’ll want a tree that can handle wet conditions. A shorter tree is a great option for planting under power lines.

•Find the best place to plant — Check out i-Tree Design to help you decide where a tree in your yard could help with energy efficiency in your house.

Learn more tips for selecting, planting and proper maintenance of trees on our Tree Resources and Links page.