Fall is a great time for tree planting in Indiana. Cooler temps and more rain can help roots establish before the ground freezes and the tree goes dormant. It’s well known that trees provide air quality and aesthetic benefits above the ground, but how can they also help our natural resources below ground?
Controlling Stormwater
One of the biggest water quality impacts of trees is helping to control stormwater runoff. Trees capture rainfall before it reaches the ground and has a chance to travel along impervious surfaces. This is important as stormwater can carry contaminants such as sediment, fertilizers, and pesticides. Reducing stormwater runoff thus reduces the need for additional treatment and water quality management.
Filtration
By slowing water runoff, trees are also able to absorb and filter more contaminants through their roots. Acting with other vegetation and the soil surrounding the tree, they are a natural filtration system, keeping more pollutants out of the water ways. Tree help create natural pathways in the soil for the water to penetrate and reach these natural systems too.
Trees in the Water Cycle
Trees also help in the restoring water back to the atmosphere as part of the water cycle. Tree water uptake is released by evaporation from leaves. In urban areas without a lot of trees, heat islands can occur because of the lack of water in the air plus the lack of shade. This negatively impacts the general water cycle as well with less water available for the entire area.
When thinking about what types of trees to plant in your area, a native species is often a good place to start. Because these species are adapted to your region, they often require less water to maintain after they are established. In Indianapolis, Keep Indianapolis Beautiful is a great place to start for advice on tree planting on your property – and sometimes even free trees!
