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Care and maintenance of trees

Tree Management Plans

Routine care and repair of infrastructure is the basis of any management strategy.  The same can be said for green infrastructure--trees! The Community Trees Program has developed resources with information on and examples of forestry management plans that can assist in protecting and maintaining the community forest.

PDF iconTree Tools Tree Management Plans

Sustainable large landscapes

Large landscapes, like the green spaces of homeowners associations, office campuses, industrial parks, schools, and park districts can be expensive, labor intensive, and time consuming. They can also protect property, increase property value and create enjoyable environments. Sustainable landscaping—changing practices to reduce these landscapes’ adverse impacts on the environment and make them easier to care for—can be beneficial to property owners, the surrounding community, and the planet.

“Retrofitting Large Landscapes for Sustainability” is The Morton Arboretum’s online handbook for property owners, managers, and residents. The handbook is based on the idea that all parts of the landscape are interconnected and any change—even a small one—can improve the entire property, reduce the management budget, and help the environment at large. 

It addresses such topics as:

  • landscaping around ponds to reduce erosion and goose problems
  • choosing tree species that are pest-resistant and resilient.
  • reducing lawn area for lower mowing costs.
  • changing display plantings to perennials and native plants that require less upkeep.
  • enlisting residents’ and tenants’ support for sustainable landscaping changes.

The document was developed by The Morton Arboretum’s Community Trees Program with the help of a large advisory committee of property managers, residents and board members of community associations, landscape architects, landscape contractors, government agencies, nonprofits, and other partners. A full list of the committee can be found in the Acknowledgements section of the handbook. The work was funded by the US Forest Service.

The 96-page handbook can be downloaded in its entirety.

PDF iconRetrofitting Large Landscapes for Sustainability

Funding support

Learn about grants and other sources of funding for urban forestry projects and operations. The Community Trees Program has put together a list of funding sources that are available throughout the year.  It is important to visit the website of each of these funding agencies to determine what funding is available and when the applications are required.