The City of Marion and Monarch Research are pleased to announce the next community-wide tree-planting program. The primary goal of the initiative is to provide residents with native Iowa trees to plant in the right-of-way along City streets adjacent to their property.

The benefits of trees are well documented. In addition to providing shade, reducing stormwater runoff and improving air quality, street trees are known to have a traffic-calming effect and a positive impact on human health and mental wellbeing.

Marion residents and landowners who commit to the planting, watering and protection of the trees as they become established can register online for up to three free 3 or 5-gallon trees provided by Monarch Research. This program specifically targets right-of-way areas, in most cases the area between the curb and the sidewalk.

Program registration will open Aug. 12, 2024, and continue through Sept. 13, 2024.

Members of the City’s Urban Forestry Division will provide inspection services to verify species, location and the number of trees suitable for the available right-of-way. The Urban Forestry Division then assumes the long-term maintenance of the trees.

Residents and landowners interested in participating can find additional program details and the available tree species options at www.monarchresearch.org.

Additional Resources

How to Plant Your Tree

As part of this program, we are providing the following information to make sure trees in the community are planted properly! Proper tree planting and care ensures the best chance for healthy establishment of these trees. The tree planting videos and illustrated PDF (below) provide tree planting best practices.

Arbor Day Foundation Tree Planting (Video)

Arbor Day Foundation Tree Planting (PDF)

Trees Forever - "How to Plant a Container-Grown Tree" (Video)

How to Care for Your Tree After Planting

Proper tree care for establishment after planting and as the tree grows is critical to long-term health of your new trees! The Arbor Day Foundation walks you through key tips below for proper watering, mulching, pruning and more.

Tree Care Tips and Techniques

While the tree species chosen for the Planting Forward program are hardy, native trees with relatively few pests, it is vital that you protect your young trees from rabbit and deer damage. It only takes one night for a hungry rabbit or deer to ruin your tree by girdling the stem, browsing off the branches or rubbing the trunk with antlers. If your yard is exposed to rabbits or deer, fence your tree until it has grown out of the reach of deer and has thick bark that rabbits do not like. If you have deer frequent your property, keep protection around the trunk so a buck cannot rub the trunk with its antlers. Buck rubbing usually happens from late September through February and can be prevented with wire fencing or three tree stakes spaces about 18” apart.  

Preventing Wildlife Damage

Learn more about Monarch Research Project on their website and watch Monarch Research's "Planting Forward" overview with Clark McLeod.