Stay Fresh on Tree Care with Free Workshops

By Molly Priddy, 2-08-11

So, I know there's a lot of snow piling up out there, but I'd like to let you know about some meetings coming up regarding Spring and trees. Specifically, caring for and choosing trees.

Yes, I realize it requires a little bit of energy to muster the mental shift necessary to consider Spring tree care when all of our deciduous trees are naked and the conifers make convincing snow ghosts.

However, the folks at the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation are offering some free workshops dedicated to the subject, and thinking about Spring trees is a nice change from considering how crazy the roads are going to be when all this snow melts, re-ices and then gets snowed on again (rinse, repeat).

From the DNRC:

Consulting Arborist Mike Garvey will cover identification of invasive insects and diseases; pest monitoring and survey techniques; proper tree maintenance activities such as pruning, fertilizing, irrigation and mulching; selecting the best tree species for a particular site; tree identification and basic biology, and plenty more.

Garvey will also discuss the many benefits of urban and community forests for Montana’s cities and towns.

There will be a few of these workshops in our neck of the woods. These seminars are usually well-attended, DNRC folks say. So if you've got trees, prepare yourself and show them a little love come springtime.

Here's a workshop list:

International Society of Arboriculture and Pesticide Applicator Continuing Education credits are available. The workshop is scheduled for the following cities or towns in the North West region:

Kalispell: Feb. 15th, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. (City Hall, 2011st Ave East). Contact Chad Fincher at (406) 758-7960 for details.

Libby: Feb. 16th, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. (City Hall, 952 E Spruce St.). Contact Vicky Lawrence at (406) 293-8419.

Columbia Falls: Feb. 17th, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. (City Council Chambers, 130 6th Street West). Contact Lorin Lowry at (406) 892-4430.

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