Free Tree Program
Providing Native Plants to Shade Waterways
How it worksMarion County will send out a few hundred letters to streamside property owners. The letters will have a voucher on them in which you can redeem at Kale Farms located at 5287 Portland Road NE in Salem.The plants are available for pickup from our native plant supplier, Kale Farms (Salem). Simply redeem the voucher included with your letter upon pick-up. The voucher is good for up to 10 free native plants. Plant selection will vary according to available stock and this year’s program will end when all the plants have been claimed.
Maintenance: All plants, even natives, should receive continual maintenance for increased survival rates. Maintenance consists of watering during the dry summer months and reducing competition by removing invasive non-native plants.Why give Free Trees?
Reducing Temperatures
Planting trees and shrubs along rivers and streams shades waterways, reducing stream temperatures. High water temperatures allow for bacteria, overloading of nutrients, and unwanted organism to inhabit the waters we fish and swim in. Too many nutrients makes it difficult for marine life such as fish to live and reproduce.
Erosion Control
Trees and shrubs are also important along streams and rivers to stabilize banks. Rainstorms or even the natural river flow can erode bank sides causing sediment and debris to enter the waterways. Trees and shrubs soak up precipitation before it can run off the soil and cause erosion. Too much sediment and debris is harmful to aquatic life and takes more resources to remove for the Oregonians downstream that use water for drinking.
Natural Filter
Vegetation also acts as a natural water filter, removing toxins from the soil and polluted ground water before it enters surface water.
Providing Habitat
Waterways are prime habitat location as wildlife can find drinking water and an abundance of food. Planting more trees and shrubs will provide more food and shelter for wildlife.
Available Native Plants(Free Plants are in 1 to 2 gallon pots and are smaller than pictures below.)
Shrubs
Pacific Serviceberry
Nootka Rose
Vine Maple
Pacific Ninebark
Red Osier Dogwood
Douglas Spirea
Indian Plum
Red Flowering Currant
Tall Trees
Big Leaf Maple
Oregon Ash