(Chelsea Update would like to thank Kevin Sayers and Mike Smalligan for the information in this story.)
Want to help Michigan with cleaner air and water? Want to provide cooling summer shade and a haven for wildlife?
Start with a tree. Pick one out at your local nursery, plant it and then pin it on the DNR’s interactive map. More than 50,000 trees already have been planted and mapped statewide.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources invites residents to help in planting 50 million trees by 2030 through our Mi Trees campaign. Whether you have a family forest plot handed down through generations or a small city lot, a new tree (or trees!) can make a big difference in your landscape.
One state, global effort
Mi Trees is part of 1T.org, a global effort to plant more trees to help communities adapt to the world’s changing climate. Since Michigan’s campaign launched on Arbor Day, nearly 270 planters have pinned over 50,000 trees on our map!
The DNR plans to plant more than 6 million trees this year on state forest land. The department typically plants millions of trees a year.
Help your trees thrive
“To make sure new trees stay healthy, plant them correctly and water through the summer,” said Kevin Sayers, Urban and Community Forestry coordinator for the DNR’s Forest Resources Division in a press release.
Spring and fall are best for planting trees. Staff at local nurseries can help you choose a tree from their inventories that will thrive where you want to put it.
Consider the size your tree will be when it is fully grown and plant an appropriate distance from your house or other buildings and away from power lines. These tips from the Arbor Day Foundation can help you make the right selection.
Consider planting native trees, which provide food and cover for wildlife.
Water your tree daily during the first week, then weekly afterward. You want a balance; enough water but not too much. If the ground feels wet, you may not need to water.
Once you plant your tree, go to our interactive online map and log in your tree.
For more information on how the DNR takes care of state forests, visit Michigan.gov/Forestry.
