Franklin County, News, Top News Stories FRONT PAGE, Z - TOP HOME
 By  María Camp Published 
8:31 am Thursday, March 2, 2023

Forestry commission gives out free trees March 2-3

Franklin County folks have the chance to celebrate Arbor Day in a special way this week – with free trees, to be given out by the Alabama Forestry Commission.

Free trees will be on offer at the commission office, 1004 Highway 36 in Russellville, March 2 from 9 a.m. to noon and March 3 from 14 p.m.

“In the past, we’ve usually gone to Red Bay City Hall for the giveaway,” explained Alex Horn, forest management specialist for the Alabama Forestry Commission.  “This year, we decided to work out of our office since it’s more centrally located in the county. Some of the trees are donated by us, and others are donated by TVA.

Information sheets will be available to help people understand best practices for planting the trees.

Horn said all the trees will be native species and include flowering dogwood, Eastern redbud, elderberry, American hornbeam, red maple, common persimmon, bald cypress, tulip poplar, scarlet oak, Chickasaw plum, American plum, Southern crabapple, native pecan, Mexican plum, swamp white oak, sugar maple, river birch, northern catalpa, sweet shrug, white fringe tree, oakleaf hydrangea, dwarf red buckeye, American hazelnut and Clethra.

“We have a saying – that you want to have the right plant in the right place,” explained Kerry Steedley, regional Extension agent for forestry, wildlife and natural resources. “You want to consider the environment, whether it’s well-drained or retains more water.”

Steedley said trees native to the Southeast are “really good at weathering.” This area has periods of both rain and drought.

She said it’s good to go ahead and think about possible desired locations for a tree, considering conditions and preferences of the tree, as well as personal preferences, such as wanting color in a certain area.

Steedley said, especially in the first year, it’s important to make sure to water the tree during any periods of drought to help it get off to a good start.

“A few years down the road, it wouldn’t need as much maintenance as a lot of the ornamental trees that aren’t native to our area,” Steedley explained.

Those who would like to test their soil can do so for free through the Extension. “It’s a good way to see if your soil has the nutrients it needs to grow healthy trees,” she added.

Steedley said a lot of people think a hole for a tree has to be deep, but that’s often not the case, noting sometimes a bowl shape is better, not requiring as much depth. She explained the roots need room to spread out.

Other considerations she mentioned include whether a particular tree needs bright sunlight or whether it’s more shade-tolerant.

“Trees have a lot of benefits,” she pointed out, “from providing erosion control in landscaping to providing food, as well as shelter for wildlife and helping support the local population of insects and wildlife.

Also on Franklin County Times
Thorpe to play at Blue Mountain Christian
High School Sports, News, Russellville, ...
Brannon King For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE – Brennon Thorpe made his plans official to attend Blue Mountain Christian University and play baseball for the Toppers during a recent s...
Russellville High Class of 1967 gathers, reminisces
Columnists, News, Opinion, ...
HERE AND NOW
July 16, 2025
You can’t really go back to the good old days of high school, but you can pay them a visit now and then. That’s exactly what the RHS Class of 1967 has...
Former Cypress Lakes official to lead Guntersville State Park
Lifestyles, News
Bernie Delinski For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
GUNTERSVILLE — Heath Puckett had an Auburn University degree and golf course superintendent certification in his pocket when he arrived at Cypress Lak...
European travel builds bonds across cultures
Lifestyles, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE -- A group of Franklin County travelers spent nine days this summer walking through catacombs, exploring castles and standing in places w...
Little Free Library welcomes readers in East Franklin
Lifestyles, News, Phil Campbell
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
PHIL CAMPBELL — Eleven-year-old Aiden Hall is an avid reader, but he doesn’t just want to read books. He also wants to share them, and the way he deci...
King becomes elementary curriculum director
Lifestyles, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
RUSSELVILLE — Molly King says every child can learn, though not necessarily in the same way or on the same day — a belief she plans to carry into her ...
New Junior Leaders begin their training
Franklin County, News
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 16, 2025
FRANKLIN COUNTY — Forty-two high school students from across Franklin County are beginning 10 months of hands-on leadership training and community ser...
Fire destroys 2-story garage, guest suite
Main, News, Russellville, ...
Kevin Taylor For the FCT 
July 16, 2025
R U S S E L LV I L L E – Jason Gist leaned against the wall of his home with a look of disgust while dozens of firefighters worked to extinguish a fir...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest Stories
July 4, 2025Augusto Simon Diaz, 42, of Russellville, passed away July 4. Visitation and funeral were held at Spry Memorial Chapel on July 12 from 2pm ...
July 16, 2025
July 8, 2025Jamie Kerby Cummings, 41, of Russellville, passed away on July 8. Visitation took place July 13, at Spry Memorial Chapel from 1 pm to 3pm....
July 16, 2025
July 11,2025Julie “JuJu” Welch Black, 63, of Russellville, passed away on July 11.Graveside service was held at 1pm on July 13, at Belgreen Cemetery w...
July 16, 2025
July 9, 2025Scott Noel Benford, age 58, of Muscle Shoals, passed away on July 9. Visitation was held at Pinkard Funeral Home in Russellville on July 1...
July 16, 2025