
Extension Master Gardeners Amy Crumpton and Molly Newling discuss how to properly care for trees already in your home landscape and how to assess your site’s conditions to help you select appropriate new tree species to include. Their emphasis is on native tree species since our area has such a rich number of species to choose from. They discuss how and when (Fall is the time!) to plant a tree and how to tend it as you watch it grow.
Video of Presentation
Resources Recommended by Extension Master Gardeners (Arlington & City of Alexandria)
Printable pdf
Native Trees for Northern Virginia: Selecting Trees

- Common Native Trees of Virginia. 2022. Virginia Department of Forestry.
https://dof.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/Common-Native-Trees-ID_pub.pdf - Native Plant Finder. 2022. National Wildlife Federation.
https://www.nwf.org/NativePlantFinder - Plant NOVA Trees.
https://www.plantnovatrees.org/ - Trees. 2022. Tried & True Native Plant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic. Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia.
https://mgnv.org/plants/native-plants/trees/ - Utility Friendly Trees. 2019. Trees Virginia. Virginia’s Urban Forest Council.
http://www.treesvirginia.org/education/utility-friendly-trees
Native Trees for Northern Virginia: Obtaining Trees

- Earth Sangha Wild Plant Nursery. 2022.
https://www.earthsangha.org/wpn - Native Seedling Sale. Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District..
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/soil-water-conservation/native-seedling-sale - Neighborhood Tree Program. 2022. City of Falls Church.
https://www.vpis.org/environment/trees/ - Register for a Free Native Tree. Arlington County Parks & Recreation. Arlington Residents only.
https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Programs/Sustainability-and-Environment/Trees/Tree-Canopy-Fund-Program/Register-for-your-Free-Tree - Small Trees Make Big Canopies. 2022. Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia.
https://mgnv.org/small-trees-make-big-canopies/ - Tree Canopy Fund. 2022. EcoAction Arlington and Arlington County Urban Forestry Commission.
https://www.ecoactionarlington.org/community-programs/trees/
Tree Care

- Appleton, Bonnie and David Close. 2021. 24 Ways to Kill a Tree. VCE 430-210.
https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/430/430-210/430-210.html - Appleton, Bonnie, Susan French and Laurie Fox. 2022. A Guide to Successful Pruning: Pruning Deciduous Trees. VCE 430-456.
https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/430/430-456/430-456.html - Goatley, Mike.“Leave” Them Alone: Lawn Leaf Management. VCE 430-521:
https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/430/430-521/SPES-212.pdf - Johnson, Jill, R. et al. 2008. Tree Owner’s Manual for the Northeastern and Midwestern United States. U.S. Forest Service.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5368392.pdf - Koci, Joel and P. Eric Wiseman. 2014. Hiring an Arborist to Care for Your Landscape Trees. VCE ANR-131.
https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/ANR/ANR-131/ANR-131.html - Non-Native Invasive ID and Control: A Citizen’s Guide. 2008. Fairfax County: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/sites/parks/files/assets/documents/naturalcultural/non-native-invasive-id-control-booklet.pdf
- Oak Decline in Northern Virginia. 2019. http://www.arlingtonforestva.org/Oak_Decline_in_Northern_Virginia__Fact_Sheet.pdf
- Take Ivy Off Trees. TreeStewards and Arlington Regional Master Naturalists.
https://treestewards.org/take-ivy-off-trees/ - Tree Basics. 2019. Fairfax County Tree Commission. https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/publicworks/sites/publicworks/files/assets/documents/pdf/publications/tree-basics-booklet.pdf
Planting Trees
- How to Plant. 2022. Casey Trees.
https://caseytrees.org/resources-list/how-to-plant/ - Planting Trees. 2022. VA Dept of Forestry:
https://dof.virginia.gov/urban-community-forestry/urban-forestry-homeowner-assistance/planting-trees/
Recommended Videos on mgnv.org
- Conrad, Kirsten. 2020. Fruit Trees and Berries for the Urban Landscape: Natives. Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia.
https://mgnv.org/mg-virtual-classroom/ug-class-video/native-fruit-trees-berries-2020/ - Conrad, Kirsten. 2021. Tree Care: Managing Pests and Diseases. Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia.
https://mgnv.org/mg-virtual-classroom/bmp-class-video/tree_care_2021/ - DeRosa, Nina. 2021. Composting: Leave the Leaves and Other Beneficial Practices. Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia.
https://mgnv.org/mg-virtual-classroom/bmp-class-video/leave-the-leaves-video-2021/ - Mills, Elaine. 2020. Invasive Plants and Native Alternatives. Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia.
https://mgnv.org/mg-virtual-classroom/sl-class-video/native-alternatives-2020/ - Mills, Elaine. 2022. Celebrating Native Trees. Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia.
https://mgnv.org/mg-virtual-classroom/sl-class-video/celebrating-native-trees/ - Newling, Molly and Angela McNamara. 2022. Pruning Trees and Shrubs: Winter. Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia.
https://mgnv.org/mg-virtual-classroom/bmp-class-video/winter-pruning-2022/