Planting Forward

Reference

Spring Pruning Tips

From Iowa State Extension

Doug Tallamy: Planting Forward August 2021 (1 hour)

Planting Forward

THANK YOU to everyone that participated in the 2023 Planting Forward native tree initiative. Together, we are making a difference!

Program History: On August 10, 2020 Cedar Rapids, IA was struck by a derecho, destroying over 50% of our tree canopy and damaging over 8,000 homes. This storm system affected 340 communities in 27 counties in Iowa.

The DNR has estimated Linn County tree loss at 950,000. This overwhelming green infrastructure loss prompted MR and its partners to focus on turbo-charging tree recovery, along with native pollinator habitats, through this Planting Forward initiative.

Monarch Research was formed with the strong belief that responding to the overwhelming environmental challenges faced globally, requires a response locally. Planting Forward is not only a response to the derecho disaster but also an opportunity to restore thousands of native trees to our canopy supporting hundreds of native species. In fact, native trees are truly the cornerstone of environmental health.

The program was created with two main goals:

Replanting all derecho-impacted land in Linn County with high-quality native trees.
Educating residents on proper tree care and the value that only native trees provide to the environment, pollinators, and people.

Why Native Trees?

Native trees have evolved in Iowa alongside our native animal species. All native animals and insects depend on native species to survive. The trees offered by MR, especially Oaks, serve as food sources to native Iowa pollinators, birds, and wildlife. Many of the trees offered in the Planting Forward program are considered keystone trees.

Planting Forward: A corporate regrowth and recovery program for Cedar Rapids and surrounding communities.

One Child, One Tree Program

Monarch Research Collaborates with Local Healthcare Providers to Offer Free Native Trees to New Parents in Linn County

Monarch Research is excited to announce a collaboration with two leading healthcare providers to launch the One Child, One Tree program, offering a free native tree to new parents in Linn County. This initiative is an extension of Monarch Research’s successful Planting Forward program, which was developed in response to the devastation caused by the 2020 derecho. Learn more.

Planting Forward Tree Grant Program

Planting Forward is a grant program made available to Linn County residents in an effort to replant native Iowa trees that were lost in the 2020 derecho.

Planting Forward For Woodlands

Monarch Research has earmarked a limited number of trees for large property owners or those with three or more woodland acres. Please read all program details before ordering trees. In addition, learn How to Plant a Tree, from our nursery partner, Forrest Keeling. Click on the linked images below.

Transforming an Acorn into an Oak: As part of the Planting Forward initiative, Monarch Research hosted a webinar in February that provided a ‘recipe’ for anyone wanting to grow an oak from an acorn. You can view the webinar by clicking here, and click here to download the acorn planting instructions!

Planting Forward Program Partners

MR partners with landowners, schools, hospitals, neighborhood associations, historical sites, and local governments in Linn County, to distribute trees to employees.

MR will also assist partner organizations in communicating program details to their employees, including tree species details and registration options.

An overview of Planting Forward will be included in the program participation materials. In this overview, participants will learn about the importance of native trees for environmental, land stewardship, pollinator, and native plant community ecological consideration.

In addition, program guidelines along with required commitments for tree planting and care will be provided.

Tree Delivery

Monarch Research will work with Partners to source a variety of native Iowa trees for distribution. Partners will care for the trees until the distribution is complete.

Depending on each company’s program, participants may receive up to three trees, tree wrap, a watering bucket, and both first and second-year planting and care instructions.

Tree Planting and Care

Participant use of trees: own property, or derecho impacted neighbor, family member, or local non-profit. However, the participant who received the tree is responsible for educating anyone given a tree with program materials and proper planting and care instruction (These are found under References above).

The ideal planting season for these trees is early to mid-April or early to mid-Fall.

If your company is interested in participating or you would like more information, please use the CONTACT button above and let us know.