Conservation Plantings

SHADE Means Energy Conservation

• A well-placed deciduous tree can provide shade in the heat of the summer when air conditions are going but allow full advantage of the sun's energy on those bright winter days.

WINDBREAKS for Conservation

• Windbreaks can protect your property from winter winds that steal your energy heating dollars, control drifting snow, protect outside work areas and livestock and provide food, cover and nesting habitat for wildlife.

EROSION CONTROL for Soil Conservation

• Keep your soil from washing away! Plantings for bare soil areas, slopes and banks keep soil in its place. Plantings along creeks and streams should utilize a minimum 5-10' buffer zone. Stream corridor plantings will help reduce erosion, filter out pollutants, and improve habitat.

GROUNDWATER Recharge and Protection

• Groundwater is the major resource for drinking water in Illinois. Aquifer recharge is critical for replenishing groundwater. Impervious surfaces such as roads and roofs not only increase water runoff, but also impede water's ability to percolate down through the soil to recharge aquifers.

WILDLIFE Benefits

• Planting a variety of evergreen, deciduous, and herbaceous plant species can provide food, cover and nesting habitat for wildlife. Varying your plant species can increase the diversity of bird species on your property.