Why Plant Trees?
Trees are a significant asset in our community. Trees not only provide shade to cool our houses and neighborhoods, but they also absorb stormwater, clean dangerous particles from our air, beautify our city, increase property values, and improve our mental health. When planted correctly and placed in the right spot, trees can significantly enhance our City and improve our day-to-day lives. Some studies estimate that every $1 spent on tree planting and maintenance provides $3 in services to the community.
While the City has some resources to plant trees in parks and public spaces, maintaining a healthy, beautiful, and beneficial “Urban Forest” ultimately depends on all of us. This webpage is designed to give you some more information on how you can help the City of Jeff grow and maintain its tree canopy.
Jeffersonville Tree Ordinance
Below is a link to the City’s tree ordinance. This ordinance sets standards and defines the responsibilities for trees planted in or encroaching into the public rights-of-way.
What to Plant:
With so many types of trees to choose from, selecting the right tree for your yard can be a difficult task. When choosing a tree, it is important to think about how large the tree will get over time, how much water it needs to be healthy, how disease resistant it is, whether its native or non-native to Indiana, and so forth.
The following is a short list of species that are recommended for planting in Jeffersonville. These trees are well-suited for growing Southern Indiana and, generally speaking, do not have pest problems. As with any tree, success depends on proper siting and planting.
When to Plant
Thanks to our fairly mild winters, it is possible to plant trees in Jeffersonville year-round. However its usually not recommended to plant trees in June, July and August – when temperatures are at their peak. If planting in the summer months, it will be critical to keep the trees well watered so they don’t wither in the sun.
Perhaps the best time to plant trees in Southern Indiana is in the Fall (late September – early December). Trees put out leaf and branch growth in the summer and put out root growth in the winter. Planting in the late fall allows trees to take root over winter so that they’re ready to go in the spring.
Where to Plant:
Placing the right tree in the right place is key to getting the most benefits out of your tree (and avoiding damage to buildings, sidewalks, drives, etc.). Here are a few recommendations:
- Plant large shade trees at least 15 feet from the foundation of your house; smaller ornamental trees can be planted a few feet closer.
- Plant trees at least 5′ away from sidewalks, drives, and underground utility lines.
- Do not plant large shade trees under overhead powerlines – small ornamental trees may be acceptable.
- Where other trees exist on your property, plant large shade trees at least 25′-30′ from other large shade trees. Ornamental trees should be planted at least 20′ from any other tree.
How to Plant:
Planting your tree correctly is critical for successful growth and development. While many people imagine tree planting to be extremely difficult, its actually a fairly easy process.
The following link provides some valuable information on how to properly plant a tree:
Tree Planting Instructionsopens PDF file
How to take care of your trees:
Much like your home or your car, trees require on-going maintenance if they are to thrive and provide lasting benefits for you and the community.
The following links provides some further information on tree care and maintenance. For further help and support (especially for mature trees) it is recommended that you contact a certified arborist or other tree care professional.
Young Tree Careopens PDF file
Mature Tree Careopens PDF file
Thanks for helping make Jeffersonville a little greener!
On behalf of the Department of Planning, we thank you for your support in helping improve our community by enhancing our urban forest.
