resources
Photo: Joyce Harris
there’s a lot of information out there.
To help with your tree questions, we have collected some of our favorite online resources below. You can also ask us a question using the form at the bottom of this page!
Tree Benefits, Selection, Planting and Care
Information on the benefits of trees, hiring certified arborists, selecting trees, managing tree hazards and risks, planting and caring for trees and more.
ISA Trees Are Good Website, Tree Owner Manual
Benefits of Trees/Nature, Green Cities Good Health - University of Washington
24 Ways to Kill a Tree and How Not to Kill a Tree - Virginia Cooperative Extension Service, Bonnie Appleton
Five Myths about Trees - Plant Nova Natives
McLean Trees Foundation Tree List - See our "Plant Trees Now" page
Tree Identification, Diseases and Insect Problems
The Fairfax County Master Gardener Association operates an award-winning lab year round and will diagnose diseased plants at no cost to residents. The lab also identifies plants, insects, mushrooms and sod. Learn more about how to submit a sample to the lab by clicking here.
tree Protection
Information on how to protect existing trees from some of the most common perpetrators.
Piedmont Master Gardeners Deer Protection Ideas
Deer Protection Recommended by the American Rose Society -This approach to deer protection works well for trees if you combine it with trunk protectors.
Deer Protection Ideas Recommended from University of Minnesota Extension
How to Protect a Tree in Fairfax County From Being Cut Down - Tree Preservation Ordinance Request Form
Avoiding Tree damage During Construction - ISA publication
Treatment of Trees Damaged by Construction - ISA publication
InvasiveS and INVASIVE Trees
Information on trees that are invasive and should be removed.
Virginia Invasive Plant Species List - Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
Blue Ridge Prism Factsheets: Bradford, Callery and other Ornamental Pears
Tumbleweed, Maui fires, and Franklin Park: Could it happen here? - Urban Forest Alliance
Videos
And don’t miss this video from Fairfax County:
How to Plant a Tree - Hugh Whitehead, Fairfax County Urban Forester III
County Resources
Fairfax County Urban Forestry Management Division - For questions about hazardous trees, risk of trees, construction concerns, County ordinances, forest pests, state codes and more.
Fairfax County Tree Commission - The Tree Commission advises the Board of Supervisors on how to protect and expand the urban forest, comments on agency actions that might affect the urban forest, and publishes an Annual Report on urban forest priorities and the county Tree Action Plan.
Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District - Promotes Soil and Water Conservation in the County. Hosts a tree seedling sale every spring.
Partners
Friends
“There is much going on in your yard that would not be going on if you did not have one or more oak trees gracing your piece of planet earth.”
– Doug Tallamy,“The Nature of Oaks: The Rich Ecology of Our Most Essential Native Trees.”
Ask MTF
McLean Trees Foundation is a group of dedicated and passionate volunteers, and together we have a wealth of experience with planting and caring for native trees right here in McLean, Virginia. If you have a question that might benefit from our local expertise, please use the form below to contact us. Please remember we are a volunteer organization, so it may take some time for us to respond, but we will do our best to help with your local tree questions!