Agricultural Sciences

Webinar series to focus on successful tree and shrub planting

Aimed at anyone interested in planting trees or shrubs on their properties, Penn State Extension’s upcoming Tree Planting webinar series will cover common barriers, installation and maintenance, and case studies. Credit: Kathleen Connally/Penn State Extension. All Rights Reserved.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Aimed at anyone interested in planting trees or shrubs on their properties, Penn State Extension’s upcoming Tree Planting webinar series will cover common barriers, installation and maintenance, and case studies.

The series is designed for residents and property owners, property managers, municipalities, homeowners association boards, watershed associations, and environmental volunteer groups.

The following webinars are scheduled for 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in April and May:

  • Tree Planting Series: Battling Barriers,” April 28. Planting native trees and shrubs can enhance landscapes, support wildlife and improve water quality — especially when planted as riparian buffers along streams and other water bodies, organizers noted. This session will explore common challenges to planting and maintaining buffers, from site selection to funding assistance, and offer strategies to overcome these obstacles.

  • Tree Planting Series: Installation and Maintenance,” May 5. This webinar will address key steps in site selection, best practices for installation, and strategies for ongoing maintenance, whether on agricultural land or residential properties or in neighborhoods governed by homeowners associations.

  • Tree Planting Series: Case Studies and Lessons Learned,” May 12. This session will examine real-world case studies from professionals experienced in planting trees and installing riparian buffers. Presenters will discuss lessons learned and practical tools to help measure the success of tree plantings.

This webinar series is a result of the recently formed Buffer Action Team in Cumberland County. The team focuses on outreach to landowners across the county and encourages them to add more streamside buffers to their properties. This webinar series stemmed from wanting to address common concerns and questions about adding trees to one’s property.

This series was developed in partnership with many organizations, including those presenting in the series: Penn State, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Juniata County Conservation District, Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council, and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

Penn State Extension offers this series at no charge, but registration by 6 p.m. on each webinar date is required to receive the link to access the webinar.

Registrants will receive a link to the recorded webinar within 10 business days after each live event. The recording will be accessible for six months from the event date.

Last Updated April 21, 2025