With the typical Iowa winter of subzero temperatures and strong northerly winds, the benefits of trees and woody shrubs to wildlife and songbirds can not be overemphasized.

Trees, especially conifers, provide critical winter cover for many of Iowa's game and non-game species. If densely planted, conifer trees act as "Wildlife Hotels" by greatly reducing wind chill temperatures and allowing wildlife to conserve body heat. In addition, conifers provide cover for wildlife hiding from predators. Conifers ideally suited to Iowa's growing conditions are red cedar, white pine, red pine, jack pine, Norway spruce and white spruce.

Broadleaf shrubs and small trees with dense low hanging branches also provide winter cover for wildlife and provide winter food sources. Shrubs and small trees such as serviceberry, the dogwoods, chokecherry, wild plum, elderberry, arrowood, nannyberry, buttonbush and highbush cranberry are excellent choices for Iowa wildlife. As the snow becomes deeper and blows into drifts, upright woody vegetation continues to provide winter food, browse, and cover which is often critical to wildlife winter survival.

To provide winter cover in future years, trees and shrub species can be planted this spring. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) State Forest Nursery sells trees and shrubs for wildlife plantings. The price is $0.25 to $0.45 per seedling with a minimum order of 500 seedlings. For smaller scale plantings, the 20 seedling Songbird packet is available at $20 and various 200 seedling wildlife habitat packets are available at $90. To order seedlings or for more information, call the nursery at 1-800-865-2477 or connect to www.iowatreeplanting.com. 

"If you have an area of open land, consider a tree and shrub planting to help Iowa's wildlife species," said John Walkowiak, chief of the DNR's forestry bureau.

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