Alders and black locust help control soil erosion

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9/30/2011?
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Trees are like people - they all have special talents. Some trees are tall and have valuable wood. Others produce vivid fall foliage or wildlife-friendly fruits or nuts.

Smaller trees like black locust and speckled alder and shorter-lived trees like the European black alder aren’t the tallest or prettiest trees in the forest, but they are very important to the environment. These hardworking trees help keep soil out of our streams and help keep our stream banks in place.

Black locust is a medium-sized tree that grows 50 to 80 feet tall. It is often planted on sites where the surface has been disturbed through mining or other practices.

Speckled alder is a small clumping shrub that only reaches about 25 feet in height. This tree grows well along stream banks and lakes, as well as in swampy areas.

European black alder is a fast-growing tree, usually reaching between 50 and 80 feet tall. Its lifespan is shorter than most trees and it generally lives only 15 to 20 years. European black alder will grow in wet to drier soils, and also is commonly planted on areas where soil has been disturbed.

Clements State Tree Nursery sells bundles of bare root black locust, speckled alder and European black alder seedlings. Each bundle contains 25 seedlings and prices start at $25 per bundle.

For a complete catalog of seedlings for sale at Clements State Tree Nursery, visit www.wvcommerce.org/resources/forestry/treenursery.aspx or call the nursery at 304-675-1820.

For more information about the Division of Forestry, visit http://www.wvforestry.com/.

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Leslie Fitzwater, Public Information Specialist?
304-957-9342 or 304-541-8102?
Leslie.C.Fitzwater@wv.gov?
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