Trees are hardy plants, and their roots fight back against man-made limits around them. In the urban and suburban landscape, tree roots often are forced to grow between buildings or under driveways and walkways. As roots grow, they will break walls, pipes and patios, causing damage to properties.

Plan before you plant
"Before you plant a new tree in your yard, you need to understand how a tree could damage your property and take appropriate measures to prevent that damage," advises Tchukki Andersen, staff arborist with the Tree Care Industry Association.

Woody tree roots thicken as they grow, gradually pushing shallow roots toward the surface. Since soil near the surface is best suited for root growth, most tree roots are just below the surface - putting them in conflict with man-made obstacles. Where the soil is covered by a solid driveway or patio, upward growing roots don't experience the normal signals (increased light and air) that they are reaching the surface. As a result, they often grow against the underside of pavement.

"Most damage is found six feet or less from the tree," notes Andersen, "since roots become smaller and less damaging the further they are from the trunk. Keep this in mind before you plant. That small sapling could become a large shade tree with roots spreading 30 or 40 feet outward from the trunk."

Fixing the problem
Some homeowners, masons and landscapers deal with intrusive roots by grinding down or removing them. This can be expensive and is very harmful to the tree. Wounding a tree's roots creates points of entry for pathogens, leaving a tree vulnerable to disease. Cutting major roots also reduces a tree's ability to take up nutrients and water, leaving it more susceptible to drought. Finally, reducing a tree's structural support from the roots increases the danger the tree will topple onto your house in high winds.

Keep these cautions in mind when dealing with a problem tree:

• The farther you cut from the trunk, the less threat to the tree's health, and the less danger of creating a hazard.
• Try not to cut roots greater than 2 inches in diameter.
• Roots recover better from being severed when you: cut them cleanly with a saw instead of breaking them with a backhoe; mulch and water well after pruning; and fertilize in early fall or spring.

In areas within 5 to 7 feet of a paved area or structure, plant trees that grow to a mature height of less than 30 feet. In areas within 7 to 10 feet of a paved area or structure, plant trees that grow to a mature height of less than 50 feet. Reserve trees that mature higher than 50 feet for areas with at least 12 feet of clearance. This allows adequate space for the roots. Also, before you plant check for overhead utility lines and leave adequate space for that tree to mature.

Find a professional
A professional arborist can assess your landscape and work with you to determine the best trees to plant. Contact the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA), a 71-year-old public and professional resource on trees and arboriculture. It has more than 2,000 member companies who recognize stringent safety and performance standards and who are required to carry liability insurance. TCIA also has the nation's only Accreditation program that helps consumers find tree care companies that have been inspected and accredited based on: adherence to industry standards for quality and safety; maintenance of trained, professional staff; and dedication to ethics and quality in business practices. An easy way to find a tree care service provider in your area is to use the "Locate Your Local TCIA Member Companies" program. You can use this service by calling 1-800-733-2622 or by doing a ZIP code search at www.treecaretips.org.

Rock Island County Master Gardeners, Dallas and Roxie DeShane, will host garden tours for the Home Grown Challenge through University of Illinois Extension, on Tuesday, August 11 from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.  Their gardens are located at 3316 N. 1600th Avenue, Orion, IL (if you are coming from the QC Airport - go 5 miles east on Route 6, turn right at the green Orion sign on CR 12 blacktop - go 5 more miles to 1600 Avenue North.  Take a left and go 1.3 miles and their driveway is on the left).

At Whispering Winds Ranch Arbors and Gardens, there are a variety of gardens available to see, from informal country gardens to full size vegetable gardens, berry bushes, a grape arbor, rhubarb patch, small apple orchard, and other fruit and nut trees.  There are also four 40 foot gourd arbors with 102 hills, gourds growing in a container, over an antique wagon, on the ground and up a tree.   The DeShane's grow produce with no pesticides which they sell at the East Moline Skateland Farmers Market.  They also sell gourds in the fall beginning at the "Gourd"geous Day in the Country a day long free festival.  You will see various ornamental gardens and raised beds featuring plants and flowers.  They range from native flowers to roses, variety of shrubs and a number of hostas and heuchera.  Some of the gardens are shade and others are in full sun.  Down by the stocked 1.5 acre "Ponderin' Pond" is a grass garden with coneflowers and among the grasses is a bench to just sit, read a book or just ponder.

The DeShane's purchased their property 13 years ago when they started renovating their log home and planting their gardens.  About five years ago, they became interested in gourds by purchasing one apple gourd and so began the gourd arbors and gardens.  They started the QC Area Gourd Patch and host a gourd festival in the fall.  They try to plant for pollinators as they value their presence and they feed many variety of birds and have seen some rather rare birds.   Their gardens attract lots of wildlife, from twin fawns drinking down at the pond, to twin foxes who love ice skating on their frozen pond.  The DeShane's enjoy sharing a bit of the country with people (and wildlife) and have hosted a number of events at their home.  Each year they continue to add more to their gardens so each year when someone comes, they have new things to see.

The public is invited to attend the tour.  Please register in advance at (309) 756-9978 Ext 10 or online at www.extension.uiuc.edu/rockisland and follow the Home Grown Challenge Garden Tour link.

Environmental Finance Bill Jump-starts Jobs, Construction Projects

CHICAGO - July 29, 2009. Governor Pat Quinn signed a financing bill that provides a state-backed guarantee supporting construction of renewable energy and clean coal projects that will create jobs across Illinois.

"Illinois leads the way at protecting our environment while developing new green jobs for the 21st Century," said Governor Quinn. "This legislation boosts investment in clean energy and sustainable practices that reduce our carbon footprint while generating greater employment opportunities."

SB 1906 clarifies the Illinois Finance Authority's ("IFA") existing bonding authority for renewable energy and clean coal projects. Under this law, the State and IFA will work in partnership to make available up to $3 billion in guaranteed energy project financing for qualified renewable energy and clean coal efforts. In addition, the law also increases the state and IFA's loan guarantee from $75 million to $225 million for agricultural businesses. It also provides guarantees to back qualified renewable energy projects such as wind, biodiesel or biomass initiatives that are related to agriculture.

This law also positions Illinois to compete for federal stimulus loan guarantees designated for the new green projects.

"This legislation will help Illinois companies take a leading role in the green energy industry," said Sen. David Koehler (D-Peoria), sponsor of the legislation. "It will create new jobs and move our state's economy in a promising direction."

"This is another great example of why Illinois will continue to be a national leader in taking advantage of all of our natural resources in a responsible way, while expanding our economy and creating good new jobs," said Mike T. Carrigan, president of the Illinois AFL-CIO.

"It is an important day for clean, renewable energy throughout Illinois, which will protect our environment and power our economy," said Howard Learner, executive director of the Environmental Law & Policy Center in Chicago.

At the bill signing ceremony, Governor Quinn was joined by Warren Ribley, director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity; William A. Brandt Jr., chairman of the Illinois Finance Authority; Dr. Roger Herrin, chairman of the Illinois Finance Authority Energy Committee; Rep. Deborah L. Graham (D-Oak Park); Rep. Elaine Nekritz (D-Des Plaines).

The Illinois Finance Authority (IFA) is a self-financed, state authority principally engaged in issuing taxable and tax-exempt bonds, making loans, and investing capital for businesses, non-profit corporations, agriculture and local government units statewide. For more information: www.il-fa.com.

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DES MOINES ? The Nature Conservancy announced today that it will receive $100,000 from the Alliant Energy Foundation for its work within the Lower Cedar Valley in southeast Iowa. The gift will advance the Conservancy's efforts to restore land within the region's floodplain.

"We want to thank the Alliant Energy Foundation for this generous gift for conservation," said Sean McMahon, director of The Nature Conservancy in Iowa. "By working with willing landowners to restore relatively unproductive farmland, we can help reduce the impacts of future floods - protecting life and property - and at the same time improve habitat for native fish and wildlife."

"The Alliant Energy Foundation is pleased to invest in restoring the floodplain to its natural condition, which is a positive for the both the environment and for the communities located near the river," said Barbara Swan, Alliant Energy Foundation President.  "Increasing the amount of water that the floodplain can store reduces peak flood levels downstream and that helps reduce future flooding potential for the homes and businesses within the Lower Cedar Valley as well as within the communities we serve."

The Conservancy's strategies on the Lower Cedar Valley include :

· Studying the links between the region's geology, topography and vegetation to flooding. The research is expected to help determine how to restore floodplain habitat and hydrology for maximum environmental and public benefit.

· Working with the Natural Resource Conservation Service to assist with the processing and monitoring of floodplain easements and on restoring floodplain wetlands

· Acquiring a legal interest - either through purchase or conservation easement - in 280 acres of floodplain wetlands. The Conservancy will focus on areas that buffer its existing preserves and projects including Swamp White Oak Preserve, Maytag Preserve, Cone Lake, Pike Run-Wiesse Slouth and the Iowa River bottoms.

More than 300 species of native plants and over 40 different types of reptiles and amphibians are found in the region due to the great variety of habitat found there including sand prairie, floodplain forest and oak savanna. The valley is also home to swamp white oak woodlands and rich peat fens, which are exceptionally rare plant communities not only in Iowa but also on Earth.

"The diversity of native plants and wildlife within the Lower Cedar Valley - including rare massasauga rattlesnakes and ornate box turtles - makes it a priority for conservation," said Matt Fisher, the Conservancy's Eastern Iowa project director.

Still, there is room for improvement. The Lower Cedar Valley's floodplain oak savannas were established when the forest was more open. Fire and seasonal floods controlled growth. Without adequate fire, too many trees grow in an unnatural density. The forest then becomes shadier, preventing new oak trees from growing and suppressing understory plants. The Cedar River also is flooding unnaturally, causing certain populations of plants and animals to decline.

"We need to work harder than ever to make sure that the high-level of destruction caused by the flooding of June 2008 does not reoccur in the future," said Tom Aller, Alliant Energy - Interstate Power and Light President.  "It's important that we and others invest to improve the Lower Cedar Valley and bring balance back to the natural areas and floodplain."

The Conservancy currently owns more than 1,000 acres in the valley and an additional 20,000 acres have been protected by private landowners and partners. The Conservancy is working with partners to focus on natural areas management, sharing research and developing science-based conservation plans.

Long-term goals include working with partners to conserve and restore 5,000 acres of swamp white oak and floodplain savannas through controlled fire and other science-based techniques and to create a viable aquatic passage to the Mississippi River, providing critical habitat for large freshwater fish that spawn in its tributaries.

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. The Conservancy and its more than 1 million members have protected nearly 120 million acres worldwide. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org.