Proper disposal of Christmas trees and other plant-based holiday decorations is key to preventing the spread of invasive plants, insects and diseases. / Photo Credit: Central Virginia Waste Management Authority
By Wisconsin DNR
Invasive plants and insects don’t mind playing the long game. After all, they’re just trying to survive and thrive, like the rest of us.
They’ll hang out as part of your holiday decorations throughout the season, just on the chance humans might dispose of them improperly, giving them an opportunity to find a new home in your yard or neighborhood. Their growth and feeding can often harm native trees, native plants and entire ecosystems over time.
Continue reading “Be Mindful Of Invasives During Holiday Clean-Up”
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced Urban Forestry Grant Program recipients for the 2026 grant year. The program helps fund projects consistent with state and national goals for increasing the urban forest canopy.
Trees are good. For those who hold trees in high esteem, this simple statement feels as much a universal truth as the sky being blue or the sun rising in the east. It can feel unfathomable that anyone might hold a contrasting opinion.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has announced the recipients of the Urban Forestry Catastrophic Storm Grants to assist with damage sustained during severe storms that took place Aug. 9, 2025. Catastrophic storm grants range from $4,000 to $50,000 and do not require a dollar-for-dollar match. Grant funding was distributed among the following three communities: 
The 2026 Urban Forestry Grant application deadline was Oct. 1, 2025, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) received 71 applications, equaling over $1.1 million in funding requests. A total of $559,680 is available in grant funding for 2026.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is offering free tree seedlings to every fourth-grade student in Wisconsin as part of its annual