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The Purdue Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center has signed a commercial partnership agreement with Tree Pro to distribute select hardwood seedlings from its breeding program beginning in March 2025.

The partnership, which will mark the HTIRC’s first commercial release of seedlings in its 25-year history, will see West Lafayette, Ind., based Tree Pro distribute bare root seedlings of six species across its timber select, conservation and wildlife lines. Timber select varieties will include black walnut, black cherry, northern red oak, white oak and pure and hybrid butternut. Conservation species include pure butternut and American chestnut. The wildlife line will feature select precocious white oak.

The HTIRC collection is available for purchase now on the Tree Pro website. Delivery of the seedlings is set for March 2025.

For over five decades, Purdue University and the HTIRC have assembled, tested and selected populations of Indiana’s most valuable hardwood tree species (black cherry, black walnut, northern red oak and white oak) for deployment across the Midwest’s Central Hardwood Forest region. Populations of all four species have been selected for stem straightness and growth rate and are under continuous improvement as breeders remove underperforming clones and seedlings from seed production areas.

Today, as a product of the HTIRC’s efforts, numerous progeny tests, grafted clone banks and orchards exist at Purdue properties across Indiana and are now producing commercial quantities of seed for distribution.  A commercial partnership with Tree Pro now gives the HTIRC an outlet to distribute its hardwood trees to landowners throughout the Central Hardwood Forest Region.

“Tree Pro’s established reputation with conservation groups, private landowners and foresters makes them an ideal distributor of the HTIRC’s select material,” said Matt Ginzel, director of the HTIRC. “We want to make it clear that this partnership will not take away from our existing relationship to provide seeds and seedlings to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. This simply gives us another avenue to get our material into the hands of the public and to achieve our goal of increasing the value and resilience of woodlands by enriching the diversity of seedlings available for reforestation efforts.”

Tree Pro has been in business for 37 years and is known for its tree protection products (Miracle Tube) and lines of fruit and nut trees oriented to hunters and wildlife enthusiasts.

“When we were approached about the opportunity to distribute genetically diverse select hardwood seedlings from the HTIRC, we were instantly excited,” said Tommy Mills, co-owner of Tree Pro. “It brings our start as a company with black walnuts full circle.”

In addition to making selections on four major hardwood species, the HTIRC has been working to preserve and develop disease-resistant populations of two endangered native fine hardwood species –  butternut and American chestnut.

After more than 20 years of work, the HTIRC now possesses the most diverse collection of butternut in the United States, and has made significant advances in breeding butternuts resistant to the deadly butternut canker fungus. The HTIRC’s canker-resistant butternut program utilizes both pure butternut and hybrids between the butternut (Juglans cinerea) and the Japanese walnut (Juglans ailantifolia), with a program goal of decreasing the proportion of Japanese walnut genetics in the population while increasing overall canker resistance. A collection of pure, disease susceptible butternuts also is maintained for research purposes, and provides valuable seed for organizations and individuals that prefer pure butternut over hybrid butternut.

The American chestnut, once the backbone of timber production for all uses in the eastern United States and a prolific producer of nuts for animals and humans alike, is now functionally extinct due to the accidental introduction of the chestnut blight fungus in 1904. In collaboration with the American Chestnut Foundation and other entities, the HTIRC has assembled an American chestnut collection that represents pure American chestnuts from Indiana and neighboring states. It stands as one of the few grafted American chestnut collections in the country. While currently unavailable for public release, the HTIRC’s ongoing efforts to breed a blight-resistant American chestnut encompasses the use of both interspecific hybrid breeding and biotechnology to restore a long-lost forest species.

“The mother trees for HTIRC’s Timber Select lines were all selected for straight stems with few defects like low forks that can negatively impact standing timber value, while the Timber Select butternuts were selected for their resistance to butternut canker disease,” said Caleb Kell, operational tree breeder for the HTIRC. “Landowners have a good chance of getting similar characteristics out of their seedlings if they are planted on suitable soils with deer protection, which is one of Tree Pro’s specialties.”

Here is a quick list of what is available for purchase:

• HTIRC Timber Select Black Walnut
• HTIRC Timber Select Black Cherry
• HTIRC Timber Select Northern Red Oak
• HTIRC Timber Select White Oak
• HTIRC Timber Select Pure and Hybrid Butternut
• HTIRC Conservation Pure Butternut
• HTIRC Conservation American Chestnut
• HTIRC Wildlife Select Precocious White Oak

View full article with descriptions of seedlings available along with additional photos, Purdue Forestry and Natural Resources News & Stories: HTIRC Partners with Tree Pro to Distribute Hardwood Seedlings.

Other resources:
Forestry & Natural Resources
Tropical HTIRC
An Introduction to Trees of Indiana, The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center
Native Trees of the Midwest, Purdue University Press
Shrubs and Woody Vines of Indiana and the Midwest, Purdue University Press
ID That Tree, Playlist, Subscribe to Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources YouTube Channel
A Woodland Management Moment, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Investing in Indiana Woodlands, The Education Store
Forest Improvement Handbook, The Education Store
Finding help from a professional forester, Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association
District Forester, Indiana DNR Division of Forestry, for over 10 acres of woodlands
Directory of Professional Foresters, Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association (IFWOA)

Wendy Mayer, FNR Communications Coordinator
Purdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

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One of the best parts of spring is seeing all of the wildlife seemingly come to life around us. Unfortunately, that activity can also bring new challenges to homeowners. One of the most common and widespread problems is lawn damage caused by moles.

In Indiana, eastern moles cause significant lawn damage. Characteristic signs of damage are the raised surface tunnels (these make your lawn uneven and feel “spongy” when you walk across it) and the dirt mounds created when moles dig deeper tunnels. A single mole can dig many feet of tunnels; one study found a single mole constructed 31 m of surface tunnels in a day.

Biologists actually know very little about moles compared to many species. It is assumed they are territorial and solitary (except during the breeding season), but that has yet to be determined. The only home range study of eastern moles was published in 1976. That study found that the average home range size of male moles was just over 2.5 acres; females had an average home range size of two-thirds of an acre. In reality, there is likely much variation across habitat types and season. Clearly, small yards in urban areas are capable of sustaining many moles.

One of the most effective ways to control moles in the yard is by trapping. It just so happens that the best time to trap them is right now. In May, moles are actively looking for food (mostly earthworms and insects) in the top layer of the soil profile; however, they have not yet had their litter of up to four young. Thus, a little trapping effort now can save you more effort, and less damage, later.

There are a lot of different kinds of mole traps on the market. Which do you choose? Regardless of the type of trap, it should be in good working order. Poorly kept traps that are rusty with loose or broken parts are not worth setting out. In terms of the specific type of trap that you use, it’s really up to you. With types of traps, I use the analogy of computer programs. There are advantages and limitations to most computer programs, but they all get the job done they were intended to do. Different people seem to find different programs easier to work with than others. Perhaps most often, we simply use the first program we learned to use, and as long as it works, there’s not much point in learning another. I think the same is true of traps. We tend to have success with the ones that we first learned or have some experience with using.

The main point is to start trapping now – don’t wait for the damage to get worse. Select relatively straight surface tunnels for trap locations. If you only have one trap at your disposal, you may want to also mark a couple other potential trapping locations. Collapse these locations by stepping on them and marking them with a pin flag. If you aren’t having success catching a mole in your initial location, you can try moving to one of these if the tunnels are repaired. It may be that you initially chose a tunnel that was not a primary tunnel. However, it also may mean that your trap was not set properly.

Finally, you may come across some references that will direct you to check the traps frequently. While this is absolutely critical for live traps, it is not for mole traps since they are kill traps. There is no requirement to check them regularly other than to see if you have a mole. However, a trap with a dead mole won’t catch anything else. This is one reason why setting several traps is better if you have access to them. If you don’t catch a mole within two days, then you should consider moving locations or resetting the trap. When you catch a mole, keep setting traps until you don’t catch them. Most homeowners have problems with several moles and not simply one mole.

For more detailed information about controlling moles, see Wildlife Conflict Management – Moles, Purdue Department of Entomology.

Resources:
Moles, The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center
Dealing With Mole Damage in Your Yard, Video, Purdue-Extension Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube Channel
Adjuvants and the Power of the Spray Droplet: Improving the Performance of Pesticide Applications, The Education Store
Preventing Wildlife Damage – Do You Need a Permit?, The Education Store
Attract Hummingbirds to Your Yard, Video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
How to Stop Woodland Animals from Digging in Your Flower Pots, Video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Ask an Expert: Wildlife Mythbusters, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Nature of Teaching, Purdue Extension

​Brian MacGowan, Extension Wildlife Specialist
Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University

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Question: Is it recommended to feed birds during the summer? Could this effect migration?

Answer: Continuing to feed birds in the spring and summer comes down to personal preference and is not a problem for birds.  Many things drive migration including daylength.  The only difference is some foods (e.g., suet) can become rancid. Even bird seed (especially wet seed) can spoil quicker. You can fix this by changing out your food regularly, or by not filling the feeders as full so that birds empty the feeder more quickly.

Resources:
The Basics of Bird Migration: How, Why and Where, Cornell Lab

Feeding Birds, Cornell Lab

Bird Feeding Tips, Audubon.org

More Resources:
Virtual Tour Brings Forest Management for Birds to Life, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) Got Nature? Blog
Breeding Bird Atlas, Indiana Department of Natural Resources
IN DNR Shares How to Keep Your Backyard Birds Healthy, Purdue Extension – FNR Got Nature? Blog
Question: Is there any risk of becoming infected with avian influenza virus by feeding backyard birds?, Purdue Extension – FNR Got Nature? Blog
Breeding Birds and Forest Management: the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment and the Central Hardwoods Region, The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center
Forest Birds, The Education Store
Managing Woodlands for Birds, The Education Store
Managing Woodlands for Birds Video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
The Birders’ Dozen, Profile: Baltimore Oriole, Indiana Woodland Steward
Ask An Expert, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube channel
Birds and Residential Window Strikes: Tips for Prevention, The Education Store
No Room at the Inn: Suburban Backyards and Migratory Birds, Education Store
Putting a Little Wildlife in Your Backyard This Spring, The Education Store
Subscribe, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel

Dr. Brian MacGowan, Extension Wildlife Specialist & Certified Wildlife Biologist
Department of Forestry & Natural Resources, Purdue University

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MyDNR, Indiana’s Outdoor Newsletter: Do you have bats roosting on your property? Help DNR by counting how many bats fly out during a few evenings this summer. Monitoring bats as they emerge from roosts helps us manage the reproductive health of bats across the state.

The Summer Bat Roost Monitoring Project uses volunteers to collect information on the distribution, occupancy and abundance of bat colonies throughout Indiana.

Participants must have bats roosting on their property or permission to enter property where a roost occurs. Possible roost sites include trees, bat houses, barns, attics, outbuildings and other structures. On each night of surveying, volunteers count the bats that exit the roost and record weather information. Each survey takes about an hour and is conducted on eight to 12 nights from mid-May to mid-July.

Newsletter can be found online May: DNR: Communications: MyDNR Email Newsletter (in.gov)

For more information please visit Summer Bat Roost Monitoring Project.

To sign up for the project, visit the Division of Fish & Wildlife’s volunteer page and select “Find an ongoing service project.” Wildlife Diversity staff also monitor bats using mobile acoustic surveys and acoustic monitoring stations.

Resources:
Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment (HEE) Highlights: Bats, Video, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube Channel
Bats in the Belfry, Purdue Extension – FNR Got Nature? Blog
Ask An Expert: Bats on the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment (HEE), Video, Purdue Extension – FNR Facebook
Bats in Indiana, Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IN DNR)
Bat Houses, Bat Conservation International
Creating a Wildlife Habitat Management Plan for Landowners, The Education Store, Purdue Extension’s resource center
The Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment (HEE): Indiana Forestry and Wildlife, The Education Store
Unexpected Plants and Animals of Indiana: Indiana Bats, Purdue College of Agriculture News
Selecting a Nuisance Wildlife Control Professional, The Education Store, Purdue Extension’s resource center
FAQs – How can I get rid of nuisance wildlife (bats, deer, racoons, etc.)?
Subscribe to Purdue Extension-FNR YouTube Channel

Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Department of Fish & Wildlife

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Welcome to ID That Tree! In this edition, Purdue Extension Forester Lenny Farlee highlights a native bramble species—black raspberry. A member of the Rubus family, black raspberry is commonly found throughout Indiana, making it useful to recognize its key features. Tune in to learn how to identify this plant by its unique leaf pattern (and how it’s different from autumn olive), understand its role in wildlife habitats and explore its many uses and benefits!

 

If you have any questions regarding wildlife, trees, forest management, wood products, natural resource planning or other natural resource topics, feel free to contact us by using our Ask an Expert web page.

Resources:
ID That Tree – Video Playlist, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube Channel
Purdue Arboretum Explorer
Conservation Tree Planting: Steps to Success, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
A Woodland Management Moment, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Woodland Stewardship for Landowners, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Indiana Department of Natural Resources: Invasive Species
Indiana Invasive Species Council
Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA)
Report Invasive, Purdue Extension
Fifty Common Trees of Indiana, Purdue Extension – FNR
Habitat University, Episode 12 – Exploring the challenges of Invasive Species, Habitat University-Natural Resource University
Shrubs and Woody Vines of Indiana and the Midwest, The Education Store
Native Trees of the Midwest, The Education Store
Professional Forester, Indiana Forestry Woodland Owners Association
Forest Improvement Handbook, The Education Store
Find an Arborist, International Society of Arboriculture

Lenny Farlee, Extension Forester
Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center
Purdue Department of Forestry & Natural Resources

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Explore the dual nature of goldenrods in conservation plantings. While goldenrods like tall and Canada goldenrod benefit pollinators and wildlife, their aggressive growth can outcompete other plants, reducing diversity. This guide offers insights into managing goldenrods to maintain a balanced and thriving ecosystem. It is essential reading for land managers and conservationists committed to maintaining a diverse grassland ecosystem.

Check out the Managing Conservation Plantings series which include details on how to control invasive species and other problematic plants in Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) plantings and native warm-season grass and wildflower conservation plantings.

Plant Facts

• Herbaceous broadleaf, typically 3-5 feet tall (can range from 1 to 7 feet)
• Perennial warm-season forb
• Growing period: April to October
• Flowering: late July through October
• Reproduction: by seed and rhizome

Whether you’re managing a pasture, wildlife area, or prairie restoration, this resource provides science-based strategies to control goldenrod effectively. Learn more about managing goldenrod species in grasslands and wildlife habitats, enhancing your land’s ecological health by reading the full publication: Managing Conservation Plantings: Goldenrod Control, (330kb, pdf).

This publication is part of a seven publication series The Managing Conservation Plantings Series. Publications in this series include:

• Golden Rod Control
• Thinning Native Warm-Season Grasses
• Sericea Lespedeza Control
• Woody Encroachment and Woody Invasives
• Johnson Grass Control
• Reed Canarygrass Control
• Teasel Control (Common and Cut Leaved)
• Controlling Introduced Cool-season Grasses
• Crownvetch, Sweetclover and Birdsfoot Trefoil Control

Resources:
Deer Impact Toolbox & Grassland Management, Purdue Extension Pond and Wildlife Management
Pond and Wildlife Management, Purdue Extension
Forestry for the Birds Virtual Tour and Pocket Guide, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Frost Seeding to Establish Wildlife Food Plots and Native Grass and Forb Plantings – Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube channel
Wildlife Habitat Hint: Tips for Evaluating a First Year Native Grass and Forb Plantings, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Drone Seeding Native Grasses and Forbs: Project Overview & Drone Setup, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube channel
Ask an Expert: Wildlife Food Plots, video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Handling Harvested Game: Episode 1, Field Dressing, video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Managing Your Woods for White-Tailed Deer, The Education Store
Forest Improvement Handbook, The Education Store
Forest Management for Reptiles and Amphibians: A Technical Guide for the Midwest, The Education Store
A Template for Your Wildlife Habitat Management Plan, The Education Store
Woodland Stewardship for Landowners, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube channel
Nature of Teaching Unit 1: Animal Diversity and Tracking, The Education Store
Nature of Teaching, Purdue College of Agriculture
Invasive Species Playlist, Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Report Invasive, Purdue Extension
Subscribe Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources YouTube Channel

Jarred Brooke, Wildlife Extension Specialist
Purdue Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

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Hoosier Ag Today: White-tailed deer are very important to Indiana woodlands. But in many areas of the state, deer populations have grown far beyond what the land can support.

“Through their browsing and what they eat, they can actually reduce plant diversity and limit the growth of some of our tree seedlings, such as Oak, which are both economically and ecologically important,” says Jarred Brooke, Purdue Extension Wildlife Specialist.

“They can actually cause issues with increases in the invasive species that they don’t eat, like Japanese stilt grass or garlic mustard,” he says.

For woodland owners across Indiana who might not be sure if deer are even a problem on their property, how can they better understand and measure deer impacts?

“I think the first step is being aware and being tuned in to the problems that deer can cause,” he says. “Fortunately, with the help of The Nature Conservancy here in Indiana, we at Purdue Extension created a series of publications and videos called the Deer Impact Toolbox, which are designed to help landowners really understand, monitor, and address the impacts that deer have in their woodlands. These resources are a great starting point for any landowner that is interested in learning more about deer impacts.”

He adds that the best way to manage those impacts from deer are hunting, habitat management, and plant protection.

“Through the reduction of the number of deer by harvesting does on your property, that can be an effective way to reduce their impact,” he says. “Also if you can improve the habitat for deer on your property, either through forest improvement or through a timber harvest, you can actually create more food on the landscape, which reduces overall dear impact.

“The last big way is through protecting the plants that you’re trying to keep deer from browsing. That can be fencing, tree plantations, putting tree tubes or tree shelters on young trees, or fencing sensitive areas from deer browsing,” he says.

Read the Deer Toolbox Publications: Deer Impact Toolbox.

View the original article and listen to the Hoosier Ag Today’s radio News in the Hoosier Ag Today April 2025: Managing the Impact of White-tailed Deer on Indiana Woodlands.

Resources:
Purdue Extension Pond and Wildlife Management
Ask an Expert: Wildlife Food Plots, video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
How to Build a Plastic Mesh Deer Exclusion Fence, The Education Store
A Woodland Management Moment – Deer Fencing, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Video
Managing Your Woods for White-Tailed Deer, The Education Store
Bovine Tuberculosis in Wild White-tailed Deer, The Education Store
Handling Harvested Game: Episode 1, Field Dressing, video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Deer Harvest Data Collection, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
How to Score Your White-tailed Deer, video, Purdue Extension
White-Tailed Deer Post Harvest Collection, video, Purdue Forestry and Natural Resources
Age Determination in White-tailed Deer, video, Purdue Extension
Handling Harvested Deer Ask an Expert? video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Subscribe to Purdue Extension-Forestry & Natural Resources YouTube Channel, Wildlife Playlist

Jarred Brooke, Wildlife Extension Specialist
Purdue Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

Hoosier Ag Today

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Purdue Landscape Report: Spring is finally here! Everywhere you look, one can find some spring color around. Some of the first plants to peek out of the ground are spring-flowering bulbs like crocus, daffodil and tulip.  But there are some beautiful spring time shrubs that are Indiana native plants you can add to your yard to be the first in the neighborhood with spring interest. Below, you’ll find a top 10 list of spring-flowering shrubs (in order of flower appearance).

Witch-hazel (Hamamelis x intermedia) Perhaps even earlier-flowering than Forsythia, is ‘Arnold Promise’ witch-hazel. This shrub can flower starting in late winter (unless we have unusually cold winter weather like polar vortices) and keep going all the way into spring. Bright flowers are yellow with red tinges, though there are red-flowering cultivars available. Witch-hazel can be grown as a shrub or a small tree and offers some yellow/orange/red fall color. It’s native!

Forsythia (Forsythia x intermedia) Forsythia is the traditional first-flowering plant in the spring. Hardy plants, their bright yellow blooms can catch your eye anywhere. There are new cultivars out.

Quince (Chaenomeles speciosa) In mid spring, you’ll find these shrubs covered with flowers. There are several cultivars and you may see white-flowering plants (‘Jet Trails’), red-flowering plants (‘Texas Scarlet’) or even large, double, fluffy, peach-pink flowers (‘Cameo’). After the show, this plant tends to fade into the background, but it’s a great native addition.

Korean Spice Viburnum (Viburnum carlesii) Korean spice viburnum blooms in late April with blooms that are pink/red while they are still in buds, opening to white flowers that are each a half inch wide. The flowers are presented on dense 2-3 inch groupings called cymes (semi-snowball) and very pleasantly fragrant. And luck of all luck, they have nice, clean leaves in the summer and great fall color. Can’t beat that in a multi-season shrub.

Flowering Almond (Prunus glandulosa) Here’s a small plant that grows well in full sun and its lovely. Flowering almond, particularly the cultivar ‘Rosea Plena’ has tons of pink flowers (double—lots of petals). Some cultivars have white flowers, and all present in mid to late spring.

Shadblow Serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis) A multi-season-interest plant, serviceberry offers white flowers on 2-3 inch long inflorescences in April, which leads to sweet, juicy black fruit in the summer. Some plants can also have decent fall color (yellow with hints of orange and red). Serviceberry grows by suckering so it’s perhaps not a great choice for a small yard.

Lilac (Syringa vulgaris). The beautiful purple flowers (many, many colors are available, but purple is most common) are wonderfully fragrant in most of spring. They may only bloom for 2 weeks, but man those 2 weeks are worth having a lilac in your garden! Takes me straight back to my childhood.

 Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) An adaptable species, this plant is known for long-lasting black fruit in the fall and wine-red fall color. Spring flowers are white, presented in groups of 9-20 resulting in 1 to 1.5 inch groupings covering the plant in May. This species can spread and colonize large areas, which makes for a striking mass effect in the spring. Small plant (under 5 feet) thrives in part shade to full sun.

Mock Orange (Philadelphus coronarius) Fans of mock orange are serious about their use in the landscape. These plants can take care of themselves and they’ll reward you every May/June with white, fragrant flowers that are 1 to 1.5 inches wide.

Siberian Peashrub (Caragana arborescens) Granted, this is a great shrub for harsh sites (poor soils, drought, alkaline soil, cold, wind), but it’s unusual and doesn’t take much care. Leaves are pea-green and emerge with the yellow flowers in May. Later in the summer the fruit of the flowers, a narrow pod, makes a popping sound when it opens.

Remember, plants with more than one season of interest are like hitting the landscape jackpot. So, if you’ve chosen one of these plants because you love the flowers in the spring, just be aware that it may need to fade into the background for the rest of the year. Having said that, plants that usher in the new season are anticipated, loved and enjoyed. Make sure you’ve got some of these in your neighborhood for a dose of early spring joy.

This was adapted from Horticulture Newsletter – Cheryl Boyer – Kansas Extension. All plants listed in this article are native species of Indiana.

Read the original article posted in the Purdue Landscape Report April 2025 Newsletter: Top 10 Spring Flowering Shrubs.

Subscribe and receive the newsletter: Purdue Landscape Report Newsletter.

Resources:
Spring Tree Preparations, Purdue Extension Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) Got Nature? Blog
Celebrate Pollinator Week with Flowers of June Tour, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Tracking the Bloom, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Indiana’s Native Orchids, Indiana Forestry & Woodlands Association (IFWOA) Webinar
Wildflowers and Ferns of Indiana Forests: A Field Guide, Google Books
ID That Tree Spring Bloom Edition: Bladdernut, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
ID That Tree, Purdue Extension-FNR YouTube playlist
Alternative Options for Invasive Landscape Plants (pdf), Purdue Extension – Purdue Horticulture and Landscape Architecture
Landscape Uses of Native Plants, Indiana Native Plant Society
Find an Arborist video, Trees are Good-International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)
Tree Installation: Process and Practices, The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center
Tree Planting Part 1: Choosing a Tree video, Purdue Extension
Tree Wound and Healing, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Shrubs and Woody Vines of Indiana and the Midwest, Purdue University Press
Ask an Expert: Tree Selection and Planting, Purdue Extension-FNR YouTube playlist
Recommended Indiana-native Plants for Attracting Pollinators (pdf), Purdue Extension – Entomology
Gardening for Pollinators, Purdue Garden Articles
Subscribe Purdue Extension-FNR YouTube Channel

Amanda Bailey, Extension Educator – Ag and Natural Resources
Purdue Extension – Warrick County

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Purdue Landscape Report: Rainscaping is the practice of designing landscapes to capture, absorb, and use rainwater where it falls. Rather than sending water off-site through storm drains, the water slows down, spreads across the landscape, and soaks into the soil.

In Indiana, spring often brings intense rain events that can quickly overwhelm drainage systems, soils, and rivers. Rainscaping offers a different approach. Instead of treating rainwater as something to get rid of, it becomes a valuable resource that benefits both the landscape and the environment.

Why Rainscaping Matters
Across the Midwest, rainfall is becoming less predictable, with more intense storms delivering large amounts of water in a short period of time. Many landscapes are not designed to absorb this volume quickly. Compacted soils, large areas of turf, and paved surfaces all contribute to rapid runoff of soil, nutrients, and pollutants into nearby waterways.

With rainscaping, the goal is to keep water on-site and allow it to infiltrate slowly (Fig. 1). As the water moves through the soil, it not only irrigates the landscape, but it’s filtered, which reduces runoff, improves water quality, and eases the burden on stormwater systems.

How Rainscaping Works
The principle of rainscaping is simple: slow water down and give it time to soak in. This can be achieved in a variety of ways depending on the site conditions. The right approach depends on how water moves through your landscape.

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