How to Plant Trees - And How Not to Plant

 

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Early Spring is the second-best time to plant trees (after late fall). The good thing is that you will soon have leaves and/or blooms beautifying your garden. The warming soil temperatures and increased rainfall provide a nurturing environment for young trees to establish roots. Importantly, planting early in spring allows trees to settle in before the heat of summer, which can stress young plants.

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Are you thinking of planting a tree on your property? It will be an excellent way to enhance your outdoor space. Trees also offer wonderful benefits such as shade, privacy, wildlife food and habitat, increased property values, and more. However, in order to maximize these benefits to their fullest, it is important to ensure you are planting your new tree in the right place and to give it enough space to flourish!

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The biggest single reason for poor tree placement is the way we see plants as cute and small, and our wish to surround our homes with green. But the consequences, in removal costs, damage, insurance claims, and in the forced cutting down of heritage trees, are serious. Trees take time to grow, and many can and do grow large, so when planting a tree, it really is worthwhile to take some time and use a measuring tape when choosing that planting spot. Don’t get caught out 20 years from now by a hasty choice of tree species or planting spot.

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*** Almost all tree roots extend 1.5 to 3 times the height of the tree! ***

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How far the roots will spread, and how badly they might affect drains and foundations, depends not just on the ultimate height of the tree, but on what kind of tree it is. The most well-known of these aggressive trees is the Weeping Willows, but all willows that grow large can be a problem. 

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Other trees with similar habits include cottonwood, aspen, and any other poplar trees, silver maple, Norway maple, black locus,t and American elm. These trees should be planted 100 feet from any buildings, drain pipes, sewers or swimming pools. Don’t forget to consider your neighbors home and pipes too.

Trees should be spaced apart according to their mature canopy spread. Tree spacings of 50 to 60 feet are common place. This allows the open grown form of the tree to develop. 

Selecting the appropriate species for your property based on available space, rather than trying to fit in a species that does not suit your property’s conditions, is very important. 

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Panting a medium to large growing tree (a tree that will reach at least 30-50 feet in height at maturity) in a location where there is at least 20 x 20 feet of soft ground space. Soft ground space means an area free of any hard surfaces that also has adequate soil volume to support healthy growth. Hard surfaces and foundations can cause soil compaction (when soil particles are pressed together), which makes it tougher for roots to absorb water and nutrients needed to flourish. Also, planting a tree further away from buildings helps to avoid future canopy conflicts as the tree grows.

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Focus on species that are well-suited to your climate and time your planting to coincide with the most favourable conditions. To survive and thrive, trees require water and nutrients from the ground. The availability of these resources may be limited by other trees growing in the same area. 

It is also important to think about the location of utilities such as gas, hydro, lighting, or irrigation. To ensure you know the location of any buried cables/wires on your property, you should always call your hydro provider to request an underground utility check before planting.

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Trees require well-draining soil to prevent root rot, and the pH level can affect nutrient availability. Amending your soil with lots of compost will be necessary for optimal growth. Before planting, test your soil’s pH and texture to match the tree’s requirements. Non-native species may require consistent watering schedules to ensure their root systems develop correctly and they remain healthy.

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SUCCESSFUL PUBLISHING NEWSLETTER April 2025

 

SUCCESSFUL PUBLISHING NEWSLETTER April 2025

Content of this newsletter:

• PUBLISHING NEWS & TIPS
• WRITERS RESIDENCIES, FELLOWSHIPS, & GRANTS
• WRITING CONTESTS
• FREELANCE WRITING

Welcome to our April Writing and Publishing Newsletter!

With spring’s arrival, winter’s deadness is buried, creating new growth. April brings a sense of renewal with blooming flowers, warming weather, and numerous holidays, including Easter, Passover, Earth Day, and Arbor Day.  For writers in April, the best aspects include National Poetry Month, which offers a chance to explore poetry and participate in writing challenges.

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What Book Publishing Needs to Consider in 2025

https://kathleenschmidt.substack.com/p/what-book-publishing-needs-to-consider

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Paperback Book Writers Beware! 

Book publishers are shifting resources towards hardcovers and marketing, per The Wall Street Journal. The move is driven by the growing popularity of ebooks and the influence of retailers who benefit from higher margins from hardcovers.

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Mark your calendar
Did you know Saturday, April 26th is Indie Bookstore Day? 

This national one-day party held on the last Saturday in April celebrates independent bookstores across the country online and in-store. There are exclusive books and literary items, contests, cupcakes, and everything in between; it’s a party you don’t want to miss!

• WRITERS RESIDENCIES, FELLOWSHIPS, & GRANTS

2026 Writer-in-Residence (WiR) Whitby Island, WA

Hedgebrook supports writers from all over the world for residencies of two to three weeks. Hedgebrook’s mission is to support visionary women-identified writers, 18 and older, whose stories and ideas shape our culture now and for generations to come. Location: Freeland, WA.  Applications open until Apr 14  

https://www.hedgebrook.org/wir-faqs

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Ragdale Residency
18-day residency session for individuals. Based on personal financial considerations, artists determine their own residency fee, and may opt to pay according to our suggested income-based sliding scale. They offer 11 fellowships each year. All qualified applicants may apply for fellowships through this application. A fellowship award includes an 18-day fee-waived residency for individuals and a stipend of at least $1000. Ragdale encourages artists of all backgrounds to apply. Location: Lake Forest, IL.  Deadline May 1

https://ragdale.submittable.com/submit/317745/2026-residency-program

Essere Residency

Join creative people from all over the world at this two-week residency program in beautiful Tuscany. Two weeks of respite for you to imagine, wander, envision, and explore projects that are calling your heart!  Deadline June 15

https://essereresidency.org/apply/

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• FREELANCE WRITING

Brick
Literary nonfiction. Payment: $55–$685, depending on the length of accepted work, plus two copies of the issue the work appears in and a one-year subscription to the magazine. Deadline April 20

https://brickmag.com/submissions/

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Kansas! Magazine

It is a magazine published by Kansas Tourism, under the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism. The publication promotes tourism in the state with an emphasis on travel articles. KANSAS! is published quarterly. All subjects must be Kansas-related and must reflect the state positively. The magazine works at least one year in advance on articles.   https://www.travelks.com/kansas-magazine/contact-us/submit-a-story/

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Oregon Coast
OCM features stories of regional interest, written in a clear, crisp style that is rich in anecdotes and quotes. Thoroughness and accuracy in details, history, and background are essential. How to get to a featured destination, nearby places of interest, or accommodations, etc. Payments for published stories are based on the quality and length of the finished story. Payment runs about 25 cents/word, depending on the category.

https://www.oregoncoastmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/WritersPhotographersGuidelines2018.pdf

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Three Penny Review

Poetry, fiction, nonfiction. $400 per story or article, $200 per poem or Table Talk piece. Deadline: April 15

https://www.threepennyreview.com/submissions/

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BBC Travel

BBC Travel is a feature section within BBC.com that offers high-quality stories about destinations around the world that aim to amaze, immerse, inspire, and connect. BBC Travel is targeted at curious, passionate readers who want to learn about the world as much as they want to travel there. They are professional, aspirational, and intelligent. Pays up to 50 cents/word.

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20160106-bbc-travel-author-brief

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Canadian Geographic
We often plan features more than a year before they’re published, although we can fit in shorter pieces for our front-of-book and back-of-book sections more quickly. We publish Canadian Geographic six times a year and the Canadian Geographic Travel section twice a year, and that means we only buy about 28 feature stories a year. Pays up to $1/word.

https://canadiangeographic.ca/submission-guidelines/

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Foodism Toronto
We currently pay for print-first features and travel guides, which are then repurposed online. Familiarize yourself with our past Foodism and Escapism issues, and any upcoming themes. The Food Feature flat rate of $600 for 1,200 – 1,500 words. The Travel Feature flat rate of $600 for 1,200 – 1,500 words. The Travel Guide stories are around 500 words and up, and we pay $0.40 per word.   https://foodism.to/write-for-us/

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Fresh Cup
A storytelling and education hub for the coffee and tea industries. They equip coffee and tea professionals with the skills, insights, and inspiration required to develop a more sustainable and prosperous industry for all. Contributors are paid $250 per article, plus an additional rate for original photography. Looking for writers who want to create articles of 700+ words.    https://freshcup.com/resources/write-for-us/

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Modern Farmer
Modern Farmer is focused on three pillars of the food system: food equity, conscious consumption, and sustainable farming in North America. Within those pillars, they are looking for human-centered stories that move beyond simply informing our community. We pay writers based on story format and complexity, starting at a base rate of USD $350.   https://modernfarmer.com/submissions/

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Range
We’re looking for engaging, thoughtful, and well-researched stories that transport readers to new destinations, reveal hidden gems, and offer practical tips. Pays around $450.  https://www.rangetravel.com/contribute-to-range

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Horizon Guides

Horizon Guides is a celebration of extraordinary travel. Our readers come to us to learn about the people, places, and experiences that take us beyond our comfort zone and expand our understanding of the world. They work with leading travel journalists, guidebook authors, and other destination experts to provide insider recommendations about places that the mainstream tourism industry doesn’t want to talk about. There are two main commission types for Horizon Guides: features for The Journal, or in-depth travel guides. They pay anywhere from £200+ for features and upwards of £400+ for guides, all depending on length.  https://horizonguides.com/journalists

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Entrepreneurship Life
If you are interested in writing more about business and technology, lifestyle, start-ups, and entrepreneurship, then we will definitely take a look at the work you send us. Every article on this site is between 1000 and 1500 words, which allows us to maintain consistency and quality across all our posts. Pay based on assignment.   https://www.entrepreneurshiplife.com/write-for-us/

 

• WRITING CONTESTS

Atwood Gibson Fiction Prize

Genre Fiction. Titles must be published in Canada and written by Canadians. No self-published works. Prize: $60,000 will be awarded to a novel or short-story collection published between February 26, 2025 and April 29, 2025. Prizes of $5,000 will be awarded to each of the finalists.  Deadline April 20

https://www.writerstrust.com/awards/atwood-gibson-writers-trust-fiction-prize/guidelines/

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Black Orchid Novella Award

Each entry must be an original unpublished work of fiction that conforms to the literary tradition of the Nero Wolfe series. The mystery should be “traditional” in flavor.   Deadline May 31 

https://www.nerowolfe.org/htm/literary_awards/black_orchid_award/Black_Orchid_award_proc.htm#qualifications

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Omnidawn Poetry Broadside Prizes

The winner of each of Omnidawn’s poetry book and chapbook contests wins $1,000, publication of the book by Omnidawn with a full color cover (unless the author prefers black and white), 20 free copies of the winning book, and extensive publicity through our newsletters and social media channels. There are no citizenship requirements or limitations.  $14 Entry Fee. Deadline April 16

https://www.omnidawn.com/contests/omnidawn-poetry-contests/

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Giller Prize

Open to books published in Canada in English. Books must be published in Canada in English between March 1, 2025, and April 30, 2025, to be eligible for the 2024 Prize. Must be nominated by the publisher. Genre: Fiction. Full-length novel or collection of short stories published in English, either originally or in translation. Prize $100,000 to the winner and $10,000 to each of the finalists. Deadline April 15

https://gillerprize.ca/submission-guidelines/

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“Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.” 

~ Louis L’Amour

There is no set schedule. Writers write! And that’s what we want you to do.

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Impressions From a Banksy Exhibition

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Banksy is a pseudonym of the British-based world-renowned street artist, political activist, 

and film director whose real name and identity remain unconfirmed and the subject of speculation.

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From Artilife.com: “Banksy kicked off his career in the 1990s, and has managed to keep his identity under wraps in the decades since. It seems almost impossible that somebody so famous has managed to escape detection for so long, but according to his former agent Steve Lazarides, Banksy has used some very creative methods to stay anonymous.

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A website dedicated to authenticating alleged Banksy pieces is the only point of sale for his new work when it’s available, although new releases are extremely rare. In addition, Banksy has made money from other projects, including his best-selling book Wall and Piece, and the Oscar-nominated documentary Exit Through The Gift Shop.

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Those who want to own one of his pieces will usually have no choice but to turn to the secondary market. Current estimates suggest there are only around 30,000 authentic prints in existence, all in understandably high demand.”

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Banksy’s message is usually anti-war, anti-capitalist, or anti-establishment.  Subjects often include
apes, policemen, soldiers, children, and the elderly.  Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banksy

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