 The
shelterbelt became a reality late this summer of 2002. It was made possible by
the Friends of the Botanic Garden members who so generously contributed to the
2002 Annual Appeal. The Annual Appeal raised over $13,000.00 for the shelterbelt
demonstration project.
With assistance from City of Cheyenne Urban Forestry, Wyoming State Forestry,
Gordon Signs, and Laramie County Conservation District, the Cheyenne Botanic
Gardens tilled, laid fabric and drip irrigation, installed an interpretive sign,
and planted trees in the new shelterbelt area.
The photo shows the planting that occurred in
2002. Watch as the trees grow!
The shelter belt is a part of the
1900's Rotary Century Plaza and is connected
with a sidewalk. The area also includes a
historic tractor. The shelterbelt demonstration will provide education
and protection for future generations who will treasure and enjoy this
special place in Lions Park.
If you have not had an opportunity to see the shelterbelt, please come and
visit the area and learn about the history and importance of shelterbelts in
the settling of the High Plains!
History: German immigrants brought the idea
of planting shelterbelts to protect farmsteads from drying winds and provide
shelter for livestock, crops and homes. In the early 1930’s, a severe
drought triggered the “Dust Bowl” on the Great Plains, devastating over 100
million acres of farmland, impacting farms, families and communities. This
prompted Franklin D. Roosevelt, in 1935, to institute a massive shelterbelt
project to promote large-scale planting of trees across the Great Plains to
minimize wind erosion. Much of the success of High Plains agriculture was
due to shelterbelts.
Today, shelterbelts are still an important
landscape feature. They provide living snow fences, wildlife habitat, and
noise barriers, help conserve energy for adjacent dwellings, beautify
property and increase privacy.
FEATURES
Habitat: Shelterbelts provide food,
nesting habitat and protection from inclement weather to game birds,
songbirds and other wildlife. Migrating songbirds especially benefit from
the berries and cover provided by the tree rows.
Drought Tolerance: For optimum
establishment, shelterbelts must include a variety of drought-resistant
trees and shrubs to survive in arid climates.
Diversity: Planting many different
species of conifers and deciduous trees increases the overall health of a
shelterbelt and reduces damage from insects and diseases. Plants are placed
in increasing heights to the prevailing wind.
Implementing a Shelterbelt: An
appropriate design enhances the benefits of a shelterbelt without increasing
snow drifting problems. Site preparation includes soil tilling for
successful root establishment. For maximum wind and snow control,
shelterbelt trees are planted closer than in normal landscape plantings.
Weed control is essential and is achieved by using tilling or mulch. Fabric
or organic mulch is preferred over tilling because roots are not disturbed
and soil moisture is retained. Supplemental water is helpful in
establishment and is decreased or eliminated as the trees mature.
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