What’s Good for Your Health and Torch Lake? TREES!

What Lake Love Looks Like:

Plant trees every year to invest in your property and the health of Torch Lake!

Step 1. Get to know the trees on your property.
If you cannot identify your trees – Use the free apps Picture, Seek, and even
Google images, or contact your local nursery.

Step 2. Plant trees this Spring, Summer or Fall to replace the trees you have cut down or those that have died.

Step 3. Select your new trees.
As temperatures and the length of the growing season increase and droughts make soils drier, the mixture of tree species will change in the Torch Lake Watershed.

Step 4. Determine location where you want to plant your trees.
Plant trees far away from your septic field and tank.
Plant trees in an area where the canopy can reach its mature height and width.
Plant trees a safe distance from powerlines.

Step 5. Contact Miss Dig at 811 or 1-800-482-7171 to prevent hitting underground gas lines, electrical lines, internet cables or sprinkler lines when digging.

Step 6. Water your newly planted trees for a full year for best results.

Step 7. Because trees take many years to grow, plant a few new trees each year.

“He that plants trees, loves others besides himself.” – Thomas Fuller

Photo: Mitchell Pietryga

Photo: Mitchell Pietryga

Taking a walk in a forest can:

• Improve your mental health.
• Decrease stress/anxiety.
• Decrease mental fog and fatigue.
• Improve heart health.
• Lower blood pressure.
• Lower Cortisol levels.
• Boost your immune system.
• Reduce inflammation.
• Improve sleep quality.

Key Facts

Trees are also good for Torch Lake!

Benefits of trees:

• Help clean and filter water, preventing toxins from reaching the lake.
• Keep nutrients out of Torch Lake preventing algae growth to help Torch stay turquoise blue.
• Help maintain our high-quality drinking water.
• Help stabilize the soil preventing your shoreline from erosion.
• Keep sediment out of Torch Lake protecting its aquatic creatures and fish.

Photo: Kate Tuttle

SOURCES

Harvard. T.H. Chan. School of Public Health. September 15 th , 2021. The Health Benefits of Trees.
https://hsph.harvard.edu/news/the-health-benefits-of-trees/

Torch Conservation Center. Conserve Torch Website True Blue Landscaping Plant
Trees. Plant Trees – Torch Conservation Center

Weeden, Meaghan. January 9 th , 2025. One Tree Planted. Inspirational Quotes About Trees. https://onetreeplanted.org/blogs/stories/inspirational-quotes-about-trees