Earl May donates more than 30 trees to Jasper County Conservation

Earl May Nursery and Garden Center in Newton donated 36 leftover Christmas trees to Jasper County Conservation last week.

The trees will serve as fish structures in Jasper County lakes. Earl May Manager Tony Pherigo said the garden center started donating to the county 2.5 years ago. When Pherigo took over managing duties, donating the trees seemed logical.

“I got with Jasper County Conservation because I knew at times they use trees for fish habitat,” Pherigo said. “Since that point, they’ve been picking them up for us and sticking them in the bottom of ponds.”

Pherigo said the trees would have probably went to the landfill if they were not donated. He said individuals sometimes ask about using the trees on private property, but he likes to help out the public lakes and ponds if possible.

Jasper County Conservation thanked Earl May for the donation via Facebook and included a photo of some trees being put to use.

Jasper County Conservation Naturalist Greg Oldsen said the trees were used at two locations this winter - a nature center site just east the of the sheriff’s department and another property west of Monroe.

Trees are important for many fish species. Fish use underwater structures for spawning, protection and shade. The trees donated by Earl May will provide Jasper County fish communities with an abundance of uses.

In most cases, concrete blocks are tied to the trees to ensure they sink. If the body of water is frozen, the trees will sit on the ice until it warms up. Oldsen said the county clusters several trees together to create larger structures.

“The Christmas trees are nice because they last for sometimes up to three years,” Oldsen said. “If we keep getting donations around Christmas time, we can continually resupply the lakes and ponds.”

Pherigo said donated trees were used at a pond near the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge last year. Recycling Christmas trees is a popular post-holiday tradition across the country. It benefits wildlife and reduces the solid waste in landfills.

Contact Justin Jagler at 641-792-3121
ext 6532 or jjagler@newtondailynews.com