Guides From Organizations We Trust
We don't try to out-write the experts. These are free guides from established forestry organizations on the specific topics people ask us about most.
Selecting and Planting a Tree
Kansas Forest Service
A complete walkthrough of choosing a quality specimen at the nursery and getting it in the ground correctly. Covers what healthy roots look like, how to size the rootball, and proper planting depth.
View Resource (PDF) Tree CareHandling and Planting Container-Grown Trees
Kansas Forest Service
What to look for before you buy and what to do at planting time. Covers how to identify and correct root-bound conditions that cause long-term problems if left untreated.
View Resource (PDF) Tree CareStaking and Guying Landscape Trees
Kansas Forest Service
On Kansas's exposed, windy sites, unstaked trees often fail before they can establish. Covers when staking is necessary, what materials to use, and when to remove the supports.
View Resource (PDF) Tree CareTop Ten Tree Planting Mistakes
Kansas Forest Service
A quick rundown of the ten errors that kill newly planted trees most often, from burying the root flare to choosing the wrong species. Good to read before you dig.
View Resource (PDF) Tree CareWatering Newly Planted Trees
Kansas Forest Service
How much and how often to water a young tree through its first two seasons in the ground.
View Resource (PDF) Tree CareWatering Established Trees and Shrubs
K-State Research and Extension
How to keep established trees healthy through drought and heat. Covers signs of water stress and how to adjust watering as a tree matures.
View Resource (PDF)Drought-Tolerant Trees for South-Central Kansas
K-State Research and Extension
Which trees actually hold up in the heat and dry summers typical of south-central Kansas. A species list with notes on size, form, and conditions.
View Resource (PDF) Tree SelectionWater-Wise Plants for South-Central Kansas
K-State Research and Extension, Sedgwick County
Trees, shrubs, and flowers that do well with less water. A practical reference for choosing plants that won't struggle through a Wichita summer.
View Resource (PDF)Tree Canopy Policy
City of Wichita
Wichita's adopted policy for tree planting and canopy replacement on public projects, adopted December 2023. Sets the standards that apply to capital improvements and development projects across all neighborhoods.
View Resource (PDF) City of WichitaNASA Heat Map Study Report, 2022
NASA DEVELOP National Program
A satellite-based analysis mapping heat exposure and tree canopy across Wichita neighborhoods. Shows where the urban heat island effect is most severe and which communities bear the greatest climate risk.
View Resource (PDF)These guides are published and maintained by their respective organizations. ICT Trees does not host this content. Links open the original source.
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