Courtesy Photo John Griffin, secretary of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, tours the tree nursery at Stadler Nurseries on Mount Zion Road on Wednesday. Griffin is talking with Lisa Stadler, one of the nursery owners, and Tom Rippeon, Frederick city arborist, about the nursery’s policy of raising trees without irrigation and pesticides.

On Wednesday, John Griffin, secretary of Maryland's Department of Natural Resources, came to Stadler Nurseries on Mount Zion Road near Frederick to promote Marylanders Plant Trees, a state program that provides to state residents coupons for $25 off a tree worth $50 or more.

Trees are a good, cheap way to clean the air and water, he said.

Funding for the program comes from settlement dollars for Clean Air Act violations.

"We're trying to increase participation in the program," Griffin said during his visit. The program brings business to participating nurseries.

"In this challenging year, $25 off is a big deal," said Lisa Stadler, whose family owns Stadler Nurseries.

Stadler Nurseries has three locations: the one on Mount Zion Road, one in Laytonsville and one in Bristow, Va.

Griffin asked which trees people like to buy, and Stadler said red maples, white pines, dogwoods and river birches are the most popular. The dogwoods are not a native tree, but a hybrid that can withstand heat.

The program provides reimbursement only to residents who buy trees native to Maryland soil. Stadler asked that the program also include non-native trees that will not harm natural areas, including certain types of dogwood and cherry trees.

Tom Rippeon, arborist for the City of Frederick , was also on hand for the visit. He said he prefers that city residents plant trees that do not drop some form of fruit.

"It's difficult to put all native trees in an urban setting," he said. This time of year, he is dealing with acorns on city streets.

He recommends city residents plant hawthorns, which are native, and cherry trees.

"One of my programs is to get rid of all the tall trees under the power lines and use short growing varieties," he said. "I'm all for the right tree in the right place."

Tree planting programs have spread to Frederick County Public Schools, which has a goal to increase the number of trees planted on school properties, according to Mike Kay, Frederick County DNR forester.

"Studies show high school-aged men are the biggest polluters," said David Plummer, Montgomery County soil conservationist. "If you can get them at that age, it's that much better."

The goal of Marylanders Plant Trees is to have state residents plant 50,000 trees by 2010. Nearly 17,000 trees have been planted so far, with nearly 6,000 in Frederick County.

The program also aims to get 1 million trees planted on state properties by 2011.

Nurseries in Frederick County participating in the tree coupon program besides Stadler Nurseries are: Mar-Lu View Nursery in Jefferson and Potomac Garden Center in Urbana .

For information, visit www.trees.maryland.gov.