Landowner Resources

View some of our most popular landowner resources.


A variety of financial assistance programs exist through DOF and partner agencies for wildfire preparation and suppression, as well as forest management activities.

Explore All Financial Assistance Programs


Get assistance with your forestland.

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Additional Resources

ImageTitleIDDescriptionContent TypeViewhf:tax:document-categoryhf:tax:Media
Ash Tree Management - Dealing with the Emerald Ash Borer Invasion
Ash Tree Management – Dealing with the Emerald Ash Borer InvasionFT0035

Forestry topic information sheet provides information about managing your ash trees during a time when the emerald ash borer is invading, including options for your property and possible biological controls being used.

Viewfinancial-assistance-forest-health financial-assistance-urban-and-community-forestry forest-health urban-and-community-forestrypublication
Best Practices for Establishing Eastern White Pine - Based Upon Years of Research
Best Practices for Establishing Eastern White Pine – Based Upon Years of ResearchFT0023

Forestry topic information sheet provides information about best practices to be used in establishing Eastern white pine to encourage the best possible survival.

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Brush Piles for Wildlife
Brush Piles for WildlifeP00201

Brochure educates landowners about an excellent alternative to burning brush on his or her property, including where to build a brush pile, building a brush pile, and maintenance. Printed copies available.

Viewfire-and-emergency-response forest-managementpublication
Control and Utilization of Tree-of-Heaven: A Guide for Virginia Landowners
Control and Utilization of Tree-of-Heaven: A Guide for Virginia LandownersP00144

Publication provides landowners comprehensive insight to this invasive species, including biology and life cycle, control and elimination methods, utilization of ailanthus, and other resources available. Printed copies available.

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Don't Move Firewood
Don’t Move FirewoodP00135

Brochure advises citizens to leave their firewood at home, explaining the danger of spreading tree-destroying insects and diseases. Printed copies available.

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Don't Move Firewood - Spanish - No Transport Lena
Don’t Move Firewood – Spanish – No Transport LenaP00136

Brochure advises citizens to leave their firewood at home, explaining the danger of spreading tree-destroying insects and diseases. Printed copies available.

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Don't Move Firewood Flyer
Don’t Move Firewood Flyer426-106

Flyer advises citizens to leave their firewood at home, explaining the danger of spreading tree-destroying insects and diseases. Printed copies available.

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Facts About Low-Density Plantings of Loblolly Pine - Advantages of Planting Fewer Trees Per Acre
Facts About Low-Density Plantings of Loblolly Pine – Advantages of Planting Fewer Trees Per AcreFT0003

Forestry topic information sheet provides guidance to landowners about low-density planting for loblolly pine, including forest health, thinnings, wood quality, and return on investment.

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Fire Adaptive Landscaping for Native Habitats and Wildlife in the Southern Coastal Plain
Fire Adaptive Landscaping for Native Habitats and Wildlife in the Southern Coastal Plain

Book was prepared by the Georgia Forestry Commission, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Coastal Wildscapes, and Firewise Communities to provide every resident and business owner has the opportunity to enhance wildlife habitat and natural ecological systems by maintaining, or where necessary, restoring connectivity to the surrounding forests and other natural communities through landscaping and gardening activities. They can also address the very important issues of water conservation and loss of habitat from invasive species by using native plants and avoiding exotic plants when deciding what to plant. We invite all coastal plain individuals and communities to emphasize creative solutions to protect native habitats and wildlife while connecting with nature and achieving Firewise principals. This publication was created to give everyday people and everyday businesses guidelines for landscaping with these goals in mind.

Viewfire-and-emergency-response urban-and-community-forestrypublication
Firewise Communities for Virginia
Firewise Communities for VirginiaP00111

Brochure provides important steps to protecting your home and community from wildfire, including firewise landscaping, defensible space, fire-resistant roof and exterior construction, fire-resistant attachments, steps to becoming a firewise community, a disaster plan, defensible space, and emergency access. Printed copies available.

Viewfire-and-emergency-responsepublication
Firewise Landscaping Part 1: Overview
Firewise Landscaping Part 1: OverviewViewfire-and-emergency-responsevideo
Firewise Landscaping Part 2: Design and Installation
Firewise Landscaping Part 2: Design and InstallationViewfire-and-emergency-responsevideo
Firewise Landscaping Part 3: Maintenance
Firewise Landscaping Part 3: MaintenanceViewfire-and-emergency-responsevideo
Growing Loblolly Pine for Profit - Productivity and Financial Implications of Three Pine Competition Control Prescriptions
Growing Loblolly Pine for Profit – Productivity and Financial Implications of Three Pine Competition Control PrescriptionsFT0033

Forestry topic information sheet provides information about growing pine trees for profit based on research, comparing three possible competition control scenarios, resulting volume growth, financial projections and the timing of the practices.

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Hardwood Planting Guide
Hardwood Planting GuideP00137

Brochure illustrates and explains proper planting techniques for planting bare-root hardwood seedlings. Printed copies available.

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Home Wildfire Safety Checklist - Is Your Home Firewise?
Home Wildfire Safety Checklist – Is Your Home Firewise?FT0002

Forestry topic information sheet provides a checklist of items to answer about your home to assist in identifying characteristics of your home that may require changes to improve the wildfire safety of your home.

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How to Plant a Windbreak to Conserve Energy
How to Plant a Windbreak to Conserve Energy

Planting the right trees in the right places conserves energy and reduces your energy bills, while helping to fight climate change. See how properly placed trees save energy by providing summer shadewinter warmth, and winter windbreaks.

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How to Plant Trees to Conserve Energy for Summer Shade
How to Plant Trees to Conserve Energy for Summer Shade

Planting the right trees in the right places conserves energy and reduces your energy bills, while helping to fight climate change. See how properly placed trees save energy by providing summer shade, winter warmth, and winter windbreaks.

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How to Plant Trees to Conserve Energy for Winter Warmth
How to Plant Trees to Conserve Energy for Winter Warmth

Planting the right trees in the right places conserves energy and reduces your energy bills, while helping to fight climate change. See how properly placed trees save energy by providing summer shade, winter warmth, and winter winter windbreaks.

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How Trees Can Save Energy
How Trees Can Save EnergyTCUSA No. 21

This Arbor Day Foundation Tree City USA Bulletin provides information about how trees can save energy. Trees have been called the low-tech solution to energy problems and climate change. Whether you want to reduce the amount of money you spend each month on utility bills or help guide your community toward wiser energy policies, the information in this Bulletin is of special importance.

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Invasive Plants - Help Stop the Spread
Invasive Plants – Help Stop the SpreadP00216

Brochure educates citizens about invasive plants, including what makes an plant invasive, the problems they cause, characteristics, and how to stop the spread of invasive plants. Printed copies available.

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Is Your Home Safe from a Wildfire
Is Your Home Safe from a WildfireViewfire-and-emergency-responsepublication
Mulch Fires
Mulch FiresP00130

Brochure provides insight into the serious threat of mulch fires and steps you can take to be aware of this fire safety hazard. Printed copies available.

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National Timber Tax Website
National Timber Tax Website

The National Timber Tax Website was developed to be used by timberland owners, as well as a reference for accountants, attorneys, consulting foresters and other professionals who work with timberland owners regarding the tax treatment of timber related activities.

Viewfinancial-assistance-forest-management forest-managementresource
Outdoor Fire Laws
Outdoor Fire LawsP00107

Brochure provides an overview, as well as detailed fire law information in the Commonwealth of Virginia, encouraging citizens to know the forest fire laws and local ordinances before burning, and safety tips for burning. Printed copies available.

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Phragmites and Fire
Phragmites and FireP00109

Brochure describes just what phragmites is, why it is a serious threat, how to recognize the problem, and reducing the risk to your home and property.

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Pine Planting Guide
Pine Planting GuideP00117

Brochure illustrates and explains proper planting techniques for planting bare-root pine seedlings. Printed copies available.

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Plan Your Forest's Future
Plan Your Forest’s FutureP00205

Brochure provides information regarding the responsibility of owning forestland and the importance of planning your forest’s future, conserving your forestland, forest planning options, types of plans, elements of a plan, and benefits of a plan. Printed copies available.

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Planting Instructions for Your Loblolly Pine Seedling Plug - Tips for Success
Planting Instructions for Your Loblolly Pine Seedling Plug – Tips for SuccessFT0030

Forestry topic information sheet provides instructions for proper planting of a loblolly pine seedling plug.

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Protect Your Pine Forest
Protect Your Pine ForestP00114

Brochure educates landowners on options available to help maintain healthy pine forests and prevent bark beetle damage including cost-sharing pre-commercial thinning and cost-sharing longleaf pine restoration. Printed copies available.

Viewfinancial-assistance-forest-health forest-healthpublication
Rain Gardens
Rain GardensP00124

Brochure educates landowners on options available to resolve issues with excess drainage from roofs, gutters, sidewalks, and roads, eliminating soil erosion, improving the quality of water, and how to put nature to work for you. Printed copies available.

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Rain Gardens: Technical Guide
Rain Gardens: Technical GuideP00127

Technical guide provides detailed instruction for homeowners, teachers, community leaders, gardeners and landscape architects on the planning and development of rain gardens to create a landscape feature that will solve drainage problems, address erosion problems, improve water quality, create wildlife habitat and create a garden focal point. Printed copies available.

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Reforestation of Timberlands Program - Cost-Share Assistance for Growing Pines
Reforestation of Timberlands Program – Cost-Share Assistance for Growing PinesFT0020

Forestry topic information sheet provides information about the Reforestation of Timberlands Program (RT Program), including an overview and information about the projects and payment rates for various covered activities.

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Reforesting Cutover Timberland - Pine… A Good Investment
Reforesting Cutover Timberland – Pine… A Good InvestmentFT0004

Forestry topic information sheet provides guidance to landowners about reforesting their cutover timberland, including planning, site preparation, planting, and checking survival. Printed copies available.

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Safe Debris Burning
Safe Debris BurningP00133

Brochure provides a fire safety alert to this common danger, including alternatives to burning, building a shelter for wildlife, burning responsibly, and safety tips. Printed copies available.

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Seedling Price Guide
Seedling Price GuideP00139

Brochure provides a listing of seedling species available for sale at our state Nurseries and current pricing. For more detailed species information and to order online, visit our Web Store. Printed copies available.

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The Value of Pine Production - An Analysis of Investment
The Value of Pine Production – An Analysis of InvestmentFT0021

Forestry topic information sheet discusses the value of producing pines, including starting with a plan, growing pines, pine as an investment, and getting started.

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The Woods in Your Backyard - A Practitioner’s Guide for Creating, Enhancing, and Maintaining Natural Areas
The Woods in Your Backyard – A Practitioner’s Guide for Creating, Enhancing, and Maintaining Natural Areas

This 108-page guide, including more than 100 color photos, was developed by University of Maryland Extension, Penn State Extension and Virginia Cooperative Extension. It guides small-acreage owners through the process of implementing proper forestry and wildlife habitat improvement practices to enhance a property’s natural resources. Available for purchase.

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The Woods in Your Backyard Program - Resources
The Woods in Your Backyard Program – Resources

This resource list provides descriptions and links to a number of valuable resources available for small-acreage landowners in managing their woods. Provided by The Woods in Your Backyard Program Partnership, Virginia Department of Forestry and Virginia Cooperative Extension.

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Timber Harvesting and Water Quality
Timber Harvesting and Water QualityP00132

Brochure educates landowners and harvesters about the impact of timber harvesting on water quality and the steps required to maintain compliance with applicable laws during pre-harvest planning, harvesting and tract closeout after harvesting. Printed copies available.

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Tree Owner's Manual for the Northeastern and Midwestern United States
Tree Owner’s Manual for the Northeastern and Midwestern United StatesNA-FR-04-07

Manual provides guidance about proper tree care from planting a tree to maintenance and care through the life of the tree.

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Tree Owner's Manual for the Northeastern and Midwestern United States
Tree Owner’s Manual for the Northeastern and Midwestern United StatesFT0218

Manual provides guidance about proper tree care from planting a tree to maintenance and care through the life of the tree. Manual produced by USDA Forest Service, cover created by DOF. Limited printed copies available.

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Virginia's State and Federal Cost-Share Programs - An Overview of Landowner Programs
Virginia’s State and Federal Cost-Share Programs – An Overview of Landowner ProgramsFT0019

Forestry topic information sheet provides information about various state and federal cost-share programs for landowners.

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Woodland Health Assessment - Checklist and Management Actions
Woodland Health Assessment – Checklist and Management Actions

This assessment is part of the Woodland Health Practices Handbook: A Practitioner’s Guide to Creating, Enhancing, and Maintaining Natural Areas but also available separately to assist green industry professionals and do-it-yourselfers in assessing a variety of conditions on the site and recommending management actions.

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Woodland Health Practices - A Field Guide
Woodland Health Practices – A Field Guide

This pocket-sized quick-reference guide assists managers in the field with implementing land-care practices. This 68-page, full-color resource is a distillation of the Woodland Health Practices Handbook: A Practitioner’s Guide to Creating, Enhancing, and Maintaining Natural Areas. Available for purchase.

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Woodland Health Practices Handbook - A Practitioner’s Guide for Creating, Enhancing, and Maintaining Natural Areas
Woodland Health Practices Handbook – A Practitioner’s Guide for Creating, Enhancing, and Maintaining Natural Areas

This 85-page guide, including more than 60 color photos, provides an overview of land management techniques, checklist and management action tables, glossary and index. Available for purchase.

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Woodland Health Practices Handbook Webinar Series Recordings
Woodland Health Practices Handbook Webinar Series Recordings

A four-part webinar series covering the information in the Woodland Health Practices Handbook was held in fall 2020 and an eight-part series in spring 2021. Webinar recordings of this series is available here.

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