Cheap Trees from State Nursery

[jeffinsgf]

The Missouri Department of Conservation has a huge nursery in the South-Central part of the state. Each spring they sell 1 - 4 year old seedlings to Missouri residents. They offer a very wide variety of Missouri native species of both deciduous and conifer trees, as well as native shrubs. The seedlings are sold bare root, in bundles of 25. Most species are $7 a bundle. Larger (older) stock is a little more, but without looking I don't think anything is over $12 a bundle. I get 150 to 200 each year. I've lost a lot, but I also have some great success stories.

Just curious what other states have similar programs.

 

[ToadHill]

New York does the same thing and the prices are about the same. Within the last couple of years they have been offering American Chestnut trees at about $2 per seedling and I picker up 10 each year. So far survival is about 75%.

 

[forgeblast]

Pa does it by conservation district. Basically by county. They help to fund other programs and are all of a native species. I have been impressed by their fruit trees, healty and big. I wish they would offer chestnut trees!
Forgeblast

 

[deereguy]

What Pa does...ditto for Ohio, depends on the County Soil Conservation District.

 

[dmccarty]

NC has a similar program.

I bought 500 pine saplings one year and with shipping it was $50-75. A big part of the cost was shipping. For more ornaments trees you did not get as many seedlings per $25-50 but it was still cheap.

Wanted to plant another 500 seedlings this year but held off due to our supposed drought. Should have bought them since we have been getting huge amounts of rain all winter. Oh well next fall....

Later,
Dan

 

[Champy]

Indiana DNR nurseries do this same type of program....only restriction is that they must be used for personal property and cannot be resold (you cannot use the State as a low-cost supplier for your commercial nursery business).

 

[RonMar]

Washington State Department of Ecology gives them away free in our area, for personal property use. I have planted perhaps a hundred free seedlings from this program.

 

[jeffinsgf]

Washington State Department of Ecology gives them away free in our area, for personal property use. I have planted perhaps a hundred free seedlings from this program.

Missouri's used to be free. The commercial nurseries raised a big enough stink that the state instituted the nominal charge. The best bargain is the shrubbery. I lined a dry wash with ninebark shrubs from the program. They were little when I put them in, but three years later, they're beautiful. The trees are a more long term payback, but the shrubbery is just a great deal.

 

[Champy]

Some of my favorite tree quotes:

"People who will not sustain trees will soon live in a world which cannot sustain people"

"The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit."

"Every oak tree started out as a couple of nuts who decided to stand their ground."

 

[HappyCPE]

Indiana DNR nurseries do this same type of program....only restriction is that they must be used for personal property and cannot be resold (you cannot use the State as a low-cost supplier for your commercial nursery business).

All I can say is, READ THE FINE PRINT before you accept free or discount trees from the government. The People's Republic of New Jersey will sell you trees at about half the cost of the nursery, but they have the same restriction on sale of the tree as Indiana, in perpetuity. That means no Xmas trees, no firewood, no lumber. But the real kicker is that when you accept the trees you also sign a statement authorizing the NJ Department of Environmental Protection to appear on your property, unannounced, at any time, also in perpetuity to INSPECT THEIR TREES. Presumably when the state runs out of money, which will be soon, they will want their trees back.

 

[mjarrels]

Not cheap trees... Harrisonburg tree advisory panel approved the removal of 23 trees along the east side of main street... Bids ranged from $407,000.00 to $856,000.00! That seems like a lot of money to bring down 23 trees! City goverment must have money to burn.

mark

 

[Brokermike]

I buy all of my cheap trees from Mussers Forestry. They aren't real big but you can get a good selection for cheap $.

Anyone interested in the American Chestnut Foundation should check out their new book Mighty Giants available on their homepage

 

[Champy]

All I can say is, READ THE FINE PRINT before you accept free or discount trees from the government. The People's Republic of New Jersey will sell you trees at about half the cost of the nursery, but they have the same restriction on sale of the tree as Indiana, in perpetuity. That means no Xmas trees, no firewood, no lumber. But the real kicker is that when you accept the trees you also sign a statement authorizing the NJ Department of Environmental Protection to appear on your property, unannounced, at any time, also in perpetuity to INSPECT THEIR TREES. Presumably when the state runs out of money, which will be soon, they will want their trees back.

HappyCPE - The Indiana DNR is not quite so militant......their nursery website clearly states the following (also when signing the purchase release, it only refers to item 1 - planting in IN and not reselling):

1 - By submitting an order, you agree to plant the seedlings in Indiana and not resell the seedlings.

> The DNR Division of Forestry operates two tree nurseries which produce conservation tree and shrub seedlings and windbreak conifer trees for Indiana landowners' use. Landowners may order and plant these trees for reforestation, erosion control, wildlife habitat development, watershed improvement, wetlands enhancement, windbreak, or other conservation purposes.

A message from Indiana's State Forester:
Conservation tree planting is one of our oldest and best-supported forest stewardship programs. Planting trees provides benefits both to individuals and to society. Tree planting compliments nearly every major land stewardship program, especially efforts in lake enhancement, wetlands, filter strips, and other programs for long-term environmental improvement. Tree planting represents a partnership between state nurseries and landowners, where both partners voluntarily commit to do something positive for the future of our forest resources. Good luck with your tree planting!

 

[ScottOkla]

I would think that if someone intended to use the trees for the appropriate purpose, then that person would not be worried about getting in trouble. I also think that if a person were using the program as intended, they would not mind the agency checking to make sure people are in fact using them appropriately since it helps to ensure the program continues in the future.

 

[davitk]

Wisconsin has a nice DNR tree program, I have been planting about 1,000 a year for the last 4 years. Can't beat the price, for example 100 three year old white pines go for $19.20. I am praying for a good spring - it's been either too wet, too dry, or too hot. Probably had about a 30% survival rate so far.
http://dnr.wi.gov/forestry/nursery/

 

[HappyCPE]

I would think that if someone intended to use the trees for the appropriate purpose, then that person would not be worried about getting in trouble. I also think that if a person were using the program as intended, they would not mind the agency checking to make sure people are in fact using them appropriately since it helps to ensure the program continues in the future.

Obviously you live in a place where the government posesses wisdom and practices restraint. I do not. I don't think surrendering my privacy and part of my property rights in exchange for half-price tree transplants is an equitable bargain. That's why I suggest everyone read the fine print on the deal. Be happy you aren't in NJ. I wouldn't be if I wasn't economically forced to be.