Tree Seedling Sale is Surely a Sign of Spring
By Marilyn Shy, Kalkaska Conservation District
I don’t know anyone these days who isn’t looking for another sign of spring. Finally, FINALLY, I see patches of bare ground in the woods, the melting snow is dripping off the rooftops, red-winged blackbirds are back, and I’ll add one more thing to that list: The Kalkaska Conservation District has its Tree Seedling Catalog out so you can get ready for spring planting!
Tree seedlings ready to go to their forever homes.
There are many reasons to plant trees, and the District is offering a great variety for all different sorts of soils, sites, and special purposes. Want to increase wildlife food and cover? Or need a windbreak, snowbreak or hedge? How about showy flowers in the spring, or more fall color? The District has tree and shrub seedlings that will meet these all of these needs. They have many selections for wet or dry sites; riparian and upland; shade tolerant and sun-loving. And if you’re not sure what to plant, just contact the Conservation District and a staff person will come out to your property and help you pick out just the right species for your location.
When you are ordering it is important to remember is the size of seedlings. These trees and shrubs are quite small and have bare roots. Many are 8-24 inches high (pines, spruces, wildlife shrubs), although some can be as tall as 3 feet (some of the oaks and hardwoods). Whether you order 5 trees or 50 or more, they will be in bundles and can usually fit in the trunk of your car. The advantages to ordering plants of this size are many: They are economical to purchase, easy to handle, transport and to plant. And, if you have patience, you will end up with beautiful trees and shrubs that can attract wildlife, or reforest that idle 10 acres in the back of your property.
But if you are looking for a larger landscape-sized tree, you should visit a local nursery.
2021 Tree Seedling Orders prepped and ready for pick up.
New for 2022! The District now has an equipment loan program that includes: A tree planter with a 3-point hitch attachment, for those large reforestation projects; an uprooter for manual shrub and small tree removal; and tree spades for easy seedling planting. Tree planting supplies for sale include tree bars and tree tubes to protect the tender young seedlings.
So don’t hesitate to order your seedlings now! Quantities are limited, and the order deadline is April 12th. After this date orders are not guaranteed, but will be filled if species are available. Order pick ups will be at the former Kalkaska County Recycling Center on Island Lake Road in Kalkaska on Friday, April 29 and Saturday, April 30.
For more information, or to schedule a site visit, call Mark or Renee at (231) 258-3307. To order online go to www.kalkaskaconservation.org and click on “District Store”. To rent the tree planter or tree spades go to www.kalkaskaconservation.org/rentme.