AgEBB-MU CAFNR Extension

Green Horizons

Volume 23, Number 1
Winter 2019

Agroforestry

Forest Tree Seedlings: Where to Find Them

By Hank Stelzer | MU Extension, School of Natural Resources

The old saying goes, "The best time to plant a tree was 50 years ago and the second best time is today!" I would like to offer a corollary. The best time to order tree seedlings is the previous fall and the second best time is today!

I realize the ground is frozen in many parts of Missouri (and the rest of the Midwest for that matter) and there is snow on the ground, too. So, if you are a new woodland owner, the thought of planting trees on that old, abandoned field is probably the farthest thing from your mind. However, it won't be too long before the forsythias begin blooming signaling the arrival of spring... and time to plant trees!

Depending upon the species, the seedlings you are about to plant began their life 18 to 24 months ago back when seeds were gathered from a production seed orchard by state or commercial operators, or perhaps from a walnut tree growing in some field by a local youth group. Once in the hands of the nursery manager and his or her team, they were carefully cleaned and sown in a properly prepared nursery bed complete with all the nutrients a germinating seed needs.

From fending off a variety of predatory critters eager to feast on the buffet in the nursery bed; to supplying water when Mother Nature refused to do so; to weeding (oftentimes by hand) the nursery garden; to controlling attacks from a variety of insects and diseases, the manager carefully watched over the crop until it was time to gently lift the seedlings from their beds and store them until it was time to ship your order to your doorstep.

Sometime late last summer, the managers took stock of their crop and developed their catalog of seedlings that would be available for spring planting. These catalogs normally come out around the first of November. The prudent landowner has already placed their order. So, in some cases, either by virtue of short supply or high demand, some species may no longer be available to those who hit the snooze button last fall.

But, as I said the second best time to plant, or should I say order, your seedlings is today!

At the end of this article, I have compiled a list of forest tree seedling nurseries in Missouri and in neighboring states. Many are owned and operated by a state agency. Two are private commercial nurseries here in the Show-Me State, and I am certain similar private enterprises exist in those other states.

I have included hyperlinks to each nursery's website. There you will find information regarding what species are still available, pricing (every nursery differs in pricing due to their production costs), and even tips on proper planting techniques. The variety and quantity each entity offers will vary from year to year depending upon many factors not necessarily related to seed availability. So, if you prefer a particular nursery, you might hold off planting this year in hopes the species of your choosing will be available next year (assuming you get your order in early). Or, you might want to check into a neighboring nursery if you are heaven-bent in planting this year. Just remember, seedlings bought from other parts of the country might not be adaptable to Missouri. This is one reason, with the exception of Indiana, I limited my list to neighboring states.