Lincoln (NE) November 2, 2018 – The Lower Platte South Natural Resources District (LPSNRD) is offering seedling trees and shrubs for sale to district landowners through its annual Conservation Forestry Program.  The more than 40 species of bare-root conifers, deciduous trees and shrubs being offered were selected especially for use in windbreaks and as wildlife habitat, but have many more uses, too.  Each species is sold in bundles of 25 seedlings (except when ordering packages) and the price per plant is $0.85 for 75 or fewer and $0.80 for 100 or more.  Specialized packages of 5 species in bundles of ten each are also available for $55.00 per package.  All 23 of Nebraska’s NRDs combine their orders to get a great price.

Seedlings can be ordered online at LPSNRD.org.  A printed order form and brochure is also available on the website and orders can be submitted in person at the LPSNRD office, 3125 Portia Street, in Lincoln.  The ordering deadline is March 22nd, 2019, but LPSNRD Forester Jay Seaton said, “Ordering early is best, because we always run out of a few species.”  Seedlings will be delivered to the LPSNRD office in early or mid-April and stored in LPSNRD’s tree cooler until picked up by the landowner in April or May.  According to Seaton, seedlings have a better rate of survival if planted immediately after they are picked up from the tree cooler.  An instructional seedling planting video is available at LPSNRD.org.  Click on Programs, then Trees.

By phoning the LPSNRD office, 402-476-2729, landowners can request a visit from Seaton, who will help them determine the best species for their needs and where to plant them.  The service is free.  Seaton also conducts a free tree-planting workshop each spring.  Watch for details at LPSNRD.org.  Last year landowners planted more than 42,000 seedling trees and shrubs through LPSNRD’s Conservation Forestry program.