Spring 2020 Tree Sale
Dear Customers and Supporters,
Thank you all for your patience in awaiting information on our spring tree sale. I hesitated to reach out because, as you may have noticed, this situation has changed quickly and often. Until Friday, we planned on continuing with our spring tree sale with a delayed pick up-date. Unfortunately, the situation shifted again, and we had to make the difficult decision to cancel completely.
• We are not able to obtain, package, and deliver the products in a manner that would keep staff, volunteers, and customers safe.
• With a delayed pick-up date, it was crucial for us to have access to cold storage. With so many things being closed, this was not possible. We did not want to sell products that could be potentially damaged.
• This year seems to have brought spring earlier than the last few, and it’s possible that the ground will be quite dry before the planned delayed pick-up date.
I cannot thank you enough for giving us your support. Conservation Districts provide free assistance to landowners all over the State of Michigan, yet we are left on our own to secure funding to keep running. Our tree sales are our only fundraisers. The small profits keep our office doors open (but barely) so we can serve you.
I will be reaching out to each customer who placed an order with us in the coming days. Refunds will be available, or you can put your payment towards our next sale. Please allow 30 days for the processing of refunds.
Please note that the office is still closed and no one is there to answer the phone. I will be reaching out to each of you individually beginning tomorrow.
Everyone, please, stay safe.
- Valerie Meharg, District Manager
Dear Customers and Supporters,
Thank you all for your patience in awaiting information on our spring tree sale. I hesitated to reach out because, as you may have noticed, this situation has changed quickly and often. Until Friday, we planned on continuing with our spring tree sale with a delayed pick up-date. Unfortunately, the situation shifted again, and we had to make the difficult decision to cancel completely.
• We are not able to obtain, package, and deliver the products in a manner that would keep staff, volunteers, and customers safe.
• With a delayed pick-up date, it was crucial for us to have access to cold storage. With so many things being closed, this was not possible. We did not want to sell products that could be potentially damaged.
• This year seems to have brought spring earlier than the last few, and it’s possible that the ground will be quite dry before the planned delayed pick-up date.
I cannot thank you enough for giving us your support. Conservation Districts provide free assistance to landowners all over the State of Michigan, yet we are left on our own to secure funding to keep running. Our tree sales are our only fundraisers. The small profits keep our office doors open (but barely) so we can serve you.
I will be reaching out to each customer who placed an order with us in the coming days. Refunds will be available, or you can put your payment towards our next sale. Please allow 30 days for the processing of refunds.
Please note that the office is still closed and no one is there to answer the phone. I will be reaching out to each of you individually beginning tomorrow.
Everyone, please, stay safe.
- Valerie Meharg, District Manager
Planning Your Plantings
Site preparation and weed control is crucial to a successful planting effort. Tilling the soil before planting can help the roots get established, but it is not absolutely necessary. The site should be as free as practical from competing weeds. Weeds can be controlled with tillage, mulch, or herbicides.
Appropriate spacing of your plants will help you to meet your conservation goals. The spacings given below are intended to be dense, and therefore suitable for the early years of a plantation. Once the trees have reached a height of 25-30 feet, the plantation should be thinned. Thereafter, thinnings should be done approximately every 10-15 years until the trees are mature.
Site preparation and weed control is crucial to a successful planting effort. Tilling the soil before planting can help the roots get established, but it is not absolutely necessary. The site should be as free as practical from competing weeds. Weeds can be controlled with tillage, mulch, or herbicides.
Appropriate spacing of your plants will help you to meet your conservation goals. The spacings given below are intended to be dense, and therefore suitable for the early years of a plantation. Once the trees have reached a height of 25-30 feet, the plantation should be thinned. Thereafter, thinnings should be done approximately every 10-15 years until the trees are mature.
For Windbreaks, Visual Screens, and Wildlife Habitat
Windbreaks should be a minimum of two rows wide, three or four is better. Mixing species within a windbreak will create habitat diversity and help prevent gaps should one species succumb to insects or disease. For windbreaks, minimum spacing between rows ranges from 12 ft. for shrubs and small trees, and up to 20 ft. for large trees.
Spacing within rows ranges from a minimum of 3 ft. for small shrubs to a maximum of 16 ft. for large trees. For wildlife plantings, consider placing plants in clump arrangements. Always consider the mature height and width of any given plant to figure out how close to plant together.
Windbreaks should be a minimum of two rows wide, three or four is better. Mixing species within a windbreak will create habitat diversity and help prevent gaps should one species succumb to insects or disease. For windbreaks, minimum spacing between rows ranges from 12 ft. for shrubs and small trees, and up to 20 ft. for large trees.
Spacing within rows ranges from a minimum of 3 ft. for small shrubs to a maximum of 16 ft. for large trees. For wildlife plantings, consider placing plants in clump arrangements. Always consider the mature height and width of any given plant to figure out how close to plant together.