The Cheapest Place to Get Trees
Image taken from freeimages.com
There are many different places, both in store and online, where you can get trees. And prices range WILDLY. Some of this has to do with specific cultivars that have been developed by a group. Other times, there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason for the great difference in prices.
After much searching, I have found an exceptionally cheap place to get tree seedlings for planting on your land or homestead. That place is your state's department that deals with trees. Here in Missouri, that is the Department of Conservation. In Arkansas, it is the Agriculture Department.
Seedlings for Missouri
If you are in Missouri, you can find seedlings on their website. Here is a link to the website. While many trees are sold out for the season, there are still some available for planting this year. And if the tree you need is already gone, just wait till next year.
You really can't beat these prices:
$0.80 / seedling (for 10-24 seedlings)
$0.40 / seedling (for 25-99 seedlings)
$0.32 / seedling (for >100 seedlings)
Some other states with similar programs:
Arkansas Agriculture Department (link)
Colorado State Forest Service (link)
Florida Department of Agriculture (link)
Georgia Forestry Commission (link)
Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife (link)
Illinois Department of Natural Resources (link)
Indiana Department of Natural Resources (link)
Iowa Department of Natural Resources (link)
Kansas Forest Service (link)
Kentucky Department of Natural Resources (link)
Maryland Department of Natural Resources (link)
Michigan Conservation District (link)
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (link)
Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (link)
Nevada Division of Forestry (link)
New Hampshire Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (link)
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (link)
New Mexico State Forestry (link)
New York State Tree Nursery (link)
North Carolina Forest Service (link)
Oklahoma Conservation Commission (link)
Oregon Department of Forestry (link)
Pennsylvania Game Commission (link)
South Carolina Forestry Commission (link)
Tennessee Department of Agriculture (link)
Virginia Department of Forestry (link)
Washington Department of Natural Resources (link)
West Virginia State Nursery (link)
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (link)
Ontario (link) Thanks, @nxtblg!
Please note that each state has different prices and different limits on numbers.
And if you find any other resources, be sure to let me know in the comments below!
In Canada, the Ontario government sells seeds.
https://www.ontario.ca/page/buy-ontario-tree-seeds-or-cones
Transforming them to seedlings is up to us. :)
Added to the list! Thanks so much, @nxtblg!
Glad to! I guess the Gov of Ont. leaves it to private entities to transform the seeds into seedlings.
(Maybe there isn't enough demand except for contract tree planters; idk.)
awesome! that's a great list for others in various states. we've ordered from them for the past 3 years and had a lot of success. can't beat the prices, that's for sure!
what'd you guys pick up this year?
we got papaw & mulberry this year, but in the past have gotten walnut, wild false indigo, the perennial clover, witch hazel, pecan, plum, aronia! what a blessing at those prices!
We have a big order coming. Honestly, we maybe ordered too many for what we can handle now. :)
We have black walnut, mulberry, hawthorn, cedar, blackberry, witch hazel, service berry, plum and more that I can't think of off the top of my head. They all had to have either food or medicinal purposes.
haha awesome! those were the reasons behind our picks too!- that and also "chop and drop" nitrogen fixers. and we have totally ordered to many- usually we give them to friends, although we do still have a few walnuts hemmed in in a pile of sawdust lol! they're alive!
Wait, what? If you can't plant them right away you can put them in sawdust until next year? I have never heard that before.
Yes, it's called "heeling in" and maybe it isn't ideal, but it will keep them alive and happy until you can put them in the ground permanently.
On Arbor Day our local garden club gives seedlings away as gifts to the public. I've gotten dogwood, redbud, and blackhaw from them on different years.
What a great resource! Good job providing the links and making it that much easier for folks to take advantage.
My family and I go in on orders of seedlings through the DOC in Missouri. None of have room for a whole bunch of trees, but to order the minimum amount and letting what we can’t use go to waste would be such a shame! Last year we ordered witch hazel trees. Those are some fast growing bugers!
Nice post followed
Thanks for the list...that must have taken you a little while to put together!