The Iowa State Forest Nursery is our go-to source for quality, affordable trees! Last year we planted 225 hardwood and evergreen trees from the Iowa DNR. And we loved the quality, price, and ease of buying the saplings! So we ordered 75 shrubs and 25 more trees to plant this year.
Our only regret is not ordering trees from the State Forest Nursery in previous years! Though most saplings are small and require patience, you can’t beat the quality and price.
A little about the Iowa State Forest Nursery
In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) started the nursery south of Ames. Up to five million seedlings are growing there, and they sell around one million each year.
Iowa State Forest Nursery trees: Varieties, size, and availability
Varieties
The nursery offers hardwoods, evergreens, and shrubs. They have native hardwoods, like Bur Oak, Shagbark Hickory, and Black Walnut, to name a few. They also sell shrubs, like Aroniaberry, Ninebark, and Buttonbush. Evergreens include Norway Spruce, Bald Cypress, Eastern White Pine, and more (spring only).
Songbird packets are a group of trees that attract songbirds. The packets are the only way to order seedlings if you don’t want to order 25 of only one variety. But they’re super popular and sell out quickly!
Size
The trees come as bare root seedlings and are around 9” to 36” tall, depending on the variety and your size selection.
Price & Availability
The minimum order is 25 seedlings for each type of tree or shrub. But each seedling costs between $.80-$1.10 each, so even an order of 25 is affordable.
Orders get accepted from September through May. But some varieties sell out more quickly than others! On the website, you can view the availability for each type of tree.
How and when to order trees from the Iowa State Forest Nursery
1. Plan your planting site.
Before you order seedlings:
- Decide where you will plant them.
- Consider the space, soil quality, and moisture.
- Determine which types of trees would thrive there.
2. Order seedlings.
For each variety, the minimum order is 25 bare root seedlings. Or you can order a packet, like a songbird packet.
Place orders online through the Iowa DNR website from September through May. When you place your order, select the week you want your order to ship (or you can pick it up on certain days).
3. Prepare for their arrival.
It’s essential to prepare to plant the trees as soon as possible. The sooner you can plant them, the more likely they will survive and thrive!
That’s why it’s wise to prepare the planting site before the trees arrive. It might mean clearing the brush and weeds three feet around trees, so they don’t have to compete for resources.
The trees arrive as bare root seedlings wrapped in plastic. If you can’t plant the seedlings immediately, keep them in their plastic. And store them in a cool, dark building, like an unheated garage. Make sure they stay moist and cool but don’t allow them to freeze.
4. Plant and nurture!
See the DNR planting guidelines for best results and water trees well after planting. Continue to ensure your seedlings get one inch of water each week during the first two years. Also, keep grass and weeds down and protect them from wildlife.
Rules and responsibility
Buying seedlings from the Iowa DNR comes with responsibility. They get sold at a super affordable price, so there are some rules about use and sale. For example, the seedlings with exposed roots cannot be re-sold or used for windbreaks or ornamental purposes. It’s important to note that the goal of tree sales is conservation. So, the idea is to plant trees to improve soil, wildlife, and water quality. For more details, see the Iowa State Nursery Seed Catalog.
Why plant trees from Iowa?
Keeping everything local and native has countless benefits. Native trees have fewer diseases and are more likely to thrive. The soil, wildlife, and pollinators adapt to native trees, benefiting the whole ecosystem.
By ordering from the Iowa State Nursery, you ensure you’re planting the suitable trees for where you live. It’s also a way to help with conservation and ensure the trees are here for generations to come.
Photo credit: Pixabay