The annual seedling tree and shrub sales program offers eligible Colorado landowners a convenient source of high quality, affordable planting stock for conservation plantings.
These plantings can include hedgerow and windbreak establishment; noise, dust and visual screening; wildlife habitat improvement; living snow fence development; reforestation and afforestation efforts; erosion control projects; and Christmas tree plantations. Native and introduced varieties of trees and shrubs are available.
- Program Requirements
- What to Plant & How to Care for Seedlings in Western Colorado
- Seedling Survival Supplies
- Seedling Planting Equipment
Program Requirements
- Use seedlings for conservation purposes, cannot be solely used for landscaping
If you do not qualify for the program, desire larger trees, want landscaping plants or are interested in a species not offered, numerous commercial nurseries should be able to meet your needs.
Seedling orders are taken from November to April of each year. Numerous nurseries should be able to meet your needs if you desire larger trees, want landscaping plants or are interested in a species not offered.
Order the seedlings in the county you would like to pick up the seedlings in, you do not have to live in the county to order seedlings from them.
Seedlings are available for pick-up on ONE specific day, determined by the cooperator selling the seedlings but usually during the beginning of May. The cooperator will contact you with the pickup date after you have placed your order.
Grand Junction Field Office Seedling Cooperators
| COUNTY | OFFICE ADDRESS | OFFICE PHONE |
|---|---|---|
| Delta | CSU Tri-River Area Extension 525 Dodge Street Delta, CO 81416 | (970) 874-2195 |
| Garfield | Garfield/Pitkin Soil Conservation District 258 Center Drive Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 | (970) 404-3439 |
| Mesa | CSU Tri-River Area Extension 2775 Highway 50 Grand Junction, CO 81502 | (970) 244-1834 |
| Pitkin | Garfield/Pitkin Soil Conservation District 258 Center Drive Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 | (970) 945-5494 |
| Rio Blanco | White River Conservation District 351 7th Street Meeker, CO 81101 | (970) 878-5628 |
What to Plant & How to Care for Seedlings in Western Colorado
Visit our Colorado State Forest Service Nursery for additional information on:
- Seedling sizes
- Buyer’s Guide: descriptions of an assortment of tree and shrub species available
- Current Nursery Inventory: shows a real time view of the inventory
- Seedling Planting Guide
- Publications by the National Agroforestry Center
Not all tree and shrub species for sale are appropriate in western Colorado. Look at the Seedling Plant Selection presentation (5 MB PDF) and the Species Suitability Guide (94 KB PDF) to determine what species may do well in your area. Some plants thrive at different elevations; refer to this Plant Elevations Guide (12 KB PDF) to see which plants like it cold and which plants prefer lower elevations.
Mulch (50 KB PDF) and Polymer (50 KB PDF) can improve a seedling’s chance at survival when used properly. These tips help you choose which type of mulch or polymer will work best for you.
Planting depth (30 KB PDF) is critical for these small seedlings. Planting too deep will kill the plant due to lack of oxygen available to the roots. The top root should be right below the soil line.
The seedlings have been pampered in the nursery and will require supplemental water once planted.
Every spring, the Grand Junction Field Office gives a one-hour workshop in Delta and Grand Junction on how to plant and care for the seedling trees. View the workshop presentation (11 MB PDF). The dates of the classes can be found on page two of the seedling survival supplies order form (84 KB PDF).
For additional information on how to choose species, how to property plant seedlings and how to care for them to increase your survival rate, view the Grand Junction Seedling Tree Program presentation (10.3 MB PDF).
