Written by Jeremiah Auer, Forest Regeneration Specialist

Spring has arrived, and, in the small southwestern Wisconsin community of Boscobel, the Wilson State Nursery has sprung into action. As soon as the frost leaves, it is the task of these dedicated employees to shake off the cold, start up the tractors and prepare to harvest 2.4 million tree and shrub seedlings for their journey from these fields to pine forests in Brule, wind breaks in Montello, wildlife plots in Merrill, erodible hill sides in Pepin and everywhere in-between. Wisconsin nursery seedlings provide future forest products, wildlife food and habitat, erosion protection and erosion control throughout the state. Continue reading “2019 Spring Awakening” →

The DNR reforestation program still has a few species of tree and shrub seedlings available for sale. Visit our inventory page to see a current tally of stock remaining for the spring 2019 planting season. This page has information about how to place an order. If you have questions or need assistance, contact the Griffith State Nursery at 715-424-3700.

The DNR’s reforestation program will be accepting orders starting October 1, 2018 from Wisconsin forest landowners for trees and shrubs to be planted in spring 2019. The high-quality seedlings are native species appropriate for planting throughout Wisconsin.

Seedlings grown at the state nurseries are used for reforestation and conservation plantings on private, industrial, and state/county forest lands. A minimum order consists of a packet of 300 trees or shrubs of the landowner’s choosing in increments of 100 of each species, or 500 shrubs or 1000 tree seedlings. Seedlings can also be purchased by youth groups and educational organizations for their reforestation and conservation planting projects.

Forest landowners may place orders starting October 1st using an online form found on the DNR website (keyword “tree planting”) or by printing the order form, completing it and mailing it in. Customers may contact the reforestation staff or the DNR forester who serves the area where their property is located for personal assistance. Printed copies of the order form are also available at local DNR offices.

In addition to the online form, customers can also find the following on the DNR website:  the current inventory, a seedling catalog, frequently asked questions, additional tree planting information and a listing of private nurseries.

Contact: Joe Vande Hey, Reforestation Team Leader, 608-574-4904, Joseph.VandeHey@Wisconsin.gov

Proper tree planting requires a lot of decision making. One of those decisions is which species and which age is the most appropriate and cost effective to plant. The Division of Forestry’s reforestation program would like to take some of the unknowns out of that process by giving landowners and property managers an early peek at what the Wisconsin state nurseries anticipate having available this fall.

This list is preliminary, as it is possible that some species will be added or subtracted depending on health, growth, and several other factors as the growing season begins to wane. However, most of these trees and shrubs listed will be available to purchase on the first Monday of October (October 1, 2018).  Here is our seedling sales page. 

Continue reading “Plan now for spring planting” →

Although a snowy spring has slowed work at the state nursery in Boscobel, the reforestation staff is busy lifting, grading and preparing seedlings for customers. If you have not yet placed your order, there are still some species available. Hardwood tree species still available include red oak, swamp white oak, white oak, bur oak, black cherry, and black walnut. Wildlife shrubs available include choke cherry, hazelnut, ninebark, juneberry and American plum. A few additional species may become available in the coming weeks.

Call (715) 424-3700 for up-to-date information on seedling availability and to place an order.

Seedlings are to be used for reforestation, wildlife habitat and windbreak and erosion control purposes and must be planted on Wisconsin forest land. Answers to the most common questions are available on this “Frequently Asked Questions” page.

Written by Jeremiah Auer, Regeneration Specialist, jeremiah.auer@wisconsin.gov, 715-459-1999

The Reforestation Program has begun its annual tree seedling and shrub sales. The tree and shrub seedlings are available to all Wisconsin landowners interested in planting for conservation purposes such as forest products, wildlife habitat and erosion control. Information on seedling availability, species information, tips on how to prepare a site for tree planting and ordering instructions are available on the DNR website (dnr.wi.gov, keyword “tree planting”).

There is a minimum order of 1,000 tree seedlings, 500 wildlife shrubs or a mixed packet of 300 seedlings. Hardwood tree species available include native oak (bur, red, swamp white and white), maples (red, silver and sugar), shagbark hickory, black cherry, butternut, black walnut, river birch, aspen and hackberry. Conifer tree species available include white spruce, black spruce, white pine, tamarack, red pine, jack pine, hemlock and white cedar. Wildlife shrubs available include American plum, red osier and silky dogwood, hazelnut, juneberry and choke cherry. A current inventory of which species are available is maintained on the DNR website.

The orders will be distributed in April and early May and can be picked up at the state nurseries located in Boscobel, Hayward, or Wisconsin Rapids, or delivered to a central location designated by the local DNR forester. Even though seedlings are not shipped for planting until spring, it is important to order now because many species sell out quickly.

For assistance, contact Carey Skerven at carey.skerven@wisconsin.gov or (715) 424-3703.