The latest arctic blast and twelve inches of snow might not get people to think about spring planting, but now is really an excellent time to get ready when warmer weather finally arrives.
Duane Bedford, state forester with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources at Chariton, said people should think about what they want to accomplish with their planting site and to select species suitable to the area. "Waiting until April or May to order your plants may leave you shorthanded because some of the plants you need will probably be sold out.
"When selecting your plant species and the source for your plants, remember that it is important to purchase tree and shrub seedlings grown from Iowa seed sources," he said. "Local Iowa seed sources survive and grow better than seeds collected in other states."
The State Forest Nursery in Ames sells Iowa-grown conservation tree and shrub seedlings each year to Iowa landowners. There are 23 species of hardwood trees, 7 species of evergreens and 15 species available. The prices range from $0.25 to $0.45 per plant. There are also available 4 different packets of trees and shrubs prepared especially for turkey, pheasant and quail, songbirds, and general wildlife that sell from $20 to $90 per packet. Bedford advises interested landowners to contact the State Forest Nursery at 1-800-865-2477 or order on line at www.iowadnr.com/forestry/.
If planting 10, 5, or even just 2 acres sounds like a tremendous undertaking, consider a tree planter pulled by a tractor, which can plant 300 to 600 trees and shrubs per hour. "Many county conservation boards have planters which are rented out to county residents. If you don't wish to do the planting yourself, a number of individuals and small firms do contract tree planting," Bedford said. Go to www.iowatreeplanting.com for more information.
District foresters can offer advice on where to plant and what to plant and may help get landowners cost-share assistance for tree plantings through local Farm Service Agency's riparian buffer strip program and bottomland hardwood program. Additional cost-share funds are available through Soil and Water Conservation District office from the Resource Enhancement and Protection program (REAP). Also, the state and local chapters of the National Wild Turkey Federation and Pheasants Forever often provide some cost-share support for conservation plantings for turkey habitat or pheasant habitat.
For advice on tree and shrub planting including cost-share programs, species selection, site preparation, and plantation maintenance, as well as advice on woodland management, get the name of your local DNR District Forester at www.iowadnr.com/forestry/.
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