Planting trees for the next generation

We moved to Missouri back in 1986, and lived in the city limits of Scott City for several years. But in the early 1990s we moved outside of the city limits to a small place with several acres. The trees on the land we moved to had quite a few oaks, pecans and maples as well as other trees. There were almost no cedars or firs or spruces or what I would call evergreens.

We were getting the monthly magazine from the Missouri Department of Conservation, and it contained an article on how to get trees or seedlings from the MDC. These trees are grown at the George O. White State Forest Nursery at Licking, Missouri. Most all the trees and bushes and such are quite small but the price for them is super reasonable.

We started planting trees along the west side of our property. We planted one row of oaks and about 30 feet from it we planted a row of evergreens. The oaks consisted of shumard oak and white and red oak. The row of evergreens was made up of red cedar, Norway spruce, loblolly pine and some spruces. When we planted these trees we used a spade and dug a small hole, loosened the soil up and planted them in on our knees. I got some buckets from Donny Roth and hauled water to them the first summer. We probably planted 500 trees that first summer.

These trees did really well but we did lose some of them. So the next spring we ordered some more seedlings and replaced the ones we had lost and then began planting more trees in other areas. That spring we probably ordered 150 seedlings. It was a chore planting the trees with a regular spade so we began looking for a tree- planting spade. No one local had one to sell but Steve at Whitaker Hardware in Chaffee offered to loan me one. It sure made planting trees easier. It worked so well we went ahead and ordered one.

Since then we have ordered 50 to 100 seedlings every year. These consisted of small fruit trees like plum or deciduous holly or evergreens like cedars or spruces or pines or oaks. One year we ordered some tulip poplars. Another year we ordered some pecan seedlings. We occasionally order some baldy Cyprus and have a number of them over 20 feet tall.

Our first seedlings were planted in the early '90s, and they are at least 30 to 40 feet tall and getting taller. We have lost some of the evergreens because of disease but that is part of growing trees.

If you have a place to plant some trees, consider the MDC seedlings. You can check them out at mdc.mo.gov/seedlings or you can request a copy of the seedling order form by calling 573-674-3229. They used to accept phone orders but they no longer do that. You will have to order your seedlings by mail or fax or online. The trees start at about 60 cents to 80 cents a seedling, with a minimum order of ten. The more you order, the cheaper they are. Early spring is the ideal time to plant your seedlings.

When we plant trees or shrubs or such, we are not only planting for our own enjoyment but also for the generations after us. Choose the planting location so that it's free from power lines or septic lines and such. Learn how to prune the small tree so that it stays healthy. Planting seedlings is an investment that will pay dividends far more valuable than money.

Have a good one.