As we begin to feel the warmth of spring we can begin to appreciated nature more and its growing season. It's also time to consider purchasing a tree or shrub from the Soil and Water Conservation District's annual sale.
Many farmers and land owners including homeowners associations as well as developers and commercial contractors get their trees and shrubs in order to create wind breaks, woodland areas, wildlife habitats and to even help with groundwater and flooding issues.
The sale pick up will occur from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 13 to 15 at the Flower Barn at the Trumbull County Fairgrounds, 899 Everett Hull Road, Bazetta.
Packets must be pre ordered and reserved on a first come, first served basis. The Trumbull SWCD places its order with other nearby SWCD offices from nurseries in the fall to keep the cost down. The Trumbull sale will also be for Mahoning County residents since that SWCD will not be conducting a sale this year. Popular species do sell out, so order as early as possible. Orders for trees and shrubs will be accepted until April 9.
Volunteers and staff of the SWCD help to put together the orders from the wholesale lots that are pre ordered to provide the consumer with the exact amount of trees or shrubs packets ordered. Please note on the order form the number of trees per packet since packets cannot be split. Anyone interested in volunteering to help pack trees, call Amy at the SWCD office at 330-637-2046, Ext. 111.
Plants are bare-rooted and packed in a moisturizing gel, so please remember bare root nursery stock is perishable. They should be planted as soon as possible after pick-up, and efforts should be made to avoid exposure to sun and wind during planting to help ensure survival.
Specific descriptions of the various tree and shrub species are included with the order form. You may also call the SWCD to get the description and an order forms sent to you. If you receive the SWCD newsletter the forms are in the winter-spring edition mailed out in late February.
l Fruit tree species include: American Bittersweet, Blueberries, 'Caroline' Red Raspberry, Fragrant Sumac, Virginia Sweetspire, 'Henry's Garnet', Red Chokeberry, and Yellow Buckeye.
l Evergreen species include: American Arborvitae, Austrian Pine, Canadian Hemlock, Concolor Fir, Eastern Red Cedar, Eastern White Pine, Norway Spruce, and White Spruce.
l Deciduous species include: Black Walnut, Bur Oak, Lacebark Elm, Red Maple, River Birch, Sugar Maple, Swamp White Oak , Sycamore,warf Willow, Gray Dogwood, Redosier, Dogwood, Spicebush, and Witchhazel.
l Flowering shrubs include: Alleghany Serviceberry, Eastern Redbud, Kousa Dogwood, Magenta Crabapple, and White Flowering Dogwood.
To place an order, go to the order form from the SWCD website www.swcd.co.trumbull.oh.us or the SWCD newsletter and return it along with your check or money order to Trumbull SWCD. You also may come in to the office or call 330-637-2046, Ext 101 for an order form.
Wilson is the Executive Director of the Trumbull Soil & Water Conservation District and is an Associate Member of the Trumbull County Farm Bureau