Deadline for seedling tree orders is April 7

ALAMOSA—The deadline for ordering conservation seedlings in the San Luis Valley is right around the corner on April 7.

The Colorado State Forest Service conservation seedling program offers a variety of trees shrubs and perennials to help meet landowner’s conservation goals. Landowners intending to plant seedling trees, shrubs or perennials should order seedlings and begin initial planning now. District Forester Adam Moore, with the CSFS Alamosa District, says that a critical aspect of planning a successful planting project is choosing the right time of year.

“Our nursery in Fort Collins has tried to simplify the planning process by delivering seedlings to the different parts of Colorado for their respective planting times. This helps insure a higher rate of seedling survival,” Moore says.

Planting seedlings at the right time of year will help avoid some post-planting problems, such as drying out the root system and transplant shock. Seedlings should be planted while in their dormant stage, before the buds break and leaves or new needles come out for the year.

Moore also says it’s a good idea to plant seedlings early in the spring season for good root growth and to allow time for the seedlings to adjust to their new environment before the heat of summer arrives. He also cautions against planting in frozen ground or during freezing temperatures because fine root hairs or the buds can freeze. A good window of opportunity for high rates of success in the Valley is usually planting from April 15 to May 15.

The CSFS Alamosa District has been assisting Valley landowners with tree planting for over 50 years. For more information about buying seedling trees and planning a planting project contact the CSFS at 587-0915.

Seedling order forms, species information and planting instructions are available online at http://csfs.colostate.edu/districts/alamosa-district/alamosa-seedling-trees/. Seedling orders can also be placed through the CSFS Alamosa District office at 587-0915.

The Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) is a service and outreach agency of the Warner College of Natural Resources at Colorado State University and provides staffing for the Division of Forestry within the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. The CSFS provides technical forestry assistance, wildfire mitigation expertise and outreach and education to help landowners and communities achieve their forest management goals. The CSFS Alamosa District serves Alamosa, Costilla, Conejos, Rio Grande, Saguache, and Mineral counties.