Annual Meigs SWCD Tree Sale Underway

POMEROY – Snow and ice may be on the ground, but spring is just around the corner and now is the time to start planning for spring tree-planting projects.

The annual Meigs Soil and Water Conservation District tree sale is now underway with hardwood and conifer packets, and other items to please almost anyone.

This year’s hardwood offerings include Black Walnut, White Oak, Northern Red Oak, Sugar Maple and Black Cherry in packets of 25 seedlings for $17.

Also available are Colorado Blue Spruce, White Spruce, Norway Spruce, Canadian Hemlock, Scotch Pine, Eastern White Pine, Virginia Pine and Loblolly Pine, in packets of 25 for $15. This is the first time in years that the fast-growing Loblolly Pine has been offered.

American Chestnut trees are again available in packets of five for $15. These seedlings are secured from the West Virginia State Tree Nursery and are considered pure American Chestnut. These trees have shown some resistance to chestnut blight but it is too soon to claim resistance. This gives the landowner an opportunity to help play a part in reestablishing this tree species, once considered the queen of the eastern forest.

The native flowering packet consists of 10 trees with two each Red Osier Dogwood, Mountain Laurel, White Flowering Dogwood, Sweetshrub (Carolina Allspice), and Strawberry Bush seedlings for $15.

Other offerings include Dwarf Gala/Fuji Apples and Bruce/Methley Plum, in packets of two seedlings each for $18; Shiitake Mushroom kits (consisting of 200 plugs) for $25; English Ivy, and Pachysandra trays of 100 plants for $25.

Seed mixes include erosion control (two pounds for $15), wildflower and grass (one ounce for $6), bird and butterfly (one ounce for $5), and wildlife food plot mixes (25 pounds for $40)

Also available are bluebird boxes and bat boxes ($20 each), marking flags ($.10 each) and Plantskyydd deer and rabbit repellant available in ready-to-spray quart bottles ($25) or in a powder concentrate (2.2 pounds for $40).

The deadline for ordering trees or seed packets from the Meigs SWCD is Friday, Feb. 27 with trees being available for pickup around the second week in April. Tree and shrub seedlings should be between six and 18 inches tall depending on the species, and should be planted within five days after pickup and watered regularly.

For an order form or for more information, contact the Meigs SWCD at 740-992-4282 or stop in during regular business hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, at 113 E. Memorial Drive, Suite D, Pomeroy. Order forms are also available at www.meigsswcd.com.