NRD Conservation Tree Program  

Click here to view tree descriptions and pictures. www.nrdnet.org/trees

The NRD starts taking orders for trees and shrubs on Nov. 1.  It is best to place your order as soon as you have your planting plan completed. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) will provide technical assistance in preparing the planting plan for producers within the NRD. Call your local NRCS office to set up your planting plan for next year. 

Through the Conservation Tree Program, the NRD sells about 30 varieties of trees and shrubs for conservation plantings for the spring season.  Farmstead windbreaks, livestock shelters, field windbreaks, wildlife habitat and living snow fence are just some of the uses that can be made of these trees.  Federal law prohibits the use of these trees for ornamentals or for later resale as nursery stock with roots attached.  Orders are taken from November to March on a first come, first serve basis.

                                                 Cost: 100 trees for $55 (+ tax) or 25 trees for $13.75 (+ tax)
                                                      All stock are sold in multiples of 25. See species below.   Payment must accompany order.

*Cost Share is available for trees and weed barrier at 50%.  A minimum order of 200 trees must be ordered to receive cost share funds.

Order at the CPNRD or your local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office:

Central Platte NRD: (308) 385-6282    Contact: Kelly Cole

NRCS Offices (Ext. 3):  Grand Island- (308) 382-0814         Kearney- (308) 237-3118        Lexington- (308) 324-6314    
                                            Central City- (308) 946-2251          Osceola (402) 747-2461

DISTRICT PLANTING SERVICE  

Cost: .35 cents per tree planted 

Central Platte NRD will provide a complete tree planting service for orders of 400 trees or more. Service includes a tree crew with all necessary equipment.  When arrangements are made for the NRD to plant the trees, the tree planting crew will deliver them to the landowner at planting time.  When a crew completes a planting, any trees left will be heeled in at the end of a row unless the landowner specifies otherwise.

CUSTOMER HAND-PLANT
Central Platte NRD will store the trees in coolers until planting time.  If the trees are to be hand-planted by the owner, the trees will be packaged for the owner to pick up at the NRD coolers or the local Natural Resources Conservation Service office.  We will notify the landowners of the day they can pick up their trees. Tree planter equipment is available to landowners at no charge.  Reservations for the equipment can be made on a first-come first-served basis by contacting the NRCS in your county or Central Platte NRD at (308) 385-6282.

*The NRD is now required to charge a tax on the installation of trees and weed barrier since it is a service transacted within the State of Nebraska.*

Weed Barrier Program 

   Cost of Fabric: .40 cents/lineal foot + tax  or  Fabric & Installation: .70 cents/lineal foot + tax  
   

The NRD's Weed Barrier Program is primarily used as long-lasting protection against weeds for seedling trees without constant effort and without damage to the seedlings or the environment.  Weed barrier is available for installation on tree plantings either by the Central Platte NRD tree crew or by landowners themselves.  It is primarily used to reduce the competition of grass and weeds for seedling trees without damage to the seedlings or to the environment, but it also provides the trees with a moisture retention benefit.  Weed barrier is a black polypropylene fabric with the appearance of tightly-woven burlap.  

Moisture is able to penetrate the weed barrier fabric, but it retards moisture loss from the soil beneath the fabric.  Once the material is in place, post-planting maintenance is virtually eliminated and the material has a minimum service life of five years guaranteed.  Weed barrier is available in rolls that are 6 feet wide by either 300 or 500 feet in length or partial rolls may be purchased.  The price may vary from year to year but has been running approximately 40 cents per lineal foot + tax.

Weed barrier will may be installed by the NRD on seedling tree plantings if the ground has been properly prepared prior to the crew's arrival. If the NRD installs the fabric, the charge for the fabric and installation is 70 cents per lineal foot (+ tax).  NRD crews will install a minimum of 1,000 lineal feet at a job site.  Customers will be billed for actual lineal feet (minimum charge 1,000 ft) installed after the job is completed.

Your Central Platte staff contacts on this subject are Kelly Cole, Tom Backer and Gene Stoklasa.

*The NRD is now required to charge a tax on the installation of trees and weed barrier since it is a service transacted within the State of Nebraska.*

2007 Stock Available        
View pictures here.

Deciduous Trees & Conifers    

Bur Oak: Maximum height 60-80 ft. Native to NE. Grows on variety of soils, best on rich, moist bottomlands. Slow-moderate rate growth.

Colorado Blue Spruce: Maximum height 60-100 ft. Color ranges from dark to silvery bluish-green. Forms very dense windbreak. Slow growth rate.

Cottonwood: Maximum height 75-100 ft. NE State Tree. Used for height in windbreaks. Cotton-less hybrids are distributed. Fast growth rate.  Best used as inside row of windbreaks.

Eastern Red Cedar: Maximum height 15-20 ft. Native to NE. Highest survival rate of any conifer in NE. Drought resistant.  Foliage turns russet in winter. Primary species in windbreaks.

Green Ash: Maximum height 50-60 ft.  Native to NE. Adaptable to many soil & moisture conditions.  Dark foliage, turns yellow in fall.  Fast growth rate.

Hackberry: Maximum height 40-60 ft. Native to NE.  Elm shaped leaves, grayish bark. Purplish fruits-great source of food for wildlife.  Has moderate tolerance to adverse weather.  Used in single row windbreaks.  Moderate growth rate. 

Honeylocust: Maximum height 50 ft.  Native to eastern NE.  Foliage light green, turns to yellow in the fall. Easily transplanted and salt tolerant.  Used for height in windbreaks.  Fast growth rate.

Jack Pine: Maximum height 35-45 ft.  Needles in pairs 1-2 inches long.  Drought resistant, best on inside row of windbreak.  Has no serious diseases.

Manchurian Apricot: Max. height 15-20 ft.  Pinkish flower blooms in spring, produces fruit in the fall.  This spreading tree is used as one of the outer rows of a windbreak.

Midwest Crabapple: Maximum height 20 ft.  Produces white blossoms in spring, produces persistent small apples.  Excellent wildlife food throughout the fall and the winter.  Extremely hardy and disease resistant.  Used in single row windbreaks.

Norway Spruce:  Maximum height 75-100 ft.  Prefers moist soil.  Needles sharp, 1/2 to 1 inch long, dark green with whitish lines.  Cones 4-6 inches long, cylindrical.  Foliage eaten by deer, needles eaten by grouse--great winter cover for many species.

Pin Oak: Maximum height 70 ft.  Grows best on moist and acid soils.  Favorite oak tree to use as a shade tree.  Medium to rapid growth.

Ponderosa Pine: Maximum height 40-100 ft.  Native to northwest NE.  Produces 3-6 inch cones. Can withstand prolonged drought, best pine for severe sites. Excellent for windbreaks-best used in east & south inside rows. 

Red Oak:  Maximum height 60-75 ft.  Foliage turns red to brown in the fall.  Fastest grower of the oaks.  Known for dense, lustrous foliage.
 
Silver Maple: Maximum height 40 ft.  Native to NE.  Fast growing, ideal for wet bottomland sites.  Fast growth rate. Great choice for filter strips next to streams.

Swamp White Oak:  Maximum height 60-60 ft.  Native to southeastern NE.  Leaves-dark green on top, felty white bottom.  Turns red-bronze in fall.  Grows best on moist, bottomland forested soils.

Shrubs

American Hazel: Maximum height 8-10 ft. Native to eastern NE. Best growth is on moist soils.  Produces edible nuts within 3-5 years.  Medium-fast growth rate. 

American Plum: Medium-size shrub, native to NE.  Forms dense thickets ideal for windbreaks. White flowers bloom in May with red-purple plums ripening during September.  Great for jellies.

Amur Honeysuckle: Small/medium-size shrub.  Leaves turn scarlet during the fall.  Drought resistant.  Good for mass plantings and hedges.

Amur Maple: Medium/large-size shrub.  Leaves turn scarlet during the fall. Drought tolerant. Use as outside row of windbreak.

Caragana: Large spreading shrub.  Provides dense cover for wildlife. Has yellow spring flowers. Adaptable to extreme cold, wind & drought conditions. Tolerates all soil types.

Chokecherry: Medium-size shrub.  Forms dense thicket for wildlife. Seasonal yellow-orange foliage with white blooms in Spring. Cherries ripen during July-great for making jelly and wine.

Common Lilac: Upright, medium-size shrub. Fragrant white to lavender blooms in May. Best located in outside row of windbreaks.

Elderberry: Small shrub, native to NE. Dark purple berries ripen in summer, excellent for making jelly and syrups.  Summer food source for wildlife.

Golden Currant:  Small native shrub.  Winter-hardy and drought tolerant.  Yellow flowers in May with edible fruit.  Excellent for wildlife and outside row of windbreak.

Peking Cotoneaster: Low-growing shrub.  Dark green foliage turns brilliant red-orange in fall.  Berry-like fruit ripens in October through winter. Great for outside row of windbreaks. 

Red-Osier Dogwood: Medium/large-size shrub.  Vivid red fall foliage, white flowers & berries.  Best used in moist areas.

Sand Cherry: Low-growing shrub, native to western NE.  White flowers bloom in May. Produces sweet purple cherries in July-good for making jelly or jam. Forms 4-6 ft. wide thickets.

Silver Buffaloberry: Medium/large-size shrub.  Native to western NE.  Thorny, tree-like shrub.  Produces tart, fleshy berries used in jellies.  Drought resistant.

Skunkbush Sumac: 4-6 ft. spread & height. Forms clusters of red berry-like fruit in summer. Use on inside and outside of windbreak.