Trees & Weed Barrier

Central Platte NRD has sold 3.8 million trees since 1972 and 622 miles of weed barrier since 1991.

Congratulations to the 2023 Gateway Expo Tree Winners!
Mark Ogorzolka, Kearney; Gary Feldman, Litchfield; James Friesen, Kearney; Janice Lans, Lexington

 

Trees & Shrubs

Nebraska's NRDs have helped landowners plant more than 100 million trees since our inception in 1972! This tree planting tradition continues through this Conservation Tree Program.  The species of trees and shrubs we offer are especially suitable for windbreaks and wildlife habitat, but have many other uses and benefits. They shade homes, reduce soil erosion, protect crops and livestock, provide food and cover for wildlife, buffer noise, provide valuable products and add beauty to our landscape.

Tree orders are accepted November 1 - April 1. The trees you order will come directly to the CPNRD office in Grand Island and stored in our tree cooler.  Orders are typically ready by mid-April. You will be notified when your order can be picked up from our office or your local NRCS office.
Place your order by December 31st to receive a 10% discount on trees, weed barrier & tree planting services.

COST:  $1.25 per tree, sold in bundles of 25  |   $31.25 for 25 trees or $125/100 trees
Cost-Share is available for trees & weed barrier at 50%.  200+ trees must be ordered to receive cost-share funds.

Shrubs 
American Hazel, American Plum, Amur Maple, Caragana, Chokecherry, Elderberry, False Indigo, Golden Currant, Peking Cotoneaster, Red-Osier Dogwood, Serviceberry
SOLD OUT: Common Lilac, Buffaloberry, Skunkbush Sumac

Deciduous/Hardwoods 
Bur Oak, Cottonwood, Midwest Crabapple, Silver Maple, Swamp White Oak
SOLD OUT: Black Cherry, Black Walnut, Catalpa, Hackberry, Manchurian Apricot, Red Oak

Conifers 
Black Hills Spruce, Colorado Blue Spruce, Eastern Red Cedar, Norway Spruce,  Ponderosa Pine, Rocky Mountain Juniper, Southwestern White Pine

BROCHURE       TREE PHOTOS & DESCRIPTIONS


Packages for Small Acreages   

     50 seedlings for $65 (10 of each tree)  

  • Eastern Nebraska   AVAILABLE
    Bur Oak, Peking Cotoneaster, Swamp White Oak, Midwest Crabapple, Red-Osier Dogwood
  • Flowering Package   SOLD OUT
    Serviceberry, Midwest Crabapple, Common Lilac, Red-Osier Dogwood, Caragana
  • Wildlife Package       SOLD OUT
    Chokecherry, American Plum, Elderberry, Golden Currant, Red-Osier Dogwood   
  • Western Nebraska   SOLD OUT
    Ponderosa Pine, Rocky Mountain Juniper, Bur Oak, Chokecherry, American Plum
ORDER FORM  for trees, shrubs, weed barrier & small acreage packages

 

 

 

 


Planting Service

A complete tree planting service is available for orders of 200+ trees. 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.
Cost:  .50 cents/tree planted    The minimum charge is $200.

SITE PREPARATION
It is the landowners responsibility to prep the site. The area to be planted should be prepared as if a garden or field crop were being planted. Plowing and then disking or roto-tilling the ground will establish an excellent seedbed. Survival of your trees greatly depends on excellent ground preparation. Autumn is the best time to begin preparing the soil for tree planting because the winter weather allows the soil to mellow.

Tree Planting Guide

 

Spacing Between Rows

              • Cedar trees: 10-14′
              • Pine trees: 10-18′
              • Deciduous: 12-16′ apart
              • Shrubs: 4′ apart

Weed Barrier Program

Brochure 

Fabric weed barrier is offered for long-lasting protection against weeds without constant effort and damage to the seedlings or the environment. The black polypropylene fabric has the appearance of tightly woven burlap that allows water and nutrients to absorb into the soil. The material has a minimum service life of 5 years guaranteed.

  • Fabric: 6’ wide
    .50 cents/lineal foot + tax
  • Sheets of Fabric: 4’x4’ sheets
    $1.75 /sheet
  • Staples: 10”x 2”x 8” gauge
    .15 cents each
  • Fabric & Installation:  1,000 linear feet minimum required. Customers billed for actual feet after the job is completed.
    $1.50 cents per linear foot + tax.  50% payment of estimated installation cost is required when order is placed.
ORDER FORM

NOTE: As your trees grow, it's important to cut the fabric back to allow the trunk to have sufficient space and to prevent girdling.  VIDEO