The Kalamazoo Conservation District Seedling Sale is held every spring and sometimes in the fall.  The Conservation District sells low-cost conservation seedlings for erosion control, wildlife habitat, reforestation, windbreaks, beautification and many other conservation purposes. We appreciate your support of our program and are pleased to see concerned citizens attempting to improve our environment. 

Soil testing wil be available:
While nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and other nutrients are necessary for a healthy lawn, over-application of fertilizers wastes money, ruins plants, and pollutes water. In our area, that water includes the Kalamazoo River, its tributaries and our numerous lakes. Soil testing is a first step in determining what your lawn needs for optimum health and growth. It’s easy! Just follow these directions.

0. Using a clean trowel and a pail, collect ten representative soil samples from your lawn.
0. For each sample, remove a trowel-full of soil that extends seven inches below the surface. (Do not include roots, thatch, plant materials, rocks or gravel in the sample.) Mix the ten soil samples together in the pail.
0. Place 1 cup of the well-mixed soil in a clean plastic bag or container. Dry or damp soil is okay, but soggy soil should be allowed to air dry.
0. Take your soil to your Extention office or local garden center that provides this service

Seedling Information:

All seedlings grow slowly for 2-3 years after planting or transplanting and more rapidly thereafter. A good root system must be developed before trees reach their optimum growth rate. Soils, weather, animal or other damage, weed and grass competition will affect growth rates. For advice on selecting species adapted to your particular site conditions feel free to call the Kalamazoo Conservation District at (269) 327-1258 extension 4.

SPACING AND PLANTING GUIDELINES

REFORESTATION:
The following spacing guidelines will allow enough room for trees to grow to a merchantable product without stagnation of growth or vigor and will maximize use of the available area. We recommend using a variety of species adapted to the conditions present on site to promote diversity and long term forest stability. 

WINDBREAKS, WILDLIFE HABITAT AND VISUAL SCREENS:
In general, tree and shrub plantings for purposes other than forestry are planted slightly further apart. To maximize the benefits of these types of tree plantings stagger or offset rows to fill in gaps. Again, choose a variety of trees and shrubs to add diversity to the planting.

Longevity:
Short-lived: less than 100 years
Moderately short-lived: 100-150 years
Moderately long-lived: 150-250 years
Long lived: over 250 years

Growth Rate:
Slow-growing: less than 1 ft./yr.
Moderately slow-growing: 1-2 ft./yr.
Moderately fast-growing: 2-3 ft./yr.
Fast-growing: Greater than 3 ft./yr.

Seedling age is often denoted by two numbers separated with a hyphen, for example 2-0 or 2-2. The age of the seedling can be determined by adding these two numbers together. A 2-0 seedling is 2 years old and has spent 2 years in a seedling bed, while those designated 2-2 are four years old, having spent 2 years in a seedling bed and another 2 years in a transplant bed. Generally speaking, those trees that have been transplanted have a stronger, better-developed root system. organizations.