Eastern Redbuds. like the one pictured here, are one of the trees residents can buy from the Monroe County Tree & Shrub program. File photo
Make Spring 2025 the Season of Conservation! How about committing to plant native species on your property! The Monroe County Soil & Water Conservation District can make this your easiest resolution yet through the release of their spring 2025 species list for their annual Conservation Tree & Shrub program. For 49 years, the District has hosted this successful program, with almost 24,000 native and naturalized trees and shrubs being distributed to nearly 600 landowners last year alone for local conservation purposes! This great conservation program allows landowners to buy tree and shrub seedlings to add conservation to their neighborhoods and properties through erosion control, windbreaks/screens, climate resilience, and landscape aesthetics.
With almost 40 different species including hardwoods, bare-root conifers, transplants, shrubs, flowering plants, and variety packs, the District continues to support conservation efforts to enhance and protect the natural resources throughout Monroe County, while assisting residents to enhance and conserve those resources in their communities today for future generations. We don’t just offer trees and shrubs either, offering other products great for conservation projects and/or promoting ecological stewardship activities including bat and bluebird houses, seed mixes, tree protection items, and more! Order your plants now through March 7th until 4 p.m. and pick up on April 24th or 25th ready to be planted!
The District added 7 new items this year! All great conservation species, these trees and shrubs provide numerous benefits from wildlifeshelter and food to increasing property aesthetics. New this year in trees and shrubs and flowering plants are Eastern Redbud, Red Mulberry, Dense Blazing Star, Black Tupelo, Eastern Sand Cherry, Ninebark, and Common Hackberry. Popular bestsellers like American Hazelnut, Paper Birch, and our Edible Fruit-Pack also returned this year! Conifer trees available to order are Balsam Fir, Douglas Fir, Fraser Fir, White Sprice, Colorado Blue Spruce, Eastern White Pine, Norway Spruce. Deciduous shrubs available include American Hazelnut and Red Osier Dogwood. Deciduous trees available also include American Sycamore, Red Maple, Red Oak, Paper Birch, Sugar Maple, White Flowering Dogwood and White Oak. The species in this program are the best choices for supporting conservation efforts locally including wildlife food and shelter, erosion control, natural windbreaks, climate resilience, and more! Check out all the benefits of these and our other selections by visiting our catalog: https://monroecountyswcd.org/tree-shrub-program/
In addition, edible fruit multi-pack plant packs including 10 plants with two of each species of Blackberry ‘Darrow’, Blueberry ‘Jersey’, Blueberry ‘Blue Ray’, Red Raspberry ‘Latham’ and Strawberry ‘Jewel’ are available along with Evergreen mult-packs with each pack containing 10 plants with two of each species: Balsam Fir, Eastern White Pine, Colorado Blue Spruce, Fraser Fir and White Spruce. Native flowering tree and shrub multi-packs include 10 plants with two of each species: Downy Serviceberry, Eastern Redbud, Elderberry, Red Osier Dogwood, White Flowering Dogwood. Streamside multi-packs include 10 plants with two of each species: American Sycamore, Pussy Willow, Buttonbush, Red Osier Dogwood and River Birch. Wild Berry multi-packs contain 10 plants with three elderberry and native raspberry plants and two Shadblow Serviceberry and red mulberry plants. There are wildflower seed mix packets available for part shade (Annual Baby’s Breath, Baby Blue Eyes, Candytuft, Chinese Forget-Me-Not. Chinese Houses, Clarkia, Corn Poppy, Dwarf Columbine, Giant Columbine, Johnny Jump-Up, Lance-Leaved Coreopsis, Purple Coneflower, Rocket Larkspur, Shasta Daisy, Spurred Snapdragon, Sweet William Pinks and Tussock Bellflower) and for full sun (Annual Baby’s Breath, Black-Eyed Susan, Catchfly, Corn Poppy, Cornflower, Evening Primrose, Gayfeather, Hairy Beardtongue, Indian Blanket, Lance-Leaved Coreopsis, Perennial Lupine, Purple Coneflower, Scarlet Flax, Shasta Daisy, Siberian Wildflower, Smooth Penstemon, Spurred Snapdragon and Sweet William Pinks). Wildlife Food plot seed mix is a mix of White Clover (40 percent), Alfalfa (30 percent), Soy Bean (20 percent) and Chicory (10 percent).
Due to limited supply, pre-order by March 7, 2025 by mail, email or online ordering. Pre-ordered plants can be picked up at the Monroe County ecopark on April 24th or 25th, 2025 from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. We will also hold a first come, first serve overstock sale on April 26, 2025 from 9:00-11:00 a.m. Please note that our tree species typically come as young, small rooted plants – we do not sell full grown trees. Once planted the small seedlings should take to the soil and grow leaves once spring arrives.
Those interested in this program can find the order form and our full color catalog on the District’s website: https://monroecountyswcd.org/tree-shrub-program/. If you have any questions or you’d like a form sent to you, contact the Monroe County Soil & Water Conservation District at: (585) 753-7380, Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
