Seedling Trees and Shrubs for reforestation and

The Colorado State Forest Service seedling tree program distributes about two million trees and shrubs each year, throughout Colorado and neighboring states. The program provides seedlings at low cost to landowners with two or more acres, who pledge to use them for reforestation, wildlife habitat, erosion control, windbreaks, or other non-landscape purposes.


A field of Colorado blue spruce seedlings at the CSFS Nursery.

 These plants are available in lots of 50 bare root, or 30 regular or small potted sizes. The bare root lots are $44.00; the regular potted are $56.00, and the small potted are $36.00. Bear in mind these trees and shrubs are from 5 to 30 inches in height depending on the species.

In the Tri River Area (Mesa, Delta, Montrose and Ouray Counties) we fill over three hundred orders each year. Get your order in as early as possible because many of these trees and shrubs will be sold out well before the end of the order period, in early April. The trees and shrubs can be picked up in late April at locations in Mesa, Delta and Montrose counties. We will let you know when and where you can pick up your seedlings.

Each March, the Colorado State Forest Service holds free “Seedling Survival” workshops, to educate people on the care of these seedlings. We want you to succeed with your seedlings, and will do our best to provide you with the information you’ll need.

The Colorado Forest Service’s website at http://csfs.colostate.edu/pages/seedling-tree-nursery.html has the buyer’s guide, with pictures and information about the available species. If you are planning on planting trees or shrubs in a site where you think or know there is salt get your soil tested. We can test your soil for salts in any of our three county office; Mesa, Delta or Montrose.

To order trees through the Tri River Area program, contact Ginny Price at GPrice@montrosecounty.net or call her at 970 249-3935.