MO Department of Conservation promotes planting native trees, shrubs
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) – Cape Girardeau’s Department of Conservation Regional Forester is promoting planting trees and plants from the local area and how you can order them.
Jennifer Behnken, Community forester says “If your looking on your landscape thinking about what u want to do with that tree how much sunlight it gets. Is it flat, Is it wet, is it steep, is it dry, and looking over some desires on why you want to plant that tree are very important.”
Missouri has over 100 native tree species.
Trees give us all kinds of benefits.
“Trees actually reduce stress; Says Behnken, they encourage people to get out and connect with nature which is obviously so important to us. So, if we can provide that connection by planting trees it actually shows a lot of benefits from societal living.”
They are also very beneficial for our wildlife.
Alex Holmes is the assistant manager of Cape Girardeau’s Conservation Nature Center,
‘’Whether they be deer and turkey or they be things like insect friends like bees and butterfly’s, they actually grew up using plants that are native to Missouri.” Alex Holmes says.
MDC’s George O. White State Forest Nursery in Licking, Mo. offers a variety of low-cost native tree and shrub seedlings for sale for reforestation, windbreaks, erosion control, wildlife food and cover, and other purposes.
The nursery provides mainly one-year-old, bare-root seedlings with sizes varying by species. Seedlings varieties include: pine, bald cypress, cottonwood, black walnut, hickory, oak, pecan, persimmon, river birch, maple, willow, sycamore, blackberry, buttonbush, hazelnut, redbud, ninebark, elderberry, sumac, wild plum, witch hazel, and others. MDC recommends ordering early for the best selection.
Seedlings are available in bundles of 10 or increments of 25 per species. Prices range from 34 cents to $1 per seedling. Sales tax will be added to orders unless tax exempt. There is a shipping fee and a $9 handling charge for each order. Receive a 15% discount up to $20 off seedling orders with a Heritage Card, Permit Card, or Conservation ID Number. Orders will be shipped or can be picked up at the nursery, located near Licking, from February through May.
