Home Conservation Trees & Weed Barrier
Central Platte NRD has sold 3,922,262 trees since 1972 and 629 miles of weed barrier since 1991.
Congratulations to the 2024 Gateway Expo tree winners: Michaela Wetovick, Danny Cruise, Becky Shafto, Matt Schnackenberg!
Since 1972, Nebraska's Natural Resources Districts (NRDs) have partnered with landowners to plant over 100 million trees. This proud tradition continues through our Conservation Tree Program, designed to offer species of trees and shrubs ideal for windbreaks, wildlife habitats, and more. Our trees provide numerous benefits:
Get ready to grow! Order your trees through our Conservation Tree Program from November 1 to April 1. Trees are delivered to the CPNRD office in Grand Island, stored in a climate-controlled cooler, and typically ready for pickup by mid-April. You will be notified when your order is ready for pickup at our office or your local NRCS office.
Place your order by December 31st, and you’ll get a 10% discount on your entire order of seedlings, weed barrier & planting services.
Order today! Note Central Platte NRD's office is closed December 25 - January 1. Discounts will be honored if your tree order form is received by 1/2/25
Email Kelly Cole at cole@cpnrd.org
Fax 308-385-6285
Mail CPNRD, 215 Kaufman Ave, Grand Island NE 68803
Dropbox The NRD's Dropbox is also located at this address
ORDER FORM for trees, shrubs, weed barrier & small acreage packages
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.
Cost Examples with 10% Discount:
- Order 25 seedlings, 50 feet of fabric weed barrier & staples - the total with the 10% discount comes to just $62.
- 200 seedlings, 1,000 feet of fabric weed barrier, staples & the District's planting service - the total cost is about $1,950.
Orders of 200+ trees qualify for 50% cost-share. That means your cost for the entire package would only be $975.
AVAILABILITY
Shrubs American Hazel, American Plum, Amur Maple, Caragana, Chokecherry, Common Lilac, Elderberry, False Indigo, Golden Currant, Peking Cotoneaster, Red-Osier Dogwood, Serviceberry, Silver Buffaloberry, Skunkbush Sumac
Deciduous/Hardwoods Black Cherry, Black Walnut, Bur Oak, Cottonwood, Hackberry, Manchurian Apricot, Midwest Crabapple, Red Oak, Silver Maple, Swamp White Oak SOLD OUT: Catalpa
Conifers Black Hills Spruce, Colorado Blue Spruce, Eastern Red Cedar, Norway Spruce, Ponderosa Pine, Rocky Mountain Juniper, Southwestern White Pine
BROCHURE TREE PHOTOS & DESCRIPTIONS
If planting 25 of the same type of tree doesn’t fit your needs, another option is to check out our Small Acre Packages. These packages include 5 different types of trees or shrubs for just $65—and they’re also eligible for the 10% discount if ordered by 1/2/25.
50 seedlings for $65 (10 of each tree)
Shrubs
American Hazel, American Plum, Amur Maple, Black Chokeberry, Caragana, Chokecherry, Common Lilac, Elderberry, False Indigo, Golden Currant, Peking Cotoneaster, Red-Osier Dogwood, Sandcherry, Serviceberry, Silver Buffaloberry, Skunkbush Sumac
Deciduous/Hardwoods
Black Cherry, Black Walnut, Bur Oak, Catalpa, Cottonwood, Hackberry, Manchurian Apricot, Midwest Crabapple, Red Oak, Silver Maple, Swamp White Oak
Conifers
Black Hills Spruce, Colorado Blue Spruce, Eastern Red Cedar, Jack Pine, Norway Spruce, Ponderosa Pine, Rocky Mountain Juniper, Southwestern White Pine
Tree/Shrub BROCHURE TREE PHOTOS & DESCRIPTIONS
Cost 50 seedlings for $65 (10 of each tree). Click the arrow of the package below for the brochure.
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.
Landowners are responsible for preparing the planting site. The area should be prepped as if planting a garden or field crop. Begin by plowing, followed by disking or rototilling, to create an ideal seedbed. Proper ground preparation is crucial for the survival of your trees.
Autumn is the best time to start preparing the soil, as the winter weather helps the soil mellow, creating optimal conditions for spring planting.
Spacing Between Rows
Fabric Weed Barrier
The fabric weed barrier provides long-lasting protection against weeds, offering a hassle-free solution without harming seedlings or the environment. Crafted from durable black polypropylene, this fabric resembles tightly woven burlap and is designed to allow water and nutrients to penetrate the soil effectively. With a guaranteed minimum service life of 5 years, this barrier ensures reliable performance, making it an excellent choice for maintaining a healthy windbreak or garden with minimal effort.
PRODUCTS |
COST |
Fabric Weed Barrier 6 feet wide, you choose length | .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. Customers billed for actual feet after the job is completed. 50% payment of estimated installation cost required when order is placed. | $1.50 cents per linear foot + tax |
Prepare Your Land for Successful Tree Planting!
The success of tree planting begins with thorough ground preparation. Properly preparing the soil is essential to the survival of your trees, as well as for laying a weed barrier. When the ground isn't adequately prepared, it can be extremely challenging—if not impossible—for the NRD team to complete the planting process effectively.
This brochure provides detailed guidance on preparing your land for tree planting and weed barrier installation. Ground Prep Brochure
What Does a Properly Prepared Site Look Like?
The ground should be tilled at least 8” to 10” deep, ideally in the Fall before planting. The site is ready when it’s in a condition suitable for growing garden vegetables.
Landowner's Responsibility
While the NRD will contact “Diggers Hotline,” it's the landowner's responsibility to place the white marking flags to indicate the rows according to the NRCS planting plan.