Nebraska has a proud history of tree planting. This is the state where J. Sterling Morton founded Arbor Day in 1872. Windbreaks provide numerous benefits to land, crops, livestock, and people: They prevent soil erosion by slowing down the wind. The Windbreaks shelter people and livestock from the summer heat and winter cold. They protect livestock from dangerously cold wind chill readings. They can reduce home heating and cooling costs by one-third or more. They prevent crop damage from the wind by slowing evaporation. They provide a habitat for wildlife, including insect-eating birds.  

Please call for the availability of tree selection

North Platte NRD Conservation Tree Sales

The North Platte NRD sells trees for conservation purposes, such as erosion control, windbreak, and wildlife habitat. These two-year-old seedlings, including evergreens, broadleaf trees, and shrubs, are available in the bare-root option at the cost of $1.10 per tree and plugs are $2.20 per tree.  All species are available in multiples of 10. *Price subject to change without notice. Descriptions and photos of these species can be seen at Conservation Trees for Nebraska.

Ordering Process

Customers may begin ordering trees and planning windbreaks each fall. The trees arrive in early spring. They are stored in coolers at the NRD until planting or customer pick-up. 

Download the Tree Order Form pdf. to print and mail in.  Please call for the availability of tree selection.

 

Types of Trees

Evergreen	Shrubs	Broadleaf	Potted Stock
Multiples of 10 at $1.10/Per Tree	Multiples of 10 at $1.10/Per Tree	Multiples of 10 at $1.10/Per Tree	Multiples of 10 at $2.20/Per Tree
Austrian Pine	Black Chokeberry*	American Elm	Austrian Pine
Black Hills Spruce	Buffaloberry*	American Linden	Black Hills Spruce
Colorado Blue Spruce	Caragana	Black Walnut	Bur Oak
Ponderosa Pine	Chokecherry*	Boxelder	Colorado Blue Spruce
Red Ceder	Cotoneaster	Bur Oak	Mountain Mahogany
Rocky Mountain Juniper	Elderberry *	Cottonwood (Hybrid)	Pinyon Pine
	Golden Currant *	Cottonwood (Native)	Ponderosa Pine
	Lilac	Green Ash	Red Cedar
	Nanking Cherry *	Hackberry	Rocky Mountain Juniper
	Plum (Native) *	Honeylocust
	Sand Cherry *	Northern Catalpa
	Service Berry *	Prairie Sky Poplar
	Sumac	Siberian Elm
	Woods Rose

_{* denotes a shrub with an Edible Berry}

_{Strikethrough denotes a tree that is sold out for Spring 2024}

_{Sales Tax (NPNRD office 5.5%; Bridgeport 6.5%; Oshkosh 7.5%)}

Other Tree Services

The North Platte NRD offers services to customers within the NRD to help establish windbreaks. We will sell to anyone regardless of location but the Cost Share is only available on those trees planted within the district. If your land lies outside the NPNRD, contact your local NRD for trees.

View the NPNRD Map

Tree Planting

The District will plant trees for customers at the cost of $1.00 per tree machine planting or hand planting at $2.00 per tree, subject to a minimum charge for mobilization. Chemical weed control is available for 30 cents per tree. Many customers choose this option; others plant the trees themselves. For more information on our tree planting services, contact the North Platte NRD at (308) 632-2749 Extension 2 or email . The District also offers chemical weed control of windbreak sites, improving young trees' survival rate.

Cost-Share Programs

Cost-share programs are available to reimburse landowners for up to 50 percent of the costs of installing windbreaks. For more information about the cost-share program, contact the NPNRD at (308) 632-2749 Extension 2 or email .

Online Resources:

• Establishment of windbreak designs
• Re-Tree Nebraska Program

Tree Pruning & Care Tips

Early spring is the optimum time to prune trees. Just five minutes of smart pruning per tree each spring is enough to keep your trees in top shape and health. Don’t take more than 25% of the total foliage or “food factory” at any one time; prune only branches 2-inches in diameter or less; and after pruning, don’t use any paint, sealant, or “wound dressing. ”

Get More Tree Pruning Tips

Tree Care

Caring for trees after planting is just as important as planting trees. For the best chance of survival, young trees need proper care. Learn how to water them, protect them from weeds, and prevent problems such as disease and wildlife damage.

Get More Tree Care Tips

 Protect Your Trees In Times of Drought: Tips for the Surviving the Dry

Some forecasters are predicting lower-than-normal rainfall for Nebraska in 2023. In preparation for the drought that may happen, here’s how to protect your trees in a water-scarce year: 

• Trees planted in the last 10 years may need supplemental watering to survive during a drought. Even well-established trees that are 20+ years old can show stress if there are sustained high temperatures and low moisture.
• Concentrate watering under the tree’s canopy for a long enough duration that water gets beyond the turf-root zone to a depth of 8-12” or more.
• Don’t add fertilizer! Adding fertilizer could cause a rush of growth and further stress your plants with higher water demands.
• Use mulch! or a biodegradable fabric barrier around trees to suppress weeds and lock in moisture.
• Don’t use rocks or pea gravel around trees, as this will increase the temperature at the base of the tree and cause less moisture to be absorbed through the soil.
• When installing new trees, be sure to plant drought-resistant varieties.

 

 

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