Where can I buy cheap tree seedlings in South East Michigan?

Question

I really want to start growing some trees in my yard. Where can I buy cheap tree seedlings to grow into big trees? I don't want to pay a lot of money. Also, I would really like to get a Willow Tree. Does any one know if a Willow seedling would survive the Michigan winter? I live in Detroit Metro area (South East) Michigan. And are there any tips on helping seedlings survive the winter?

Answer 1

I suggest joining the Arbor Day Foundation, you can order 10 free trees.

http://www.arborday.org/  Center column for free trees and tree store.

Alternately, the fall is the best time to transplant most trees, nurseries (English Gardens, Bordine, etc) will have sales of trees they don't want to overwinter starting in August.

Any willow tree that's growing in Michigan will take root simply by taking cuttings of branch ends and sticking them in the ground. These are frequently used to stabilize steam banks. Water them regularly.  I would like to caution you that willow trees usually are very messy.  

As suggested, your County Cooperative may have sales in the spring for various trees.  http://www.co.livingston.mi.us/msuextens...

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Define "Cheap."  Sometimes you get what you pay for.

The most economical way to get trees is to propogate them by cuttings.  That takes some training, though.  As for willows, they are easy to grow from seed.

Do local research.  Check out your garden shops and see what they offer.  Are the little trees healthy and showing good growth?  

Ask your neighhbors where they got their young trees.

Read websites on the trees you want to grow so that you know the proper growth habits of the trees you eventually will be in charge of.  Does your soil support the kind of trees you want?

Willows are common in your area and are beautiful trees.  You should have no trouble finding a local nursery.  Google "

Answer 4

The forestry service for your state would probably give you trees for free..

Answer 5

Local soil conservation offices have seasonal tree sales.

You could try sprouting your own.  collect acorns, winged maple seeds all over the place.  Sometimes you get lucky and find them out there pre-sprouted.  I am forever weeding volunteer ash, maple, oak, cottonwood, spruce, etc. out of my garden.

for something fancier, there are plenty of nurseries that sell seedling-grown starts.  I know of one that is wholesale to the nursery trade by name of Forrest Keeling (they have a website) but I don't know if they sell to the general public.  I imagine that if a nursery was trying to sell their seedlings to the public you could easily find that in a web search.  

I doubt that a local garden center is going to have small seedling trees "in stock" for sale.  most of their customers want bigger product.  so it's probably mail-order or grow your own.

maybe you can buy tree seeds, wouldn't that be fun?  :)

yes, willows are very cold hardy and survive just great in Michigan.

Answer 6

I live in Western Michigan and went on Ebay and bought 60 well rooted arborvitae seedlings.  Some did not take well to all of the frosts we got in May (and even June) when I planted them (they came from FL).  A few have died, but most seem to be doing well.  Try Ebay, there are all kinds of tree seedings for sale!  Many will ship for free also (that's how I received mine).  I would probably look early spring though.  We have had a nice summer so far but if drought and high, scorching temps come around, they will fry the little trees.  Get them in during spring time so they can establish their root system and endure the winter months to come.