Tree Services

The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) provides the following services as a part of our Conservation Tree Program. You can order hand-plant seedlings, the Small Acreage Package and the Wildlife Package, and weed barrier mats by returning a printed order form with your payment. Call our office for more information at 402-371-7313 or visit your local NRCS office.

Conservation Tree Program

The Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District’s Conservation Tree Program offers a wide variety of seedlings and services to landowners interested in planting trees and shrubs for windbreaks, living snow fences, livestock protection, forest buffers, woodlots, and wildlife habitat.

Tree and Shrub Seedlings

  • Seedlings cost $30.00 plus tax, for a bundle of 25

  • Each species must be ordered in lots of 25

    • Conifers - Black Hills Spruce, Colorado Blue Spruce, Concolor Fir, Eastern Redcedar, Jack Pine, Norway Spruce, Ponderosa Pine, White Pine

    • Deciduous - American Elm, American Linden, American Sycamore, Catalpa, Cottonwood, Hackberry, Honeylocust, River Birch, Silver Maple

    • Fruit & Nut - Black Cherry, Black Walnut, Bur Oak, Crabapple, Hazelnut, Manchurian Apricot, Northern Pecan, Red Oak, Swamp White Oak

    • Shrubs - American Plum, Amur maple, Aronia (Chokeberry), Buffaloberry, Chokecherry, Cotoneaster, Cranberry, Elderberry, False Indigo, Golden Currant, Gray Dogwood, Lilac, Nanking Cherry, Red-Osier Dogwood, Sandcherry, Serviceberry (Juneberry), Skunkbush Sumac

Package Options

The Small Acreage Package is an option for landowners who want to diversify the trees and shrubs they plant, but do not need 25 of the same species. In this package you will receive 20 seedlings:

  • Concolor Fir x4

  • Chinkapin Oak x4

  • While Lilac x4

  • Schubert Chokecherry x4

  • Amur Maple x4

Wildlife Package

The Wildlife Package is an option for landowners who want to promote wildlife habitat within their planting. In this package you will receive 20 seedlings:

  • Persimmon x4

  • Chinese Chestnut x4

  • Gambel Oak x4

  • Domestic Apple x4

  • American Hazelnut x4

**The species provided in the packages are pending availability from the nursery. If a species listed is unable to be sourced, an alternative providing similar benefits will be selected and substituted.

**The Small Acreage and Wildlife packages do not qualify for machine planting services or cost-share. The LENRD does not guarantee the growth or survival of the seedlings.

**Trees will be available in late April. We will notify you when they arrive.

Cost Share Services

Cost share services are available for seedling purchase, planting, drip irrigation, weed barrier or weed barrier mats, and windbreak renovation.

Drip Irrigation Cost Share

  • Must be installed on LENRD approved and designed windbreaks

  • Drip irrigation systems will be cost shared at 75% or $0.75/foot, whichever is less

  • Requirements

Machine Planting Service

  • There is a charge of $0.55 / seedling

  • There is a minimum planting charge of $275.00 per project

  • Not available for Small Acreage or Wildlife packages

  • For help with designing a tree planting plan, windbreak, contact Todd Stewart

  • If you’re interested in CRP plantings, contact your local NRCS office.

Coco Weed Guards

  • $45.00 plus tax for a bundle of 25 mats (must be ordered in lots of 25)

  • All natural, biodegradable weed control disc made of compressed coconut fibers

  • Provides improved watering efficiency by retaining moisture. Porus material prevents the buildup of heat experienced with plastic discs. Anticipated to last 2-3 years before gradually decomposing by year 5-6.

  • The LENRD does not offer an installation service for the mats.

Bare Root Seedlings - Community Nursery Program

  • Growing Tomorrow’s Trees in Community Nurseries - Start growing your communities’ trees today from bare root seedlings! We're offering this program to communities interested in starting their own tree nursery by planting FREE bare root seedlings provided by the Lower Elkhorn NRD. Sign up for the program in the fall and pick up your seedlings in the spring! It’s that easy! The next sign-up will be in 2025. Contact Todd at our office today - tstewart@lenrd.org

  • Program Brochure

Conservation Trees for Nebraska

  • Check out trees suited for conservation plantings in Nebraska, and download the mobile app for iOS or Android at nrdtrees.org

  • **Not all species in the booklet are available to order through the Lower Elkhorn NRD