The National Arbor Day Foundation vs. a traditional nursery?

Question

What are the pros and cons of buying trees from The National Arbor Day Foundation vs. a traditional nursery?

I want to add 6-7 evergreens along my back fence to hide the neighbors. I went to a local nursery and they wanted $150 for each tree, which is outrageous. I rememebered the commercials for "get 10 free trees" so I went to their website. I saw a variety of evergreens that I like, and they are only $6 each. It just seems too good to be true?

Answer 1

Well the money is going to a good cause vs. someone or a company just trying to make money.
The down side to the free trees is that they are seedlings, more or less they just look like sticks. Last summer I joined and received the free trees and they did wonderful.
If you are looking for immediate seclusion from the neighbors you would be better off buying the nursery trees.

Answer 2

What type nursery? Local? Then larger plant stock and you can look at them.

National Arbor Day Foundation.......pretty small rootstock.

Mail order nursery.......varies. Price gives you are good indication-sometimes. Some plants are several years old.

Most, not all, but most trees by mail arrive bare root. Shipping soil around the roots is just tooooo expensive. Trouble with bare root is often they arrive too late for ideal planting weather. (especially if you ordered late to start) If your area heats quickly in spring, your little bareroots have all the more trouble getting their roots working and leaves out before becoming crispy critters.

Answer 3

I don`t bother with either of those, I go to the soil conservation office and order my trees from there. They are anywhere from 1.00 to 3.00 each. You need to order them almost a year in advance but it`s well worth it, at least to me. This year I`m picking up 10 eastern red cedar, 10 blue spruce, a couple Amur maples and some little leaf lindens.

Answer 4

Pros - a good cause and much cheaper

Cons - younger than at a nursery - probably root bare, no warrantee, less selection, and you can't see them before you buy.