Fillmore Soil and Water Conservation District tree program was developed to provide landowners with an affordable and convenient way to purchase trees and shrubs for conservation practices, such as windbreaks, shelterbelts, living snow fences and wildlife habitat.
This program is offered yearly with sales beginning in the fall and delivered in the spring (April-May). The SWCD holds the tree sale program annually.
Fillmore SWCD sells bareroot deciduous trees and shrubs, bareroot conifers, potted conifers and can take special orders.
Please contact the SWCD for tree and shrub species you’d like to special order to check on availability and pricing (507) 765-3878 ext. 3.
Payments are due in full at the time of purchase.
Pay by Check
Mail check payable to Fillmore SWCD
and order form to: Fillmore SWCD
900 Washington St NW
Preston, MN 55965
Pay by Credit Card
Call 507-765-3878 ext. 129
to place order and make payment
with credit card.
Convenience fee of 3% charged.
Tree Pick-Up
Pick-up of trees will be in the Spring 2023 (April-May) at the Fillmore County Fairgrounds in Preston, MN, located at 413 Fillmore St. E Preston, MN 55965.
Customers will be notified with a postcard by mail of the pick-up dates and time.
Tree Planter Rental
The SWCD has 2 tree planters available to rent.
- Cost for rental $25.00 per half day or $50.00 for a whole day with a $25.00 minimum charge.
- Miller Tree Planter (Green) is a pull behind machine with electric hydraulics to raise and lower the machine. It requires a hitch pin for towing, not a trailer ball.
- Detco Tree Planter (Yellow) is a pull behind machine and requires a 2 inch ball hitch for towing.
- Each planter can be easily pulled by a tractor of 40HP or higher. For your safety, operate the tractor at as low a speed as practical for conditions. In no instance should the speed be faster than a moderate walking pace (3mph).
- A Gopher Machine is available with the rental costing $25.00 per half day or $50.00 for a whole day with a $25.00 minimum charge.
The District sells good quality trees – but offers no guarantee of survival. Every effort is taken to provide quality stock, but numerous variables beyond our control once the trees and shrubs leave us (handling, site preparation, soil types, chemical, planting methods, soil moisture, maintenance…), prevents us from offering any warranty on the trees and shrubs.
Common mistakes that will kill young trees:
- Not planting trees at the proper depth
- Allowing roots to curl back toward the top of the hole or trench thus not allowing proper root spread
- Leaving tree roots exposed to the sun and wind during planting
- Planting directly into sod
- Lack of watering
- Planting trees where they won’t receive sufficient sunlight
- Keeping trees packaged for more than a few days without cold storage and water
SHRUBS
Shrubs (Bare Root) – Sold in bundles of 25
Common Chokeberry
Maturity Size 10′-25′
Slow/Moderate Growth Rate
Full sun to part shade
Produces edible reddish-purple or black cherries that ripen in late summer. Needs well drained soils. Pruning may be necessary. Excellent plant for wildlife food and cover.
American Cranberrybush
Maturity Size 10′-12′
Moderate/Fast Growth Rate
Sun to partial sun
Dark green leaves turning red to maroon in fall. Numerous, white, flat-topped clusters in June followed by showy red fruit that persists into winter.
Redosier Dogwood
Maturity Size 8′-10′
Fast Growth Rate
Full sun to part shade
Attractive red stems with creamy-white flowers followed by white berries. Red twigs provide winter color. Tolerates most any location, growing in moist soils and in sun or shade. Excellent wildlife food source and cover. Prune out older stems to maintain best stem color.
American Hazelnut
Maturity Size 15′-18′
Moderate Growth Rate
Full sun to partial shade
Shade tolerant. Produces edible nuts eaten by birds and mammals. Variable fall color. Can reproduce by suckering.
Juneberry (Serviceberry)
Maturity Size 6′-15′
Moderate Growth Rate
Full sun
Most popular for its fruit production. Expands by suckers. Prefers loam to sandy loam with high organic matter. Limited drought tolerance. Will not sustain in ponded conditions.
Common Purple Lilac
Maturity Size 10′-12′
Moderate Growth Rate
Full sun
Large, round-headed shrub. Profuse bloomer with purple flowers in the spring. Prefers well-drained soils and full sun for best flowering effect.
DECIDUOUS TREES
Deciduous Trees (Bare Root) – Sold in bundles of 25
Red Splendor Crabapple
Maturity Size 15′-25′
Moderate/Fast Growth Rate
Full sun
Reddish-green glossy foliage turns reddish-purple in fall. Very persistent fruits are dark red and showy. Full sun, moderately drought tolerant.
Hackberry
Maturity Size 40′-60′
Fast Growth Rate
Full sun
Tall, wide spreading crown. Has a scaly or warty bark. Produces dark purple fruit. Grows best in well drained, moist soils. Excellent cover and food source for wildlife.
Red Maple
Maturity Size 40′-60′
Moderate Growth Rate
Sun to part shade
Saw toothed lobed leaves. Shade tolerant, grows in very wet to dry conditions. Leaves can turn red, yellow or orange in fall.
Sugar Maple
Maturity Size 60′-80′
Slow Growth Rate
Sun to part shade
Produces dense, oval crown and bright fall colors ranging from yellow to orangish red. Needs well-drained loamy soils. Not tolerant to wet soils. Shade tolerant.
Bur Oak
Maturity Size 50′-80′
Slow/Moderate Growth Rate
Sun
Has simple lobed leaves and produces acorns. Good for wildlife. Tolerates a variety of soil types.
Red Oak
Maturity Size 50′-70′
Moderate Growth Rate
Sun
Simple lobed, bristle-tipped leaves. Red or brown fall leaf color. Good for wildlife. Prefers deep, rich soils. Long-lived and fastest growing oak.
White Oak
Maturity Size 50′-70′
Slow/Moderate Growth Rate
Sun
Does best on slightly moist to well-drained sites. Full to partial sun. Acorns provide excellent wildlife food source. Brown, purple autumn foliage. Valuable wood products tree.
Black Walnut
Maturity Size 50′-75′
Fast Growth Rate
Sun
Tall with deeply fissured brown bark. Important timeber tree. Prefers moist, well-drained soils. Produce a hard shelled nut. Good for wildlife.
CONIFER TREES
Some conifers available as Bare Root in bundles of 25, and some are available as individual potted conifers. Check the order form.
American Arborvitae
Maturity Size 20′-50′
Moderate Growth Rate
Sun to light shade
A dense, flat green pyramidal tree, it has feather-like yellowish green needles with blunt tips.
Dark Green Arborvitae
Maturity Size 20′-50′
Moderate Growth Rate
Full sun to partial shade
Vigorous growing, pyramidal tree developing a broad base. Has scale-like foliage which retains its dark green color year round.
Techny Arborvitae
Maturity Size 15′-30′
Moderate Growth Rate
Full sun to partial shade
Is a compact, broad-based, upright, conical-pyramidal, dwarf cultivar. It is noted for its rich dark green foliage that does not yellow in winter. Foliage is scale-like and appears in flat, fan-shaped cluster.
Red (Norway Pine
Maturity Size 50′-80′
Moderate/Fast Growth Rate
Sun
Long needled, pyramid shaped tree. Prefers well-drained sandy soils. Popular Christmas tree species.
White Pine
Maturity Size 50′-80′
Moderate/Fast Growth Rate
Sun to light shade
Needles in group of 5. Pyramid shaped when young, broadening with age. Prefers sandy or silt loam soils, but will tolerate a wide range.
Black Hills Spruce
Maturity Size 40′-50′
Slow/Moderate Growth Rate
Sun
Noted for its dark green foliage and conical form. Prefers heavier soils, adequate mosisture and clean cultivation. Drought tolerant.
Norway Spruce
Maturity Size 40′-100′
Fast Growth Rate
Sun
Pyramidal tree with drooping branches. Hardy. Does best on moist to sandy, well-drained soils. Partial shade to full sun.
White Spruce
Maturity Size 40′-80′
Moderate Growth Rate
Sun to light shade
Prefers fertile soils and is tolerant of most light conditions. Good wildlife cover.
Other Items Available
- Tree Mat with 5 staples – Mat greatly reduces weed competition, reduces maintenance time and increases soil moisture.
- Fertilizer Packet (18-9-9) – A small packet filled with a pre-measured amount of fertilizer that is placed alongside the seedling at time of planting.
- Bee Lawn Seed Mix – Mix of fine-fescue grasses and flowers. Provides high quality nutrition for bees and other pollinators. Mow at least 3″ high and refrain from mowing when flowers are blooming.
- Tubex Combitube treeshelter w/ stake – Designed for more exposed sites, the Tubex Combitube combines the benefits of a solid base for improved establishment and reliable protection, with a ventilated upper section, allowing the tree to acclimatise before emerging from the shelter.
- Rain Barrel (DIY Kit) – Pre-drilled 55 gallon plastic barrel, parts packet and assembly instructions. Learn more about rain barrels here.
Fillmore SWCD District Services
Private Well Water Testing
Rain Barrels
Tree Sales
Grazing Management
