It's time to start thinking spring! And that means planning out what you want in your yard or garden. Luckily the Macomb County Tree and Plant Sale has everything you need to get started. Haven't heard of the sale before? Here's a refresher: The sale is an annual event held by Green Macomb and the Blue Water Conservation District which provides an opportunity for the public to purchase young trees, fruit trees, flowering shrubs, wildflower seed and other fruits and vegetables at reasonable prices. Online ordering runs through April 6, so we highly recommend starting your research and making your choices now.
Don't know where to start? We've got you. In today's Make Macomb Your Home blog, we're featuring an expert in all things tree and plant sale. Meet Emily Crimmins, St. Clair County MAEAP technician. We asked Emily everything you need to know about the sale and how to care for your plants as well. Keep reading to learn more.
Q: Tell us about yourself/your organization.
A: The Blue Water Conservation District merged the St. Clair and Sanilac County Conservation Districts in 2017 to better serve their communities, but nationwide, Conservation Districts have been around since the 1940s. There is a lot of crossover in St Clair and Sanilac area and it made sense to work together. The Blue Water CD also serves Macomb County and appreciates the partnership between us and the Green Macomb initiative! Conservation Districts host grants to employ technicians that provide technical assistance for various programs and initiatives available to landowners and agricultural producers in St Clair and Sanilac Counties. My name is Emily Crimmins and I have worked for the BWCD for five years now as the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program for St. Clair County. This is my 6th Spring Tree and Shrub Sale and I am amazed about how our partnership with Macomb County has exploded and am happy to provide better access to less expensive trees and plants to Macomb residences. It’s also exciting to see customers get more excited about the small fruit plants to grow in their own backyard. Because NOTHING beats the taste of a fresh strawberry in the summer that you were able to watch grow before your very eyes!
Q: What types of items are available through the sale?
A: We offer three different age/sizes of conifer trees, trees that have needles that stay green through all four seasons. We offer one age/size of hardwoods, or deciduous, like oaks, paper birch, and maples. We offer flowering trees and shrubs, like dogwood, lilac, and redbud. Lastly, we offer Fruit Trees and small fruit and vegetable plants, like apples, pears, peach trees and strawberry, raspberry, asparagus and horseradish plants, and more.
Q: Where does the product come from?
A: Just about everything, with the exception of our Fruit Trees, comes from nurseries in western and northwestern Michigan.
Q: When it says bare root trees, what does that mean? Does it require different care?
A: Bare root trees are trees removed from their soil bed by the nurseries and sold easier in bulk instead of being sold in containers or with a root ball. Conservation Districts sell bare root trees that are smaller and bare root on purpose! Smaller, younger stock is easier for us to transport and cheaper for landowners to purchase their plants in bulk because there is also less labor and costs involved at the nurseries. The origins of the Conservation Districts tree and shrub sale (though it has expanded to include other goals) was to "reforest" land for many reasons, some being after natural disease and infestations, farmland that is no longer viable, or just for the enjoyment of wildlife and natural habitats!
Bare root trees are more fragile and require quicker action of getting them in the ground after you receive them from your pick-up location. From the time we pick them up from the nurseries at the beginning of April to when you receive your trees from us, we keep the trees dormant by keeping them cold, out of the sun, and hydrated. This will prevent the tree from growing when it doesn’t have access to soil and nutrients. If you can’t plant your trees right away, do your best at continuing to keep them dormant.
Q: I'm a first-time customer, with a small backyard. I'd like to add some new bushes, but I'm not sure where to start. What would you recommend that's easy to plant and care for?
A: For a small backyard, we recommend consider our flowering plants and shrubs/bushes. Depending on the species, these tend to stay short or can be pruned yearly to stay small, while still providing resources to pollinators. Our “Buyer’s Guide” that is available on the main page of our website will give you general information about the trees and plants we offer. Pay attention to the sunlight and moisture requirements of the plants! You can also email us if you have more questions! Redbud and lilac seem to the easiest to care for.
Q: How do I prep my yard for adding new trees, plants and shrubs?
A: Digging a deep enough hole for your new plant is most important so the roots can spread out and down into the ground. Roots that grow towards the surface or are tangled will not survive. Roots need room to grow and reach for nutrients and water resources below the ground.
Q: Why should consumers interested in purchasing trees and plants shop this sale vs. going to Home Depot or Lowe's?
A: Customers should consider purchasing trees and plants from us because the money stays local! The funds Conservation Districts raise at their Spring Tree and Shrub sales can be used to match grants for the Conservation District employees. Some our grant sources provide 50% of the funds for employees wages and trainings and we have to match that for a full-time employee. Other money raised helps us host other educational events like our annual Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop and our No-till Drill and Strip-till drill rental programs, which are farming practices that are known to reduce soil erosion on cropland. Though we do not have a warranty or return policy on our trees/plants, they are significantly cheaper and help support the Michigan agricultural economy since the majority of our plants come from Michigan nurseries.
Q: When can I begin planting the product from the sale? If I need some time between purchase and planting, how should I care for the plants I buy?
A: Immediately or as soon as possible after getting your trees! Deciding where you want to plant your trees/shrubs and digging the holes ahead of time will save you a lot of time the day you pick up your trees or when you decide to plant them. If you need some time, do your best to keep them dormant! Keeping the plants out of the sun and on a cold concrete garage floor can achieve that! Your trees will have wet shredded paper or Root Dip that will slowly feed your plants water, so make sure you keep the shredded paper and roots wet (but not flooded). It is not recommend to put off planting for more than 7 days as the likelihood of the plants surviving decreases significantly.
Q: Is there anything else you think would be helpful for consumers to know? Happy to include additional information.
A: Pre-orders are due by April 6, It is very common for hot items to sell out before that date, so our website (www.bluewatercd.org) is the best resource to know what plants are still available. We will also be selling leftover plants at each pick-up, so if you forgot something or are feeling adventurous, you might find something else! Our staff is quite knowledgeable, but Macomb has an EXCELLENT Master Gardener Program through MSUE with EVEN MORE knowledgeable folks that live in your community that are FREE resources for questions or host webinars and in-person events year round!
Learn more and purchase product from the sale today at green.macombgov.org.
Megan Ochmanek is a senior communications specialist for Macomb County Planning and Economic Development.
