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Each year Chautauqua County Soil and Water Conservation District introduces thousands of bare root seedlings into Chautauqua County.
All plants that are selected for the district's annual sale are selected for their quality rating for hardiness in Chautauqua County and are made available to the public at an affordable rate to promote landowner conservation.
Landowners can practice conservation by planting seedlings and wildflowers to support pollinators and provide food and shelter to wildlife, reduce heating/cooling expenses, protect water quality with buffers, reduce air pollution and stabilize eroded land. Seedlings are an inexpensive way to replace trees that have been damaged, harvested or lost to disease.
All stock that is sold is bare root, meaning the plant is harvested with little or no soil attached to the roots. Because the stock is bare root, plants must be harvested and replanted while in a dormant state and while soil conditions are still moist.
For the upcoming 2021 sale, the district selected 35 species that are native to the state of New York, 25 of which are native to Chautauqua County.
A total of 13 conifer varieties will be offered: including Eastern Larch and European Larch. A total of 17 hardwood varieties will be offered: including Common Persimmon and Paw Paw. A total of 16 shrub varieties will be offered: including Coralberry, Elderberry, and Rose of Sharon.
A total of two native fern varieties will be offered. A total of five berry varieties will be offered. New this year, goji berries are self-pollinating plants that produce white to purple blossoms. Like elderberries, goji berries are prized for their immune boosting qualities and can be eaten fresh or dried, or made into tea or wine.
Apple, peach, pear and fruit cocktail (apricot, cherry, nectarine, peach and plum) packages will also be offered. Stone fruit varieties included in the fruit cocktail package will have the best survival rate when introduced into northern Chautauqua County, closest to Lake Erie.
In addition to domestic fruit tree packages, apple, cherry (tart), pear and mixed (apple, cherry, and pear) wildlife tree packages will also be available. Fruit trees that are included in wildlife tree packages may be slightly misshapen but are still hardy and suitable enough to be planted to enhance or develop a wildlife area.
Wildlife tree packages and conservation seed mixes are popular with local conservationists and sportsman. The eight conservation seed mixes that will be offered in this year's catalog are ideal for food plots, thrive in a variety of soil types and support wildlife and wild game. Conservation seed mixes are also available outside of the district's annual sale.
Tree protector tubes and stakes, weed control mats, tree plantation signs, fertilizer pellets, conservation seed mixes and other nonperishable items are also made available during the annual sale.
The Chautauqua County Soil and Water Conservation District's 2021 Tree and Shrub Catalog is anticipated to be mailed out by Jan. 1; the deadline to order fruit trees will be March 12 and the deadline for the remainder of the catalog will be April 1.
Visit SoilWater.org to download a catalog and order form after January 1 or call 664-2351, ext. 5 or to email Chaut-Co@soilwater.org to be on the district's tree and shrub mailing list. Be sure to specify a preference to receive a paper catalog in the mail or a digital copy by email.
The district office located on Fluvanna Avenue is closed to the public. Tree and shrub orders will be distributed via curbside pick-up with COVID-19 safety measures in place at the Storage Barn located at 3542 Turner Road, Jamestown, on a specified date at the end of April. The exact date will be announced as soon as it is determined.
Barely straw pond kits used to control algae can be purchased prior to the annual sale, as the kits should be added to the pond as soon as the ice leaves the pond in the spring for optimal results.
Those interested should contact Chautauqua County Soil and Water Conservation District Monday through Friday to schedule a time to pick up their kit. The office is closed to the public and special arrangements will need to be made in advance.