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IOWA DNR STATE Forest Nursery

DOR

DOR

Life Member
I'm considering saving some cash and buying some trees from IOWA DNR for next spring. In the past, I have used places like Morse Nursery and Yellow River Nursery and have good things to say about both.

However, I'm looking at purchasing some Arrowwood (which I can't get from either commercial nursery right now) and some Norway Spruce. Looking at the norway spruce, Iowa DNR is about 2.50 cheaper per tree. The spruce available at Yellow River are the 22 to 36 inch variety and the ones at IDNR are said to be "3-0 (Height: 28" average, 12" minimum)". So it seems comparable???

Does anyone have any experience using IDNR Nursery? Given the big cost difference, I may also look at some other varieties if people have been pleased with them compared to the commercial nurseries.

Thanks for your input.
 
I have not been impressed with the quality of the orders I have planted. Survival rate is poor and condition on arrival is also poor the 3 times I have used them.

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I have ordered from the IA DNR nursery for the past 4 springs. Overall I have been pretty happy with their trees. I’ve had good luck with SWO, red and black oak, Jack pine, white pine, cedars and norways.

They have been good to work with on replacement trees when I encountered a bundle that had mold on the roots and another bundle that had several conifers that were pretty brown. But overall they have arrived in as good of shape as any private nursery I’ve ordered from.

I’ve been very impressed with yellow river that you mentioned but I usually reserve these trees to fill in prior year state trees because they offer larger options.

While I haven’t taken the time to actually measure the trees individually from the state nursery a 28” average definitely seems larger than what I have experienced. I’ve given them the benefit of the doubt that it can vary from year to year (and I doubt they update sizing info yearly??…but maybe I’m wrong) and my planting project has unfortunately been during some tough drought years. Maybe next springs trees will hit those targets because of the ample rain this year?!

All that is to say I won’t hesitate to continue ordering for bulk cost savings and ease of planting smaller trees!


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I’ve done or involved with maybe 50-60 tree orders…. Maybe 15 of those from iowa dnr & sometimes use commercial nurseries to add in other varieties. I’ve probably had a higher success rate with iowa dnr. Or very comparable to commercial nurseries. When u buy in bulk…. It’s fundamentally all the same in that…. It’s EMPLOYEES collecting the trees. For the state or for commercial- they might get em moldy, let em bake in sun or dry out, etc etc. I’ve had “human/employee error” as much with private as iowa dnr. I just don’t think u can avoid the gamble of human error in any case. Of all my history - at most, 10% of my orders have had issues.

IMO- iowa dnr offers great quality at fraction of the price. My 2 cents would be: pick up as early in season as possible. Have your plan in place & get to it!!!! If u get to a bag of trees with issues- u will know immediately & immediately call for replacements. That’s with anyone though!! If u r on the ball, responsive & quickly address a problem- u will get solved & have great success.

The procrastinator’s of The the tree planting world are very common “ya, I shoulda planted in march or early April. I picked em up and they sat for 3 weeks now. Now it’s June - is that too late”. “i still need to kill areas off where I’m gonna plant”. “I got the trees- u know someone with a tree planter I can use?” It’s non stop I hear this stuff. Have areas prepped, equipment ready & in perfect order. When u pick up stuff - EARLY - get to it immediately!! Success rate be way better!!!!
 
I picked up trees actually shrubs, from the Iowa State Forestry Nursery yesterday and planted them today. I have had really good luck with them over the last 20 years. Only had a few issues in that time. Picking the trees up your self ,versus having them sent helps alot on the quality control.
 
I would order trees each spring from the IA DNR Nursery every spring from about 2009-2016. Had nothing but good things to say about them. Haven't used them since though. People are shocked when they see the red oak, sugar maple, and butternut hickory grove of trees I planted and they're now huge. They can't believe in 2016 they were 12" sticks and now they're huge!!
 
The IA state nursery trees have done well for me over the years.

I'd order from them again without hesitation.

Another bonus with the IA State Nursery, is you can get them delivered in the fall and planted with much less stress on them.
 
DOR said:
I'm considering saving some cash and buying some trees from IOWA DNR for next spring. In the past, I have used places like Morse Nursery and Yellow River Nursery and have good things to say about both.

However, I'm looking at purchasing some Arrowwood (which I can't get from either commercial nursery right now) and some Norway Spruce. Looking at the norway spruce, Iowa DNR is about 2.50 cheaper per tree. The spruce available at Yellow River are the 22 to 36 inch variety and the ones at IDNR are said to be "3-0 (Height: 28" average, 12" minimum)". So it seems comparable???

Does anyone have any experience using IDNR Nursery? Given the big cost difference, I may also look at some other varieties if people have been pleased with them compared to the commercial nurseries.

Thanks for your input.
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I've done yellow river and state dnr. There's no comparison. Yellow river much better imo
 
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A friend and I both ordered red cedars from the Iowa DNR nursery last year that were delivered in April. Both him and I had less than 10% survival rate. They are going to replace them this spring.
 
tmule888 said:
A friend and I both ordered red cedars from the Iowa DNR nursery last year that were delivered in April. Both him and I had less than 10% survival rate. They are going to replace them this spring.
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The delivery company they use lost mine for a week one year, and they replaced my entire order at no extra cost so ensure fresh trees. Great service if you ask me
 
I’ve had great service and phenomenal trees compared to a few other places.
I just quick glanced at Yellow River and it says pick up- do they ship? (I just did a very quick glance)
 
newfarmer said:
I’ve had great service and phenomenal trees compared to a few other places.
I just quick glanced at Yellow River and it says pick up- do they ship? (I just did a very quick glance)
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They used to be pick up only but I believe they started shipping to bordering states last year. Their trees have impressive root systems.
 
HWC said:
They used to be pick up only but I believe they started shipping to bordering states last year. Their trees have impressive root systems.
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Last year I ordered very large quantity of trees from Missouri, large quantity from Iowa, and about 200 from yellow river. Yellow river definitely the best, largest, and biggest root system but they are about 4x the cost. Iowa and Missouri trees were similar size and quality I would say. And yes Yellow River does ship
 
LoessHillsArcher said:
I would order trees each spring from the IA DNR Nursery every spring from about 2009-2016. Had nothing but good things to say about them. Haven't used them since though. People are shocked when they see the red oak, sugar maple, and butternut hickory grove of trees I planted and they're now huge. They can't believe in 2016 they were 12" sticks and now they're huge!!
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Can you post a few pics ??
 
Yellow River does ship or you can pick up in Marshfield, WI.

I will say Scott is awesome to work with and there are no surprises. I highly recommend YR.

However, trying to spread your dollars matters and looking to add some Arrowwood this year, so I think I will give the IDNR a shot with at least part of my order.

Thanks for the input guys.
 
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smithhunter1975 said:
Last year I ordered very large quantity of trees from Missouri, large quantity from Iowa, and about 200 from yellow river. Yellow river definitely the best, largest, and biggest root system but they are about 4x the cost. Iowa and Missouri trees were similar size and quality I would say. And yes Yellow River does ship
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I'm trying a small order from MO nursery this year. Was shocked at the price. If they're the same quality as IA that'd be great
 
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