Shelterbelt Program

Evergreen Trees

• White Spruce
• Blue Spruce
• Lodgepole Pine

Tall Trees

• Tamarack
• Siberian Larch
• Manitoba Maple
• Balsam Poplar

Mid-Sized Trees

• Green Ash
• Hybrid Poplar - Okanese
• White Birch
• Golden Willow
• Pussy Willow

Shrubs & Hedges

• Green Alder
• Common Lilac
• Red Osier Dogwood

Fruit-Bearing Species

• Chokecherry
• Canada Buffaloberry
• Haskap (Aurora & Indigo Gem varieties for pollination)
• High Bush Cranberry
• Blueberry
• Siberian Crabapple
• Saskatoon - Smoky

Hemp Weed Suppression Tree Squares

• How To Use

• This program is being run on a cost-recovery basis. We are placing bulk orders to help get County residents better rates for seedlings.
• Depending on the species, costs range anywhere from $0.33/seedling - $5.00/seedling. 
  • Please note that each species is being sold in a bundle of either 10 or 15 (we will not be offering individual seedlings).
• There is a $5.00 shipping and handling fee applied to each order.

When ready, orders can be picked up at the County's Community Services Building (CSB) which is different than the Administrative Building.

CSB Address:

10808 100 Ave

Clairmont, Alberta, T0H 0W0

Google Maps link here

Because we cannot guarantee all orders will be fulfilled, we will not be taking payments until orders are ready for pickup in the spring.

You will have the following payment options:

• Online with a credit card
  • Once your order is ready, a confirmation email will be sent along with a payment link. by paying in advance online, you will help ensure a more efficient pickup.
• In-person with a machine
  • In-person debit or credit card purchases can be made during office hours (8:30 a.m. - 4:30 a.m.) on scheduled pickup days. You will be required to pay at the front office of the CSB before proceeding to the pickup location in the shop yard.
• Cash (exact amount only)
  • Because we will not have a cash float or card machines at the pickup location, we will only be able to accept cash in the exact amount of your order.

• Orders will be ready either at the end of May or beginning of June.
• We will provide all customers with notice leading up to the pickup date.

• The County has an "Agriculture webinars" playlist on our YouTube channel with videos about shelterbelts, planting for pollinators, and soil health.
• The Agroforest and Woodlot Extension Society has an abundance of information about shelterbelts.
  • Practical Guide to Establishing an Ecobuffer
  • Planting Project Planning Worksheet
  • Planting Assessment Worksheet
• You can find more information about planting and caring for your seedlings below.

You can contact Kate Winterford, Soil Conservation and Stewardship Coordinator:

• kwinterford@countygp.ab.ca
• (780) 380-9325

Because the roots of tree seedlings dry rapidly, it is important to keep them cool and damp for as long as possible.

• Do not leave your seedlings in a vehicle for long, especially during hot and windy days.
• Cover or put your seedlings in a box to avoid exposure to direct sunlight during transportation.
  • If covering, use a reflective tarp or canopy if possible. Other materials such as canvas will hold heat and warm the seedlings.

Once you arrive home with your seedlings, keep them in a shaded or covered area where they will not be exposed to wind or direct sunlight. For example, a cooler/fridge, root cellar, or cold corner of your shed.

• The best method is to plant your trees and shrubs within a few days to reduce the risk of exposure to disease, molding, drying, and other problems.
• If your seedlings begin to dry out, sprinkle them with water to keep them moist.
  • Avoid keeping them in water as you can drown them and cause damage due to oxygen starvation.

For best results, plant your seedlings within a few days after pickup.

It is important to plant your seedlings in an area that will provide them with room to grow. Avoid planting your seedlings too close to buildings, buried service lines, pipelines, or overhead powerlines.

Certain site characteristics will also play a role in the health of your seedlings. Avoid planting in areas that have:

• Excessive competition from existing vegetation. 
  • This includes aboveground (thick shading grasses, tall weeds) and belowground (rhizomatous grasses) vegetation.
• Highly compacted soils.
• Saturated soils.

If you are planting a large number of seedlings, consider using a tree planting shovel rather than a generic spade. A tree planting shovel is specially designed to make a slit in the ground that will help you plant seedlings more efficiently. 

See the graphic below from the Agroforestry and Woodlot Extension Society which demonstrates the proper planting technique:

Digging Your Hole

When digging a hole for your seedling, it should be as deep as the roots so that the roots can grow straight. The hole should be about twice the width of the root ball. 

Preventing Injury

Because planting seedlings is a repetitive task, there is a risk for strain injuries if proper care is not taken. Consider these tips to prevent injury:

• Wear the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
  • Work boots, gloves, and a sun hat are recommended.
• Stay hydrated.
• Take frequent breaks.
• Select a shovel with a length that is suitable for your height to maintain a healthy posture.

Your seedlings need sufficient water to grow successfully. Without adequate rainfall, you may need to water your seedlings throughout the summer months. You can decrease the amount of watering toward the end of August to allow your seedlings to winterize.

You may consider mulching around the base of your seedlings to help regulate soil temperatures and conserve water.

Information on this page was provided by the Agroforestry and Woodlot Extension Society (AWES). Follow this link for more information about planting tree and shrub seedlings.

Further resources:

• Shelterbelts: Design Guidelines (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
• Field Shelterbelts for Soil Conservation (Government of Alberta)
• Planting Tree and Shrub Seedlings (AWES)
• Practical Guide to Establishing an Ecobuffer (AWES)
• Seed and Seedling Planting and Care (Weyerhaeuser)
• How to Plant a Tree (TreeTime)