Though nature will reforest most areas on its own (regeneration), this process can take many years and may result in less-than-desirable species coming back. Tree planting not only saves the time that may be lost waiting for nature, but planting allows you to select the best species for a particular site and allows control of tree spacing for best tree growth and development. Control of spacing also makes necessary maintenance practices, such as weed control, much easier.

The Kentucky Division of Forestry operates two nurseries where tree seedlings are raised for planting on privately owned land. These nurseries are located at Gilbertsville in Marshall County near the Kentucky Dam and at Grassy Creek in Morgan County near the town of West Liberty.                 

A wide variety of tree species are offered for sale for planting on open crop or pasture land, developing a Christmas tree plantation, wildlife habitat enhancement, improvement of urban areas and for surface mine reclamation.

Another factor in tree planting is the use of genetically improved seed. This makes the planting of tree seedlings more productive than allowing the forest to naturally regenerate. Trees with superior characteristics, such as fast growth, straight trunks and good natural pruning of limbs are crossbred to produce seed that is superior to that which is produced naturally. These seeds are gathered from seed orchards and used to grow the division's trees. Genetically improved seedlings are not available in all species.

There are more than a million acres of land in Kentucky that could benefit from tree planting. These areas could not only be planted to produce future timber crops, but trees and shrubs could also be planted to improve wildlife habitat and to protect the soil from erosion by wind or water. In urban areas, planting may be done to improve the environment by reducing the effects of heat, wind, dust and noise, providing privacy screens or just beautifying the urban landscape.

From the planting of the seeds to the removal of tree seedlings from seedling beds and packaging them into bundles for sale, Kentucky's nurseries will produce some 3 to 4 million seedlings each year. Seedlings are available to Kentucky landowners at a reasonable price for the purpose of reforesting Kentucky's lands. The Division of Forestry's two tree nurseries will have seedlings available for shipping to individuals in late fall and in early spring.

For more information about the division's nurseries, contact Tim Sheehan, Frankfort Office, or Charlie Saunders, nursery superintendent, Morgan County Nursery or Joanna Davidson, nursery superintendent, John P. Rhody Nursery.