Planting Time for ‘Pretty’
How GFC Considers Aesthetics in Seedling Distribution
Fall 2024
By Stasia Kelly
Pictured: Dogwood berries are tasty treats for wildlife.
Bare-root GFC seedlings
adapt easily to Georgia soils
Georgia’s forests are valued for scores of industrial and economic reasons. One benefit that may occasionally get overlooked is sheer beauty. Perhaps it’s because accolades are often inadequate when admiring a stand of flowing longleaf pines or a quilted forest vista. The impressions we capture from those experiences land in a more personal space. Can you quantify the joyful sound of kids leaping into a raked pile of crunchy autumn leaves? Priceless.
Since early July, when the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) opened its online seedling store, the agency’s Reforestation Department has been busy. Staffers have shifted from pinecone and acorn collections to processing and distribution. The focus now is ensuring delivery of healthy crops to GFC seedling coordinators and customers statewide.
A little-known fact is that sales from GFC’s nursery seedlings fund work being done in GFC orchards. As a member of two Tree Improvement Cooperatives, GFC does breeding and testing with genetically improved germplasm, essential to the production of straighter, faster-growing and more disease-resistant pine trees. That work is valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars and is vital to ensuring productive, healthy forests for generations to come.
While those genetically improved pine seedlings and other pine varieties get lots of attention, GFC’s selection of attractive ornamentals, along with fruit and flowering trees, is popular as well. Buyers say they’re happy to plant pollinators and appreciate species that benefit wildlife. Aesthetics are also a major draw for landowners and homeowners.
Since early July, when the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) opened its online seedling store, the agency’s Reforestation Department has been busy. Staffers have shifted from pinecone and acorn collections to processing and distribution. The focus now is ensuring delivery of healthy crops to GFC seedling coordinators and customers statewide.
A little-known fact is that sales from GFC’s nursery seedlings fund work being done in GFC orchards. As a member of two Tree Improvement Cooperatives, GFC does breeding and testing with genetically improved germplasm, essential to the production of straighter, faster-growing and more disease-resistant pine trees. That work is valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars and is vital to ensuring productive, healthy forests for generations to come.
While those genetically improved pine seedlings and other pine varieties get lots of attention, GFC’s selection of attractive ornamentals, along with fruit and flowering trees, is popular as well. Buyers say they’re happy to plant pollinators and appreciate species that benefit wildlife. Aesthetics are also a major draw for landowners and homeowners.
“The smaller, non-industrial landowners market has grown since we’ve gone to online ordering,” said GFC Reforestation Chief Jeff Fields. “Our 10- and 50-plus packs are very popular in the suburbs and with garden clubs. People realize that we offer a very economical choice for very high-quality seedlings, especially the hardwood varieties. Many of our buyers split orders with their neighbors.”
GFC Region 2 Seedling Coordinator Ezra Bortner said he likes helping home or business owners who come to GFC for their special project materials. And he enjoys dealing with smaller orders.
“People are elated to discover that we offer this,” Bortner said.
“They’re happy about the value and not having to haul a tree with a five-gallon root ball.” Seedlings produced by GFC range in size from one to four and-a-half feet in height. All seedlings are lifted directly from the field and are “bare root,” as opposed to containerized at this time. Plans are in the works, however, to establish a containerized option for some species at GFC’s Flint River facility.
GFC Region 2 Seedling Coordinator Ezra Bortner said he likes helping home or business owners who come to GFC for their special project materials. And he enjoys dealing with smaller orders.
“People are elated to discover that we offer this,” Bortner said.
“They’re happy about the value and not having to haul a tree with a five-gallon root ball.” Seedlings produced by GFC range in size from one to four and-a-half feet in height. All seedlings are lifted directly from the field and are “bare root,” as opposed to containerized at this time. Plans are in the works, however, to establish a containerized option for some species at GFC’s Flint River facility.
BRING ON THE BEAUTY
“The most popular hardwood orders we get for homeowners are dogwood and redbud,” said Fields. “These seedlings provide homeowners with a great way to beautify their homes while diversifying the landscape for wildlife and pollinators.”
As planting season in Georgia begins, Fields reviewed the showy tree species popular with GFC online customers:
•White oak – known for its beauty and shade. High-quality wood. Longlived. Attractive to wildlife, including deer, turkey, bears.
• Crabapple – an ornamental with pretty pink blooms that grows well in shade. Frequently planted around forestland and hunt clubs; attractive to deer and other wildlife.
• Dogwood – understory tree known for its aesthetic beauty, including white flowers in spring. Its berries and seeds attract birds and other wildlife.
• Northern red oak – fast-growing oak that produces superb shade, color, and acorns for wildlife.
•Live oak – known for its spreading beauty, longevity, resistance to disease and weather, and acorns for wildlife.
Honorary mention:
• Bald cypress – known for its beauty, lumber benefits, and adaptability to wet or dry conditions.
As you might imagine, when seedling deliveries begin, operating systems go into overdrive. The fledgling trees are lifted at the nursery and then bundled for transport to GFC units across the state. The lifting process begins the last week of November and hardwoods start at the end of December, when they are more dormant. The seedlings need to be completely shut down when they are harvested. This increases out-planting survival dramatically.
“There are a lot of moving parts,” said Fields. “Customers can pick up their orders at the nursery or we can deliver them to county units. We have 10 seedling coordinators throughout our regions who track shipments and organize individual pickups. It’s an extra busy time of year.”
Seedling Coordinator Ezra Bortner said it’s all a matter of “staying organized.” Communication is key, as he schedules order pickups from the GFC Baldwin County Unit. That’s where forklifts offload seedlings, sorted by species, onto trailers, for the second leg of their trips “home.” Bortner breaks down the orders and coordinates with other GFC offices to schedule pickups and, finally, delivery to the customer.
Logistics are often impacted by outside forces, such as inclement weather, but that rarely rattles Bortner. He said his background in customer service and the hospitality industry has imparted some helpful lessons for navigating the unexpected. That level of care is a foundational quality GFC strives for in all of its service deliveries.
“The most popular hardwood orders we get for homeowners are dogwood and redbud,” said Fields. “These seedlings provide homeowners with a great way to beautify their homes while diversifying the landscape for wildlife and pollinators.”
As planting season in Georgia begins, Fields reviewed the showy tree species popular with GFC online customers:
•White oak – known for its beauty and shade. High-quality wood. Longlived. Attractive to wildlife, including deer, turkey, bears.
• Crabapple – an ornamental with pretty pink blooms that grows well in shade. Frequently planted around forestland and hunt clubs; attractive to deer and other wildlife.
• Dogwood – understory tree known for its aesthetic beauty, including white flowers in spring. Its berries and seeds attract birds and other wildlife.
• Northern red oak – fast-growing oak that produces superb shade, color, and acorns for wildlife.
•Live oak – known for its spreading beauty, longevity, resistance to disease and weather, and acorns for wildlife.
Honorary mention:
• Bald cypress – known for its beauty, lumber benefits, and adaptability to wet or dry conditions.
As you might imagine, when seedling deliveries begin, operating systems go into overdrive. The fledgling trees are lifted at the nursery and then bundled for transport to GFC units across the state. The lifting process begins the last week of November and hardwoods start at the end of December, when they are more dormant. The seedlings need to be completely shut down when they are harvested. This increases out-planting survival dramatically.
“There are a lot of moving parts,” said Fields. “Customers can pick up their orders at the nursery or we can deliver them to county units. We have 10 seedling coordinators throughout our regions who track shipments and organize individual pickups. It’s an extra busy time of year.”
Seedling Coordinator Ezra Bortner said it’s all a matter of “staying organized.” Communication is key, as he schedules order pickups from the GFC Baldwin County Unit. That’s where forklifts offload seedlings, sorted by species, onto trailers, for the second leg of their trips “home.” Bortner breaks down the orders and coordinates with other GFC offices to schedule pickups and, finally, delivery to the customer.
Logistics are often impacted by outside forces, such as inclement weather, but that rarely rattles Bortner. He said his background in customer service and the hospitality industry has imparted some helpful lessons for navigating the unexpected. That level of care is a foundational quality GFC strives for in all of its service deliveries.
SPREADING THE WEALTH
Lea Clark joined GFC in 2021 after earning a master’s degree in Urban Forestry from the University of Georgia. As a GFC Sustainable Community Forestry Specialist, Clark regularly engages with urban customers. She said they may not know a lot about what to plant where, but are eager to know more about establishing a finished landscape.
“It’s important to put the right tree in the right place,” Clark said. “We give away a variety of species around Arbor Day in February. They vary from small to medium to large canopy trees. When tree recipients ask me what kind of tree should they plant, I start asking questions.”
They include:
•What is your site like?
•Is it sunny or shady?
•Is it wet or dry?
•What is your soil like?
• How much open soil surface will the tree have?
•Are there overhead obstructions such as power lines or other trees?
•What is underground (internet cables/sewage pipes) and is it permanent or will it be replaced?
Clark goes on to say that putting the right tree in the right place ensures that the tree will thrive, rather than merely survive. Plus, it decreases conflicts with surrounding hardscape features.
“A thriving tree in the right place will cost less over time,” she said. “It won’t need as much conflict resolution, like constant or major pruning. And it’s less likely to cause damage by branch failure.”
It takes a lot of time and muscle to fuel the seed-to-seedling-to-forest process. Every cog in the GFC wheel is essential and each helps ensure the sustainability of Georgia’s forests. Every tree planted contributes to a bright future for the next generation and can create lasting memories for landowners and families alike. One can only imagine the possible reactions any one of those remarkable trees might evoke in the decades to come. ■
Stasia Kelly is a media relations specialist with the Georgia Forestry Commission. She is focused on telling the story of forestry and exploring the immense impact of the industry on Georgia’s environment, economy and heritage.
Lea Clark joined GFC in 2021 after earning a master’s degree in Urban Forestry from the University of Georgia. As a GFC Sustainable Community Forestry Specialist, Clark regularly engages with urban customers. She said they may not know a lot about what to plant where, but are eager to know more about establishing a finished landscape.
“It’s important to put the right tree in the right place,” Clark said. “We give away a variety of species around Arbor Day in February. They vary from small to medium to large canopy trees. When tree recipients ask me what kind of tree should they plant, I start asking questions.”
They include:
•What is your site like?
•Is it sunny or shady?
•Is it wet or dry?
•What is your soil like?
• How much open soil surface will the tree have?
•Are there overhead obstructions such as power lines or other trees?
•What is underground (internet cables/sewage pipes) and is it permanent or will it be replaced?
Clark goes on to say that putting the right tree in the right place ensures that the tree will thrive, rather than merely survive. Plus, it decreases conflicts with surrounding hardscape features.
“A thriving tree in the right place will cost less over time,” she said. “It won’t need as much conflict resolution, like constant or major pruning. And it’s less likely to cause damage by branch failure.”
It takes a lot of time and muscle to fuel the seed-to-seedling-to-forest process. Every cog in the GFC wheel is essential and each helps ensure the sustainability of Georgia’s forests. Every tree planted contributes to a bright future for the next generation and can create lasting memories for landowners and families alike. One can only imagine the possible reactions any one of those remarkable trees might evoke in the decades to come. ■
Stasia Kelly is a media relations specialist with the Georgia Forestry Commission. She is focused on telling the story of forestry and exploring the immense impact of the industry on Georgia’s environment, economy and heritage.
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