More than 900,000 tree seedlings still available for SC landowners

The South Carolina Forestry Commission is encouraging landowners to place their tree seedling orders for winter planting while they are still available.

ArborGen’s Taylor Nursery in Edgefield County has more than 900,000 seedlings left for sale at special South Carolina landowner pricing, most of them bareroot loblolly pine seedlings. Among the remaining hardwoods are dogwood, redbud, Southern crabapple and several oak species, including live oak.

“We’re trying to find a good home for all the remaining seedlings, preferably in the Palmetto State,” said Tim Adams, SCFC Resource Development Director

As part of its arrangement with ArborGen, the Forestry Commission releases the remaining inventory of unsold seedlings to out-of-state buyers after the State Forester has declared a surplus. This year, a surplus likely will be announced Wednesday, Dec. 1, so landowners are strongly encouraged to order their seedlings before this date.

The purpose of the Forestry Commission’s seedling program is to provide a diverse selection of genetically improved seedlings to South Carolina landowners for timber and Christmas tree production as well as for wildlife and wetland habitat improvement.

Contact Taylor Nursery at (803) 275-3578 to place an order, and be sure to ask for the South Carolina landowner pricing, which will only apply to the first 100,000 seedlings ordered annually by each qualified landowner. Landowners must plant the seedlings in South Carolina to be eligible for the special pricing. More information about the South Carolina Forestry Commission’s seedling sales program, species availability and pricing can be found on the web at: https://www.scfc.gov/management/seedlings/