News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Upper Cumberland landowners can now order tree seedlings through the Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry (TDF).
Assistant District Forester Jim Dale said planting tree seedlings ensures the creation of renewable resources.
The seedlings come from the East Tennessee Delano Nursery. (Photo: TDF)
“We have a lot of land throughout Tennessee that is not forested [and] is land that can be reclaimed,” Dale said. “We promote the growth of trees because this idle land is just growing in weeds and underbrush.”
The TDF grows seedlings at the East Tennessee Nursery to sell each year. Dale said reforestation efforts turn out as long term investments.
“Your children may reap the benefits from this down the road. But in the meantime, you are really doing a service to the land itself,” Dale said. “Being a good steward of the land itself by maintaining it in trees.”
Forest landowners may apply for free seedlings for forest sustainability and restoration through the Trees for Tennessee program. Dale said landowners can apply to the program online.
“Trees are planted for a variety of reasons not only for reforestation but as buffer strips,” Dale said. “They are planted along repairing zones to stabilize soil along creeks and rivers and things like that so. They serve a variety of purposes.”
Dale said the nursery often sells-out seedlings quickly. The TDF will accept seedling orders until April 24, 2020.
