My property is dwarfed in dozens and dozens of HUGE oak trees. There are a few long needle pines, and I really like the balance they bring. I'd like to plant a dozen or so long-needle pines. I think these are white pines, but correct me if I am wrong. Is there a good mail order place for them? Should I get them from some .gov source like an extension office (I don't even know what that is, but I think someone mentioned it to me).

Probably depends on your location but I am a Missouri resident and purchase most of my trees from the Missouri Department of Conservation. I've been planting 200-300 White and Loblolly Pines each year for the last 3 years and MDOC sells them for under $20.00 a hundred and offers free shipping for Missouri residents. Looks like the MDOC will ship out of state but they will charge you for shipping. I usually plant in late February or fist week in March.
My property is also covered in huge Oak trees and I wanted a little more winter cover.

btw...the catalog of trees hasn't been updated for the 2021 season so all should be available for order.

https://mdc12.mdc.mo.gov/Applications/TreeSeedling/

We buy our containerized pine seedlings direct from a listed nursery. I think they are sold in bundles of at least 100. You are talking small scale. The extension agent is a state office in your county that is a part of your state university agriculture program. Their purpose is to advise and inform on agriculture practices. Your local extension agent and/or your local USDA Soil Conservation Service (which are closely affiliated) office can direct you. Also your county probably has a county forester office. Sometimes if it meets soil conservation or re-forestation goals, especially in riparian areas, you can get seedlings planted at no cost to the landowner. It just depends on current goals and funding.

Thanks guys! I wonder if there are any laws about bringing in plants from out of state? Probably. If there can be a law, there probably is one, right?

quote:

Originally posted by r0gue:
Thanks guys! I wonder if there are any laws about bringing in plants from out of state? Probably. If there can be a law, there probably is one, right?

Id bet a dollar that there is.
I have land in Fla still and it’s planted in pines, we got the seedlings from the state forestry free. Don’t know where you live, but my first call would be to the state forestry.

Start here: https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/Conser...s/Pages/default.aspx

Also, search for “Howard Nursery Pennsylvania”

These should be good starting points to get you to where you want to be.

Good luck to you, sounds like a fun project, enjoy it.

Check with your extension agent if any White Pine Blister Rust resistant varieties are available for your area. If not and you still want to plant Eastern White pine check to see if Ribes (gooseberries and currants) are in your area. The Blister Rust needs both White pines and Ribes genus to survive. White pines infect the Ribes and Ribes infect the pines, cut one out of the equation and the rust cannot survive. Then plant where they have mostly sun and room to grow, good drainage, and avoid damp cold areas (blister rust heaven).
You need to realize upfront White pines are susceptible to wind and snow breakage and several pathogens besides the blister rust. Some new ones have come to the forefront in the last 10-15 years. Expect some casualties.

I'd think you'd have seedlings near your pines that you could just transplant?

In the Midwest the country ‘extension’ office is often a good place to start. They will have leads anyway. Best time to plant is late a Fall or early Spring.

The mail order companies know rules about shipping plants, easily vary by State.

there are many types of pine and many look similar. do some googling around to find the ones you really want as far as mature size.

we often have white pines as christmas trees. they have branches from the ground to the tip and are triangular, growing to about 75-80' at their biggest. a red pine would be pretty similar and have slightly longer leaves, overall. both of these produce a whorl (tier) of branches every year.

"long needle" pines could mean longleaf pines, I suppose, but longleaf will not grow in PA. they are a historic southeastern US tree.

down here, our pines (yellow pines like loblolly, longleaf, shortleaf, slash) grow a little taller and typically end up very topheavy.