Time to order seeds, make plans for planting

The state nurseries are a great resource for forestland owners. Not only do they supply native seedlings for planting, but also offer extensive technical advice on selection, handling, planting, and maintenance of seedlings. Both centers maintain lists of private nurseries within the state.

The two state nurseries are the Lewis A. Moran Reforestation Center in Davis (Yolo County) and the Magalia Reforestation Center in Magalia (Butte County). Both nurseries produce native species for purchase by landowners for specific purposes including reforestation, erosion control and watershed protection, windbreaks, Christmas trees, fuel wood, and approved research projects. Seedlings cannot be purchased for landscaping or resale.

The state nurseries distribute about 2 million trees annually. The majority, approximately 89%, are planted for forestry on private lands. Forest planting and Christmas tree production utilizes approximately 92% of the total. The remaining 8 percent is divided as follows: public lands, 2.5%; private land for erosion control and watershed protection, 4%; private land for farm windbreaks, 1%; and other uses such as reforestation studies and research, 0.5%.

The L.A. Moran Reforestation Center produces over 300,000 seedlings each year and maintains over 20,000 pounds of seed in its Seed Bank, a refrigeration unit that maintains seed at zero degrees. Seeds are preserved for three major reasons: for routine production, genetic conservation, and for reforestation after fire. There are more than 80 adaptive tree seed zones throughout California and the goal of the Center is to have a 10 year supply of seed in the bank for each adaptive zone.

Seeds are sown in containers at the Moran Center throughout the year. The seedlings are available for shipping from mid-October through the end of May.

The Magalia Reforestation Center is CDF¹s bareroot nursery and produces an average 2.5 million seedlings annually. Seeds are sown in the ground on the nursery¹s 15 acres. The lifting season begins in December and continues through March. Seedling orders should be placed by November 1 and are shipped between December 15 and June 1.

Note: It is important to plant trees from the correct tree zone. Those landowners with specific needs, especially after a fire, may want to consider a contract or advance reservation to ensure a supply of seedlings from the right seed source. Call the nursery to find out minimum requirements and other information.

Magalia Reforestation Center
6640 Steiffer Road
Magalia, Ca 95954
(530) 873-0400

Lewis A. Moran Reforestation Center
PO Box 1590
Davis, Ca 95617
(530) 753-2441

Information on each nursery, order forms, contract information, and ³Tips for Planting Seedlings² are also available on the web at http://www.fire.ca.gov/ResourceManagment/StateNurseries.asp.