Annual Arbor Day Tree and Shrub Sale

February 22-April 12, 2021

Order trees and shrubs online:

  1. Order using an existing Parks & Recreation account user name and password, or
  2. Set up a new account
For help ordering or setting up a new account, call 952-985-4600. For species selection, planting and tree care information, call the City Forester at 952-985-2724, or download a site selection chart for trees (PDF).

Orders must be received by Monday, April 12, 2021. Some trees will sell out prior to the deadline.

Quantities are limited, and orders are processed on a first-come, first-served pre-pay system. Due to the pandemic, the payment accepted is credit card and the sale is limited to City of Lakeville residents only. Purchasers will be notified by email confirming which trees and shrubs are reserved for them. Unlike a retail nursery, these trees/shrubs do not have a warranty.

Trees and shrubs will be delivered between Monday, May 3 and Friday, May 7 by City staff. Trees and shrubs will be delivered to the Lakeville address you provided at the time of you order. Deliveries will only be made within Lakeville's municipal boundaries. City Parks or Forestry staff will pull into your driveway to facilitate an efficient delivery and will leave your order at your front door or in a shaded location in your yard to prevent plants from drying out. Staff will knock on the door or ring the doorbell after they have finished unloading the order but will not wait for an answer to ensure efficiency and a contactless delivery. You will receive a confirmation email the day you receive your order.
Choosing a Tree or Shrub and Ordering:
  • Trees and shrubs offered in bare root form are light weight and easy to transport. They should be kept in a cool place and planted within 1-2 days from delivery to ensure roots do not dry out. 
  • Trees and shrubs offered in pots (containers) should be “box” cut with a hand saw prior to planting. If they are kept in a cool spot and watered, they can be planted as time permits. 
  • Not sure it’s worth buying a “smaller” tree instead of hiring a contractor to install a larger tree? Consider that for every inch in stem diameter, the tree will go through a year of transplant shock where it will only grow roots. Smaller diameter trees establish root systems and start growing taller/wider faster. In many cases because of their exceptional root systems, bare root trees can outgrow their “larger” tree counterparts simply due to the number of roots present at planting time and their ability to establish. 
  • All trees/shrubs reflect a savings off typical retail prices. 
  • Unlike a retail nursery, these trees/shrubs do not have a warranty. 
  • Townhome associations are encouraged to participate to improve their species diversity 
  • No room in your yard? Purchase a swamp white oak and donate it to a City park! 
Planting:
Care and Maintenance: 
  • Planting is a stressful experience for the tree or shrub being planted. It takes time for the plant to start growing new roots and establish in its new landscape. 
  • A rule-of-thumb is that it takes 1 year for every inch of trunk diameter for a tree to establish in the landscape. For a 2 inch tree, it may take 2 years for the tree to establish its root system and start growing more branches and increasing in trunk size. 
  • Consistent watering and mulching can help plants better establish. 
  • Newly planted trees need to be watered 15-25 gallons of water each week, watering can be skipped if it rained 1 inch or more that week. If you have heavy clay soil that does not drain well, you can kill the tree roots by over watering and need to monitor soil moisture more closely.  
  • Consider using a gator bag to water your new tree 
  • Stop watering your tree once the ground freezes and remove gator bags if you are using them 
  • Rodents and other animals may try to climb your new tree or peel its bark during the winter, you can use a tree guard to protect it from this type of damage 
  • For guidelines on watering and mulching your new plants, watch a few videos created by the Minnesota DNR. 
For more information about the Arbor Day Tree and Shrub sale, contact the City Forester at 952-985-2724.