Gravel Bed Tree Nursery

The gravel bed tree nursery is an irrigated raised bed filled with pea gravel where bare root trees are placed and cultivated for three to six months. The gravel bed is increases the tree’s fibrous root system in preparation for planting. The nursery is a collaboration between the Washington County Conservation District, Washington County Fair board, Minnesota Water stewards, Climate Action Corps (community forestry program) and the Washington County Master Gardener Volunteer Program Tree Squad. The grant for this project was generously provided by North Woods and Waters of the St. Croix heritage area.

U of MN Extension offers guidance on how to plant a newly harvested gravel bed tree in this handout.

Plant List

A Hackberry — celtis occidentalis

B Northern catalpa – catalpa speciosa northern

C Frontyard linden – tilia americana

D Serviceberry– Amelanchier x grand Aut Brilliance

E Chestnut crabapple

F Black Hills spruce seedlings

G Sugar maple seedlings

H Allegheny serviceberry seedlings

I Hackberry seedlings

J Swamp white oak seedings