Tree Sale

HOW IT WORKS - 2024 Sale Update

Pre-order sales for 2024 are closed as of April 14, 2024.

There may be some available plants for sale at the pick up days in Highgate: 

Franklin County Field Days Grounds

294 Airport Road, Highgate

Pickup times: Friday May 3rd: 11 am to 6 pm and Saturday May 4th: 9 am to 1 pm

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Our annual pre-order tree sale is the largest in the State of Vermont! Through the sale, we distribute 16,000+ trees and shrubs to the local community. The primary goal is to make native trees and shrubs and backyard fruit trees and plants affordable and accessible in our community, and it is also a fundraiser for our conservation programs and education. 

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All orders are first come, first served. Inventory can change based on the conditions at the nurseries we order from – i.e. weather, damage, or crop loss are all possible – thank you, as always, for your patience and understanding. Unfortunately, there is no warranty on any plant we sell. We try to purchase high quality, resilient plants that will be successful in our cold climate with long, snowy winters, which is why we source our plants from places like VT, NY, MI, and MA. We hope the Tree Sale encourages more carbon sequestration, food sovereignty, improved water quality, and wildlife habitat in all communities. 

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Pick Up and Ordering Information

You’ll pick your order up in-person during the first weekend in May. 
For 2024, all paper order forms were due by February 28th and online orders were due by April 14th.

If additional inventory remains, day-of-pick up sales may be possible at the Highgate pick-up location.

Pick up will be in THREE locations this year – Highgate (primary location), Montgomery (thanks to the Montgomery Conservation Commission), and North Hero (thanks to the Grand Isle County Natural Resources Conservation District). 

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Highgate:

Franklin County Field Days Grounds

294 Airport Road, Highgate

Pickup times: Friday May 3rd: 11 am to 6 pm and Saturday May 4th: 9 am to 1 pm

If there is any additional inventory after pre-orders, it will only be available at the Highgate pickup location.

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Montgomery:

Public Safety Building

Montgomery Conservation Commission leading

86 Mountain Road / Route 242, Montgomery

Pickup time: Saturday May 4th: 10 am to 1 pm

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North Hero:

Lake Champlain Islands Economic Development Corporation 

Grand Isle County Natural Resources Conservation District leading

3501 US Route 2, North Hero

Pick up time: Saturday May 4th: 10 am to 2 pm

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If you require assistance with your order pickup, please contact us via email or phone.

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Updates are emailed in April, please keep an eye out for a note from us! Phone calls will only be made if necessary. 

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Payment must be received to reserve orders. Inventory is subject to change based on source nursery stock availability dependent on weather and other conditions. We may contact you to alter your order. Thank you for understanding. Check your order for quality and accuracy at pickup. No refunds will be granted once the plants have left the pickup site. All items are bare-root or plug (not container or ball & burlap) and will fit in a small bag. There is no need for a truck or trailer to pick up your order except for some long fruit trees which can usually fit in a sedan with the window down. There is no warranty on any plant. Please follow all care instructions. 

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Payment Information

All orders are first come, first served.

Payment must be received to reserve your order. 

We recommend paying by check (mail or deliver to our office), but we also offer online payment if you're ordering online!

If paying by check, please make it out to Franklin County NRCD and mail to us at:

Franklin County NRCD

50 South Main Street Suite B20

St. Albans, Vermont 05478

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*Inventory is subject to change based on source nursery stock availability dependent on weather and other conditions. We may contact you to alter your order. Thank you for understanding!*

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New Items in the 2024 Tree Sale

This year we have substantially expanded the diversity of species offered in our tree sale, with the goal of providing species to fit a greater variety of site conditions, production goals, and ecological services. We have added 11 new hardwood species to our inventory, including Black Cherry and White Walnut, which are valuable wildlife forage, and Cottonwood, Yellow Birch, and American Elm, which are suitable for planting in wet areas. Two of our favorite wetland shrubs, Pussy Willow and Speckled Alder, are also now available. We have added to our edible and medicinal species offered in the tree sale, with new apple, strawberry, and blackberry varieties, and aronia. We continue to offer many popular species from previous years, including Vermont native and naturalized species. We source our trees from Vermont and neighboring states, when possible, to ensure that the plants we offer are adapted to and will thrive in the climate and soils of our state. In addition to trees and shrubs, we also offer seed mixes and trout!

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What is a bare root plant?

Our annual Tree Sale offers only one main style of plant: bare root. These plants are made by rooting cuttings or suckers from a plant, or from planting a seed. At the nursery, plants are dug up while they are dormant. It is normal to not see any leaves or buds on a bare root plant, unless it is an evergreen. Bare root plants carry less risk of spreading diseases and insects, and are also lightweight, economical, and easy to plant. A few fruit plants are being sold as plugs or in bundles this year as well.
We will have your order ready and bagged with the roots covered in damp sawdust or newspaper. Keep the plants in the bag in a cool, shady location until they are ready for planting - it does not take long for air and wind to dry out the roots. Since these plants are young, you can expect them to transplant well with minimal care compared to a large tree or shrub. It's best not to fertilize within their first year to prevent shock and encourage roots to seek out food and water.