Contribute to The Legacy of Trees

Create a lasting legacy by planting memorial trees to celebrate the love and life of lost friends and relatives. This tree planting kit contains simple step-by-step instructions for planting trees from seed. Peat pellets and small biodegradable pots make it easy to germinate the seeds indoors and then easily transplant the whole pot outdoors without disrupting the roots. Kit includes approximately 50 tree seeds for several tree species. We work with urban foresters to select tree species that are suitable for both urban and forest plantings, aid in species diversity in our communities, and can be planted anywhere in North America. Examples include hardy shade trees like American Elm as well as fast-growing conifers like White Pine.

Planting Instructions

Like all plants that grow from seed, tree seeds germinate by sprouting a root and tree stem that grows into a tree. But before a tree seed will germinate, something special happens. Tree seeds must be scarified, statified or both to encourage germination. Scarification involves cutting the seed coat through means of abrasion, thermal stress, or chemical process to encourage germination. Stratification involves treating seeds to simulate natural winter conditions that a seed must endure before germination. Many seed species undergo an embryonic dormancy phase and will not germinate until this dormancy is interrupted. The dormant period varies widely among tree species, but often two months is sufficient.

If you've lived near a black walnut tree, you have witnessed scarification and stratification when your neighborhood squirrels bury the walnuts in the fall. The winter temperatures and moisture in the soil, soften the hard walnut shell (scarification) as the passing of time in the cold moist soil (stratification) triggers the seed's embryo to sprout a tree stem and root to search for sun and nutrients.

Each of the trees we distribute in our tree planting kits may need to be scarified, stratified, or both in order to encourage seed germination.

American Elm

The magnificent elm (Ulmus Americana) used to line the streets of most American cities and towns. A deciduous tree, the elm divides into several major trunks with spreading arched canopy of dark green leaves. Ideal for urban living, the elm is drought tolerant, heat tolerant, salt tolerant, fast growing, provides ample shade, and wonder fall colors. Learn more about the American Elm tree seeds at Sheffields. and more about saving the American Elm and Dutch Elm disease.

• Scarification: Soak in water, let stand in water for 24 hours.
• Stratification: none required.
• Germination: sow seed 1/16 inch deep, tamp the soil, mulch the seed bed.

Blue Spruce

Noted for its bluish, blue-green, or silvery-green color, the medium-sized coniferous blue spruce tree (Picea pungens) is native to the Colorado Rocky Mountains but has been well-established throughout the Northeast USA and Canada. The blue spruce likes abundant moisture at the roots, and thus likes to grow along streams and creeks in mountains or habitats that appear dry otherwise. This tree prefers rich soil and full sun, and can tolerate some drought. This is a good tree for urban or rural plantings. Read more about theblue spruce seeds at Sheffields.

• Scarification: Soak in water, let stand in water for 24 hours.
• Stratification: none required.
• Germination: sow seed 1/4 inch deep, tamp the soil, mulch the seed bed.

River Birch

Native to the eastern USA spanning west to Minnesota and south to Texas and Florida, the river birch (Betula nigra) is also known as black birch and water birch. This fast growing tree enjoys moist, acid soil and is heat tolerant. This decidious tree grows to more than 60 feet tall at a fast rate. Learn more about the river birch seeds at Sheffields.

• Scarification: none required.
• Stratification: cold stratify for 60 days.
• Germination: requires light for germination, surface sow and keep moist.
• Other: stratification may be used instread of surface sowing, it is better to surface sow if possible.