Common questions

 There is a really good article by Daniel Schmidt in Deer and Deer Hunting which reviews the pros and cons of bare root vs. Container trees. To summarize the major benefits: Bare root trees are less expensive, establish quicker than potted trees, and don’t have any root issues that can occur with potted plants.  The benefits to containers are: they can be purchased and planted nearly any time of the year and there is no rush to get them in the ground (before they dry out or leave dormancy). 

 Through personal experience, we have had much better survival rates with spring bare root plantings vs. fall plantings.  When planted in the spring trees have a better chance to establish and prepare for the Wisconsin winter.  Additionally, many of our trees are planted on hunting properties and most people prefer to avoid disturbing these areas during the fall.

There are many answers to this question!  Some of the more poplar trees planted for deer are:

Oaks – Great trees for nearly every property but takes 20+ years to produce acorns.

Chinese Chestnut – Non-native that produces a ton of nuts in just 3-5 years.

Crabapple - A small tree that produces in 3-5 years.  

American Hazelnut – Very popular native tree that produces fruit in just 2-3 years.

American Plum – Native tree that produces fruit in 4-6 years.

This list goes on and on especially if you are looking for bedding/cover or are planting in wet areas.  Email us if you have more questions!

 In our area, this is one of the most common questions we get asked.  Reed Canary Grass (RCG) is an invasive species which is dominating wetlands in the state.  Our recommendations for planting are based on the 15+ years of experience we have planted on our own properties with this same struggle.  Most of the time landowners are trying to attract deer but with RCG /lowlands we are limited on what species will survive. 

We have had success with the following trees:

Hybrid Willows – Fast grower that deer will eat/rub but are hardy and deer rarely will kill.  Our go to planting in RCG as we normally plant 4-5’ trees or cuttings that can outcompete the RCG.

Red Osier Dogwood – Great shelter and food for deer.  Will spread naturally once established.

Silver Maple – Low nutritional value but a fast grower that will eventually shade out RCG.

Quaking Aspen – Similar to the silver maple above –however the Quaking Aspen will quickly send up sprouts and spread on its own.

Tamaracks, Eastern Red Cedar and White Spruce – All can do well if you are planting 3-4’ trees.  If this size is not available you will need heavy maintenance to keep the RCG from suffocating the trees.

There are other species that will do well in these areas, give us a call to talk through your personal property and we will help you choose the right species.

*Note - We strongly recommend using tree tubes on anything planted in RCG to help the trees compete for sunlight.  Mowing and chemically killing (where legal) will also drastically help increase your tree survival rate.

 If you don’t know what type of soil you have you can either do a soil test or check out this soil map of Wisconsin. 

 In our area, this is one of the most common questions we get asked.  Reed Canary Grass (RCG) is an invasive species which is dominating wetlands in the state.  Our recommendations for planting are based on the 15+ years of experience we have planted on our own properties with this same struggle.  Most of the time landowners are trying to attract deer but with RCG /lowlands we are limited on what species will survive. 

We have had success with the following trees:

Hybrid Willows – Fast grower that deer will eat/rub but are hardy and deer rarely will kill.  Our go to planting in RCG as we normally plant 4-5’ trees or cuttings that can outcompete the RCG.

Red Osier Dogwood – Great shelter and food for deer.  Will spread naturally once established.

Silver Maple – Low nutritional value but a fast grower that will eventually shade out RCG.

Quaking Aspen – Similar to the silver maple above –however the Quaking Aspen will quickly send up sprouts and spread on its own.

Tamaracks, Eastern Red Cedar and White Spruce – All can do well if you are planting 3-4’ trees.  If this size is not available you will need heavy maintenance to keep the RCG from suffocating the trees.

There are other species that will do well in these areas, give us a call to talk through your personal property and we will help you choose the right species.

*Note - We strongly recommend using tree tubes on anything planted in RCG to help the trees compete for sunlight.  Mowing and chemically killing (where legal) will also drastically help increase your tree survival rate.

 Our catalog is released each summer, usually around mid-August for the following spring.  We suggest ordering as soon as possible to commit the trees to you for next year.  Specifically if you are looking for larger trees as they will generally sell out by the end of the year.  We welcome pre-orders all year-round and will put your order at the top of the list (sending you a formal quote in August to lock in your order). 

 Send us an email (Sales@wisconsinbarerootnursery.com) with a list of the quantity and species for each tree you are interested in.  We will respond back with a quote to start the process.  From there we collect a 50% down payment which commits the trees to you for the spring.  You are also welcome to call if you have questions on what to plant. 

 All our trees are available for pick up from our licensed nursery in Markesan, WI from early April to the middle of May (exact time will depend on weather – we will give you plenty of notice and time to pick up). 

 Most likely not!  If you go back a few pages you will see a picture of 425 packaged for pick up.  As you can see, you can fit a lot of bare root trees into a small space.  Generally the back of a pick up or SUV will be large enough for your order.  If you still have concerns let us know and we can give you a more accurate idea of the space your order will take up.  

Are you sure I do not need a trailer? 

If you still don’t trust us, give us a call!

 Most of the time yes but sometimes mother nature isn’t on our side and due to rain/drought some trees may not grow at the rate we were anticipating.  We try our best to undersell our trees to avoid not fulfilling your order and refund money or replace orders as needed. 

 Using tree tubes will greatly increase your survival rate protecting your trees from deer, rabbits and other creatures.  Additionally, they help ensure the tree gets access to sunlight and maintains moisture.  We personally use a 60” tube on every deciduous tree we plant.  We have found they do an excellent job when planting in Reed Canary Grass which is common in the Green Lake and surrounding counties. 

 Please don't!  We encourage you to plant your trees as soon as you pick them up - do not plan on keeping them more than 7 days (ideally no more than 3!).  If you are planning on planting on Saturday - pick them up that morning or the day before.  We try to be as flexible as possible to ensure your plantings succeed. 

 Below we have included a detailed map of Wisconsin.  If they are too hard to read you can find a detailed interactive map by clicking the link below.

 All of our trees are grown in northern states with climates similar to Wisconsin.  Over the years we have had the best luck with trees who are used to the same winters as we are. 

 We are open each spring for roughly 45 days, from early-April to late-May.  While we usually have extra trees available during this time, we strongly encourage you to call ahead or set up an appointment.  We currently do not have a retail offering outside of this time frame. 

 We are not able to offer a survival rate guarantee as it is dependent on the handling, planting, and maintenance after planting.  We take every precaution to ensure trees are properly taken care of from the time they leave the ground until the time they are picked up.  If you had any challenges with the trees you planted, please give us a call to discuss!