Written by Lower Loup NRD Information and Education Coordinator Alan Bartels as part of the Loup Lines series.

Loup Lines
Volume 46, No. 11
November 2025

ORD, Nebraska -- November is here and winter is quickly approaching. If they aren’t already, lots of people will soon begin thinking about trees. Sure, there are those folks who have been planning for Christmas for months (you know who you are). The trees I am talking about are the dozens of species available through the Lower Loup NRD’s 2025-2026 Conservation Tree Program.

That’s right, tree season is upon us, and the Lower Loup NRD is accepting tree orders.

Nursery supply varies from year to year, and as a result, the following species of trees and shrubs will not be available through the LLNRD for the 2025-2026 Tree Season: Douglas Fir, Limber Pine, Southwestern White Pine, American Elm, American Sycamore, Silver Maple, and False Indigo, as well as Common Milkweed, Butterfly Milkweed, and Swamp Milkweed.

The Amur Maple, known for its brilliant fall foliage and tolerance of near drought conditions, is being added for this year. The list of available tree and shrub species also includes favorites such as Austrian Pine, Black Hills Spruce, Hackberry, Honey Locust, Bur Oak, American Plum, Sandcherry, Hazelnut, and Skunkbrush Sumac. Thirty-seven species of trees and shrubs are available through the Lower Loup NRD this year.

Tree sales through the LLNRD Conservation Tree Program are limited to residents who live in the District, and also to landowners living elsewhere who own property in the District. Tree orders must be received by the Lower Loup NRD by April 1, 2026, and should be placed through the field office nearest to the customer. Orders can also be placed through the LLNRD website link at the end of this article.

Conservation Forester Aron Lewis, who is assigned to the Ord Lower Loup NRD office, has a way of finding other species that are available in small quantities through a variety of nurseries. Feel free to reach out to Lewis if there’s something you’re interested in planting that is not on this year’s list. Reach him though the main Lower Loup NRD phone number: 308.728.3221.

The “Conservation Trees for Nebraska” booklet is a useful, 87-page publication that describes dozens of popular tree and shrub species. The booklet also includes maps of where each species grows best, and valuable tips on topics such as site preparation before planting, the best time to prune trees, how to renovate an existing windbreak, the benefits of drip irrigation on new tree plantings, weed control, supplemental watering, and much more. Copies of the full-color booklet are available at the Lower Loup NRD headquarters office in Ord.

Find the 2025-2026 Lower Loup NRD Conservation Tree Program tree order form at LLNRD.org/forms/buy-trees. Happy Tree Season to one and all!

Lower Loup NRD Technician Jordyn Duffek readies conservation trees for spring planting.