Almost FREE trees!

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Hi all, I just got an envelope from the National Arbor Day Organization in the mail, so I went to look at their website and they have this neat (almost) free offer. For anyone who is interested in planting trees on their land- Go to www.arborday.org and click on Join/Supoort. With a $10 annual membership fee, they'll send you 10 flowering trees or 10 blue spruces, depending on your zone, in exchange for your promise to plant them ASAP. While you're there, you can place your vote for America's National Tree : ) Yes, I admit it, I'm trying to avoid working on my website, okay? BUT, the trees are a good deal anyway, so I thought some of you would like to check it out.

-- Kristin, in Central Alabama (positivekharma@aol.com), January 02, 2001

Answers

Kristin, we joined last year, and hate to burst your bubble, but you are not getting much in the way of trees for your money...the ttrees they sent us were only 8-12" tall, and half died, even though we watered them faithfully. None of them had much in the way of roots on them. Not that we just joined for the trees, but, if you are, don't hold your breath.

-- Joe (Threearrs@AOL.com), January 02, 2001.

Hi, My mom ask me to order these trees for her and I did--they are very small and only 2 out of the 10 have lived. We planted them in large pots with potting soil and watered them daily! They are bare rooted and no leaves were on them so we could not tell until later that they were dead! If you want to give to the Arbor Org., please do so but don't be too excited about the trees. Just my 2cents worth!

-- Debbie T in N.C. (rdtyner@mindspring.com), January 02, 2001.

I had the exact same experience only I did it twenty years ago. I guess they rope enough people in to contributing by promising them trees for their $10 but the trees are VERY tiny and mine all died. I just figured I gave to a good cause anyway but since they have continued this program for so many years with everyone getting the same results, I can't help wondering how good a cause they really are.

-- Colleen (pyramidgreatdanes@erols.com), January 02, 2001.

We fell for the National Arbor Day's senselessly kill a seedling program just 5 years ago. Bare, dried roots.

-- charles (clb@watervalley.net), January 02, 2001.

I fell for the National Arbor Day Organization thing too. Trees were small, so I didn't even plant them. They keep sending me mail info to get me to donate again and again and again, but .... I did get a nice calendar out of the deal.

-- JoAnn (jonehls@excite.com), January 02, 2001.


Hi Kristen,

SEnt them $10 three years running. We have yet to have a tree survive.

Save the $10 unless you want the calander.

-- Kenneth in N.C. (wizardsplace13@hotmail.com), January 02, 2001.


Kristen, donate them the ten dollars, but tell them to keep the trees! Go to your local county extension agent's office in the spring and order most any kind of native tree for 8-12 dollars a bundle of 25 trees. The trees are propagated locally, which really makes a difference! Have planted over 200 Austrian pines over the years, 75% have survived, and in 6 years are over 7 feet tall and growing fast. Happy digging!

-- Annie Miller (annie@1st.net), January 03, 2001.

Been there! Four out of ten never grew a leaf. Six grew really well until I planted them, I think because the soil is too rocky under there. Lesson learned.

-- Epona (crystalepona2000@yahoo.com), January 07, 2001.

Thanks for all the responses. I wasn't going to join just for the trees, but it's good to know about the poor quality up front. I'm sorry you all had so much trouble with them!

-- Kristin, in Central Alabama (positivekharma@aol.com), January 07, 2001.

thank you all so much !!! you all have saved me a lot of time and money. i have 7 acres of mineral rich farm land with not a single tree on it. i was looking through the internet today(all day) to find anything about purchasing large qautities of trees for next to nothing in costs (considering we need SO many to fill our land). i looked at the arbor day site and was roped in immediately. i even did my homework there and decided which trees i will order. i was sending the check out tomorrow........now however, i see that my fears are true. i suspected that they would be smaller than stated and on death's door.......i am thankful to all of you who responded and to the person who established the article....... lott-a money saved.... brenda

-- brenda bekoski (twent4sevn@nowonline.net), April 20, 2001.


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