Can I trust the Arbor Day Foundation?

[Ensign Steve]

I got an offer from the Arbor Day Foundation to send me 10 trees "guaranteed to flourish in --my city name here--" for free with my $10 donation (lol). I want to take them up on it, but all the inserts in the mailer look like the same kind of garbage that comes from the Publisher's Clearing House, and I don't want to get myself on some sort of sucker list. Or worse yet, accidentally join some kind of tree of the month club that I can't get out of. Is the offer too good to be true?

[Corona688]

seems legit. Just links their own site, but they're brave enough to publish their tax returns. That would seem to be a membership signup, though -- new members receive 10 free trees. Probably either tiny, or seeds, but they don't say. The membership runs out, but you get to keep the trees.

[Crumb]

Yeah they will send you 10 trees. My Mom did that once.

[The Lone Ranger]

I used to be a member, years ago. They seem to be perfectly legitimate, and they're doing good work, or at least trying to. I don't get the impression that they have much money, though.

The trees they sent me were tiny little seedlings. Chances of survival just-about zero unless you were careful to plant them someplace where conditions were just-about ideal, and then you spent the next couple of years keeping deer, heavy snow, etc. off of them.


Cheers,

Michael

[viscousmemories]

Isn't that the place we donated to when Quiet Bear fake-died?

[Ymir's blood]

Originally Posted by viscousmemories

Isn't that the place we donated to when Quiet Bear fake-died?

Oh, you can't hold that against them.

[Plant Woman]

If you are wanting native trees I would check with local sources. If you just want some great trees, I would research out the vast array of fantastic trees. Since you are planting for the long term, I would seriously look into great choices for your region.

Things I look for in trees: Must look good for at least 3 seasons. If it has 4 season interest (such as fantastic bark) that's even better. Other pluses are, great fall color or beautiful evergreen leaves, and flowers.

Michael Dirr (prof of horticulture at U of Georgia) has a few great books on trees. I have his big encyclopedia Manual Wood Landscape Plants that you could check out at a library. But his book, Dirr's Trees and Shrubs for Warm Climates, has a fantastic assortment of trees with good pics to help you see what they look like.

Stewartia pseudocamillia! Got's to get one of those. Ok you don't have to, but oh my god, the flowers are teh awesome!



Calycanthus 'Harledege Wine'



Magnolia sieboldii



Just a few that I would look at. Since this is a very long term investment I would highly recommend you buy good trees suitable for your area. Stay away from the box stores for these guys as they don't always carry plant material suitable for your area. You might check with local plant sales from MG groups or horticulture society groups. You can sometimes get fantastic plants at good prices.

Go to reputable nurseries though for your trees and make good investment in trees that do become your legacy long after you have moved away.

If you have room, you might consider more native trees to your region, helps the wildlife immensely and your region if I remember correctly has some awesome trees.

[Kevlar]

Yeah, it's legit. My mom got 10 tiny little trees from them a few years ago. They should look pretty good in a mere 10-15 years. Actually, I think Charlie Brown got his Christmas tree from ADF.

show spoiler

There is no Charlie Brown Xmas tree smilie??? This place has gone to hell!