Lake County Native Tree and Shrub Sale Begins February 9, 2026

Lake County Soil & Water Conservation District announced that its annual native tree and shrub sale begins February 9, 2026, giving residents a locally timed opportunity to buy plants for yard projects, habitat restoration and erosion control. The announcement, authored by Elizabeth Anderson, directs residents to the county’s Tree Sale page for ordering instructions and a preview of species offered; the supplied notice does not include pickup locations or payment details.

The Lake County opening follows a pattern among conservation districts that emphasize pre-ordering and limited stock. Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District plans to make seedling packages available on its sales website at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 19, 2026, with orders remaining available until sold out. NVSWCD notes, “We understand that our seedlings are very popular and can sell out quickly. Seedling packages will be made available on the NVSWCD sales website at 10am on Thursday, February 19, 2026 and will remain available until sold out.” Pickup for the NVSWCD sale will be at the Sleepy Hollow Bath and Racquet Club in Falls Church on Friday, March 27, 2026 from 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. and Saturday, March 28, 2026 from 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. The program cautions that “We will not have seedlings available for day-of sales. All seedling orders must be placed in advance.” NVSWCD also encourages first-time buyers to create an account on the NVSWCD Storefront ahead of the opening, and Executive Director Willie Woode added, “We regret that we are unable to offer day-of sales or extras, so place your order when the sale opens!”

King County Conservation District highlights a similar pre-order model and draws attention to plant form and handling. KCD’s annual Native Plant Sale offers mostly bareroot stock, noting that “A majority of the plants offered are bareroot stock which means they do not come in pots or burlap bags, but are harvested from the field in winter when the plants are dormant and ready to be replanted.” KCD adds, “Bareroot plants are affordable, hardy, have well-developed roots, and are easy to handle, transport and plant.” The KCD timeline shows order windows and pickup logistics that include rolling pickups Feb 25–27 for notified customers and a full pickup day on Saturday, Feb 28 at Tukwila Community Center, 12424 42nd Ave S, Tukwila, WA 98168. KCD emphasizes that “All sales are pre-order/pre-purchase only. We do not offer walk-up sale of plants during the pick-up dates. We do sell out of plants (many in the first week), so order early for the best deals and availability!”

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation operates a broader window for its Spring Seedling Sale, open January 5 through May 13, 2026. DEC instructs customers to place orders by phone at 518-587-1120, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. The Colonel William F. Fox Memorial Saratoga Tree Nursery produces the seedlings for conservation plantings, and DEC warns that “Some species sell out quickly, so order early.” The department also notes that paper brochures and a Nursery Seedling Booklet are available and that “Note: The PDF does not include updates as the species are sold out.”

For Lake County residents, the immediate task is to visit the county’s Tree Sale page for ordering instructions and to preview species; the county announcement does not specify pickup or payment procedures. Across districts, the consistent policy is to pre-order early, understand whether plants are bareroot or containerized, and follow each district’s ordering channel - online storefronts, phone lines, or account systems. Expect sellouts and plan around the stated pickup windows or notification systems; for many programs, the best availability is secured by ordering as soon as sales open.