The Wisconsin Reforestation Program nursery grades and sells trees by size class. Trees are graded, using minimum size specification selected for each species, with the stem and root quality taken into consideration. Because of this, seedling size can be quite variable for some species. The minimum size for each species/age class is the smallest seedling deemed by reforestation staff to have a high probability of surviving and thriving after planting. In addition, some conifer, hardwood and shrub species are top-cut to approximately 14 inches in height to improve root-top ratios and facilitate shipping and handling.
Definitions
- Age
- 1-0: Planted as seed, harvested after one season of growth
- 2-0: Planted as seed, harvested after two seasons of growth
- 3-0: Planted as seed, harvested after three seasons of growth
- Sdl: Mixture of 1-0 and 2-0 seedlings
- Inventory
- Adequate: Greater than 75% of projected demand
- Limited: Between 50% and 75% of projected demand
- Very limited: Less than 50% of projected demand
- Terms
- Caliper: Diameter of a seedling's stem
- Stout: Caliper larger and height shorter than typical for specific species
- Sturdy: Caliper larger than typical for specific species
- Top-cut: Cut to approximately 14 inches tall to improve root-top ratios and facilitate shipping
- Variable: Wide ranging
- Vigorous: Nutrient loaded seedling
- Well balanced: Equal sized roots and tops
- Well rooted: Well developed tap and/or feeder and fine roots with ample root hairs
Conifer |
Species |
Age |
Min. Ht. (in.) |
Avg Ht. (in.) |
Ht. Range (in.) |
Avg Caliper (in.) |
Inventory Status |
Narrative |
Cedar, White |
3-0 |
5 |
15 |
5-24 |
3/16 |
Adequate |
Variably sized, sturdy seedlings. Ideal for machine planting. |
Fir, Balsam |
3-0 |
5 |
8 |
5-14 |
3/16 |
Very limited |
Variably sized, sturdy seedlings. Ideal for hand or machine planting. |
Pine, Jack |
1-0 |
4 |
7 |
4-10 |
1/8 |
Adequate |
Vigorous, well-balanced seedlings. Ideal for hand planting. |
Pine, Jack |
2-0 |
8 |
12 |
8-15 |
1/4 |
Adequate |
Vigorous, well-balanced seedlings. Ideal for machine planting. |
Pine, Red |
2-0 |
5 |
8 |
5-10 |
3/16 |
Adequate |
Vigorous, well-balanced seedlings. Ideal for hand planting. |
Pine, Red |
3-0 |
8 |
13 |
8-14 |
1/4 |
Adequate |
Vigorous, well-balanced seedlings. Ideal for machine planting. |
Pine, White |
2-0 |
4 |
7 |
4-10 |
1/8 |
Limited |
Well-balanced seedlings. Ideal for hand planting. |
Pine, White |
3-0 |
8 |
15 |
8-20 |
1/4 |
Limited |
Variably sized, sturdy seedlings. Ideal for machine planting. |
Spruce, Black |
2-0 |
5 |
10 |
5-16 |
3/32 |
Adequate |
Vigorous, variably sized. Ideal for hand planting. |
Spruce, Black |
3-0 |
8 |
20 |
8-24 |
1/4 |
Very Limited |
Vigorous, sturdy seedlings. Ideal for machine planting. |
Spruce, White |
2-0 |
5 |
10 |
5-16 |
1/8 |
Adequate |
Vigorous, variably sized, sturdy seedlings. Ideal for hand planting. |
Spruce, White |
3-0 |
8 |
15 |
8-24 |
3/16 |
Adequate |
Variably sized, well-balanced seedlings. Ideal for hand or machine planting. |
Tamarack |
2-0 |
6 |
14 |
6-24 |
3/32 |
Adequate |
Vigorous, variable sized. Ideal for hand planting. |
Hardwood |
Species |
Age |
Min. Ht. (in.) |
Avg Ht. (in.) |
Ht. Range (in.) |
Avg Caliper (in.) |
Inventory Status |
Narrative |
Aspen spp. |
Sdl |
8 |
14 |
8-14 |
3/16 |
Adequate |
Root pruned to 8 inches. Ideal for hand or machine planting. Top cut. |
Basswood, American |
Sdl |
6 |
12 |
6-14 |
5/16 |
Very limited |
Variable sized. Ideal for machine planting. Top cut. |
Birch, River |
1-0 |
8 |
12 |
8-14 |
1/8 |
Adequate |
Well-balanced seedlings. Ideal for hand or machine planting. Top cut. |
Birch, White |
1-0 |
8 |
14 |
8-14 |
3/16 |
Very limited |
Vigorous. Ideal for hand or machine planting. Top cut. |
Butternut |
Sdl |
10 |
14 |
10-14 |
1/4 |
Adequate |
Large, well rooted seedlings. Ideal for machine planting. Top cut. |
Cherry, Black |
1-0 |
8 |
14 |
8-14 |
1/8 |
Adequate |
Variable sized, vigorous seedlings. Ideal for hand or machine planting. Top cut. |
Cottonwood |
1-0 |
10 |
14 |
10-14 |
1/4 |
Very limited |
Vigorous. Ideal for hand or machine planting. Top cut. |
Hackberry |
1-0 |
6 |
12 |
6-16 |
1/8 |
Adequate |
Vigorous, sturdy, well balanced seedlings. Ideal for hand planting. |
Hickory, Bitternut |
2-0 |
5 |
12 |
5-14 |
3/16 |
Very limited |
Vigorous seedlings with strong taproot. Ideal for hand or machine planting. Top cut. |
Maple, Silver |
1-0 |
8 |
14 |
8-14 |
1/8 |
Very limited |
Well rooted seedlings. Ideal for machine planting. |
Maple, Sugar |
2-0 |
6 |
14 |
6-14 |
3/16 |
Very limited |
Vigorous, variably sized. Ideal for hand or machine planting. Top cut. |
Oak, Bur |
1-0 |
6 |
12 |
6-14 |
3/16 |
Limited |
Vigorous, variably sized, well rooted seedlings. Ideal for hand planting. |
Oak, Red |
1-0 |
8 |
14 |
8-14 |
3/16 |
Limited |
Vigorous, well rooted seedling. Ideal for hand planting. Top cut. |
Oak, Red |
2-0 |
10 |
14 |
10-14 |
1/4 |
Very limited |
Sturdy seedling. Ideal for machine planting. Top cut. |
Oak, Swamp white |
1-0 |
8 |
14 |
8-14 |
3/16 |
Very limited |
Vigorous, sturdy, well rooted seedlings. Ideal for hand or machine planting. Top cut. |
Oak, White |
1-0 |
6 |
12 |
10-14 |
3/16 |
Limited |
Well balanced seedlings. Ideal for machine planting but can hand plant with care. Top cut. |
Sycamore |
1-0 |
10 |
14 |
10-14 |
3/16 |
Very limited |
Variably sized, vigorous seedlings. Ideal for hand or machine planting. Top cut. |
Walnut, Black |
Sdl. |
10 |
14 |
10-14 |
1/4 |
Adequate |
Well rooted seedlings. Ideal for machine planting but can hand plant with care. Top cut. |
Shrub |
Species |
Age |
Min. Ht. (in.) |
Avg Ht. (in.) |
Ht. Range (in.) |
Avg Caliper (in.) |
Inventory Status |
Narrative |
Buttonbrush |
Sdl. |
8 |
14 |
8-14 |
3/16 |
Adequate |
Vigorous, well rooted seedlings. Ideal for hand or machine planting. Excellent pollen producer. Top cut. |
Cherry, Choke |
Sdl. |
8 |
12 |
8-14 |
1/8 |
Limited |
Variably sized seedlings. Ideal for hand or machine planting. Top cut. |
Dogwood, Red-osier |
Sdl. |
8 |
14 |
8-14 |
3/16 |
Limited |
Variably sized, well rooted seedlings. Ideal for hand or machine planting. Top cut. |
Dogwood, Silky |
Sdl. |
8 |
14 |
8-14 |
1/8 |
Limited |
Well rooted seedlings. Ideal for hand or machine planting. Top cut. |
Elderberry, Common |
Sdl. |
8 |
12 |
8-14 |
3/16 |
Adequate |
Vigorous, well rooted seedlings. Ideal for hand or machine planting. Top cut. |
Hawthorn |
Sdl. |
8 |
12 |
8-14 |
1/8 |
Very limited |
Well balanced seedlings. Ideal for hand or machine planting. Top cut. |
Hazelnut, American |
Sdl. |
8 |
14 |
8-14 |
3/16 |
Adequate |
Well balanced, well rooted seedlings. Ideal for hand or machine planting. Top cut. |
Ninebark |
Sdl. |
8 |
14 |
8-14 |
1/8 |
Limited |
Vigorous, well rooted seedlings. Many multi-stemmed. Ideal for hand or machine planting. Top cut. |
Plum, American |
Sdl. |
8 |
12 |
8-14 |
1/8 |
Limited |
Variably sized, well rooted seedlings. Ideal for hand or machine planting. Top cut. |
Winterberry |
Sdl. |
8 |
14 |
8-14 |
3/16 |
Very limited |
Well rooted, sturdy seedlings. Many multi-stemmed. Ideal for hand or machine planting. Top cut. |