Planning for Spring: Soil and Water plant and tree sales are open

The North Shore may be buried in snow, but gardeners across the region are already planning for the spring. Cook County Soil and Water Conservation District (Cook SWCD) is planning alongside the county’s growers and gardeners with their annual tree and plant sales.

Cook SWCD works with local landowners to address issues of soil and water quality, connecting them with resources to maintain a healthy environment. The annual plant sale is a chance for landowners to purchase bundles of saplings and plant starts of native species.

Environmental Technician Max Tostenson told WTIP that the sale is now open for orders. Last year Cook SWCD offered plant kits, a selection of plants around a central theme, like pollinator plants or species that thrive in damp soil, and Tostenson said they sold more than they anticipated. Plant kits will be back again this year, though he added that each kit will include 48 plants, up from last year’s 36. The plants in the sale are provided by Shoreview Natives based in Two Harbors, Minn.

Landowners can also buy trees through Cook SWCD. The sale opened at the beginning of February, but those interested in ordering trees can still do so. Tostenson said they will need to fill out an order form and mail it or drop it off at the Soil and Water office in the Cook County Courthouse. For those without a printer, they can also pick up a copy of the form at the office.

Tostenson said that several varieties are already sold out, but that there are still plenty of trees available for order. The order form through the Cook SWCD website has been updated to reflect the varieties that are sold out.

One important thing to note for those ordering trees and plants through Cook SWCD is the pick-up dates.  Pickup for trees will happen on Thursday May 14 from noon until 4 p.m. Plant kit pickup will be several weeks later. Plants will be available to pickup on Thursday, June 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. In both cases, pickup will take place at the Cook County Search and Rescue Building just north of the Community Center.

Environmental Technician Max Tostenson spoke with WTIP’s Steph Vos live on North Shore Morning. Audio of that interview is below.

Kirsten Wisniewski February 25, 2026