If Feb. 12 (when Arbor Day is observed in Mississippi) came and went without the celebration of trees, an upcoming tree sale will ensure Lincoln County residents have the chance to spruce up their arbor efforts.

Lincoln County Soil and Water will have a tree sale open to the public on Feb. 25. Trees and seedlings will be sold from 7 a.m. until noon on a first-come, first served basis at the Lincoln Civic Center located at 1096 Belt Line Drive NE in Brookhaven.

The Lincoln County Soil and Water Conservation District will sell ornamental seedlings and give loblolly pines away. The following species will be available: red maple, river birch, catalpa, red bud, white flowering dogwood, persimmons, native crabapple, sawtooth oak, bald cypress, white crape myrtle, red crape myrtle, southern magnolia, hardy pecan, red mulberry, white mulberry, Russian mulberry, muscadine, scuppernong, blackberry, granny smith apple, belle of Georgia peach and Keiffer pear.

Now is the time for planting trees, says Rebecca Bates, Lincoln County MSU Extension agent, and the tree sale offers good, inexpensive plants.

“It’s a great opportunity to pick up bare root trees that are well suited for our area at a very reasonable cost,” Bates said. “This is the time to be planting bare root plant material.

Bare root trees need to be planted while the tree is dormant, with cool soil temperatures and ample rainfall. It gives them an opportunity to get a root system started before things get hot and dry.”

It’s important to understand that bare root trees need to be cared for immediately, rather than riding in the back of the pickup truck for a few days. Bates advises that the plants go into a bucket of water, perhaps while preparing the planting spot, and be kept moist and in the shade before planting.

If they cannot be planted right away, Bates said, the plants do well in nursery containers if kept watered so they may develop a good root system.

“If you cannot get those trees in the ground very quickly then I would suggest that you pot them up and wait until next fall,” she said.

The seedlings are “bare root” and vary in height, said Smythe Haley, Lincoln County district clerk. They will be individually labeled and wrapped as purchased.

Proceeds will be used to support school programs for Conservation Camp, poster contest and other conservation-themed educational programs.

For more information on the tree sale contact Lincoln County Soil and Water District at 601-833-9321, ext. 3 and ask for Haley.