Sturgeon County has been working hard to build the diversity of our trees and shrubs through incorporating native and hardy plant species. There are many benefits to this landscaping strategy: aesthetically, economically, and environmentally.
There will be more trees for shade and windbreaks, homes for beneficial and native animal species, fire risk reduction and cleaner air. You will love the lushness and the quiet the greenery provides.
On This Page:
Seedlings will be on sale starting February 18, 2026, starting at 9:00 a.m.
To purchase seedlings:
- Create an account / log in to Sturgeon Services
- Click on “Shop“
- Add product to shopping bag
- Click shopping bag to check out — Pay online
- Pickup is May 15, 2026 from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Open Space and Agriculture Services shop located at the back of the County Centre parking lot (blue trailer).
Residents can buy tree and shrub varieties through our tree program. We offer many different varieties to choose from while supplies last.
2026 Varieties
Seedling prices range from $15 to $20 and are sold in bundles as noted.
Deciduous
- White Birch – $15 per bundle of 10
- Hybrid poplar (Fuzz Free) – $18 per bundle of 10
- Trembling aspen – $18 per bundle of 6
- Green Ash – $18 per bundle of 10
- Ussarian Pear – $18 per bundle of 10
- Thornless Honeylocust – $20 per bundle of 3
- Golden Willow – $18 per bundle of 10
- Acute Leaf Willow – $18 per bundle of 10
- Siberian Crabapple – $18 per bundle of 10
- American Elm – $18 per bundle of 10
- American plum – $20 per bundle of 2
- Sour Cherry – $20 per bundle of 5
- Okanese Poplar – $18 per bundle of 10
Coniferous
- Tamarack – $20 per bundle of 15
- White Spruce – $15 per bundle of 15
- Black Spruce – $20 per bundle of 15
- Colorado Spruce – $15 per bundle of 15
- Scots Pine – $20 per bundle of 15
- Siberian Larch – $20 per bundle of 15
- Lodgepole Pine – $15 per bundle of 10
- Douglas Fir – $18 per bundle of 15
Shrubs
- Saskatoon – $15 per bundle of 10
- Vilosa lilac Lg – $15 per bundle of 10
- Labrador tea Sm – $18 per bundle of 10
- Red Osier Dogwood Sm – $18 per bundle of 10
- Green alder Lg – $15 per bundle of 10
- Yellow willow Lg – $15 per bundle of 10
- Prickly Rose – $18 per bundle of 10
- Pussy willow – $15 per bundle of 10
- Wolf willow – $18 per bundle of 10
Natural Wind Protection
Living Snow Fences
Living snow fences are rows of trees and shrubs planted in specific locations to prevent hazardous winds from blowing snow on the roads.
Priority Areas
Roads highlighted in red on the map below are priority areas for living snow fences.
Living snow fence designs should include the following design strategies:
- On the north or west sides of the road, perpendicular to the wind direction.
- A minimum of 30.5 metres (100 feet), and ideally 61 metres (200 feet) from the road to minimize snow drifting onto the road.
- The length should extend 30.5 metres (100 feet) longer than the area it is designed to protect to account for changes in the wind direction.
- A minimum of three rows of trees and shrubs, including: one row of shrubs, one row of trees (deciduous or coniferous), and one row of spruce trees.
- Avoid using oak, poplars, and trembling aspen as these trees only provide low density coverage.
- Use spruce, ash, larch, pin cherry, pine, siberian crabapple, buffaloberry, hawthorn, hedge rose, maple, dogwood, red elder, snowberry, lilac, and willow species to ensure medium to high density coverage.
- Select the trees based on your soil and moisture conditions.
- You may be able to access ALUS Sturgeon funding for your living snow fence.
Shelterbelts and Eco-Buffers
Shelterbelts are rows of trees or shrubs planted to protect infrastructure, crops and livestock as well as prevent soil erosion. It is recommended to plant at least 3 rows of trees or shrubs for a shelterbelt.
Eco-buffers are similar to shelterbelts and can provide the same benefits along with more ecological benefits. They are more dense than shelterbelts and have more diverse species that mimic natural forests to provide biodiversity and wildlife habitat.
You may be able to access ALUS Sturgeon funding for your living snow fence.
An established buffer is beneficial for:
- Reducing soil erosion
- Conserving soil moisture
- Minimizing wind damage to crops
- Enhancing property aesthetics and functionality