ND Department of Agriculture Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE APRIL 30, 2009

HOMEOWNERS URGED TO MAKE SURE NEW TREES AND SHRUBS ARE HARDY

BISMARCK – Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring is urging North Dakota homeowners to consult a trusted horticulturalist before buying and planting nursery stock.

“Make sure you buy hardy stock that can survive in our climate,” Goehring said. “If you plant hardy stock now, you won’t be digging it up next year.”

Non-hardy plant material often offered for sale in the state includes well-known apple varieties, such as Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Red Delicious and Winesap, as well as Callery pear, climbing hydrangea, common boxwood, flowering quince, contorted filbert, holly, privet, magnolia, peach, sweet cherry and certain rhododendrons.

Many non-hardy trees and shrubs are listed on the North Dakota Department of Agriculture website at http://www.agdepartment.com/Programs/pp/nurseryprogram.html.

“Some plant material labeling may be misleading,” Goehring said. “We have seen emerald green arborvitae labeled as winter hardy from 30 or 40 degrees below zero. In fact, it tends to winter burn severely resulting in dieback or death of the tree.”

According to state law, all trees and shrubs that are designated by the agriculture commissioner as non-hardy must be labeled “non-hardy in North Dakota.” The penalty for violating the law is up to $500 per incident. Repeated violations can result in denial of a dealer license.

Goehring said the North Dakota Department of Agriculture receives many complaints every year from consumers and dealers about non-hardy stock being sold in the state without proper labeling. Most of the complaints involve larger stores with headquarters in other states.

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MEDIA: For more information, please call Ted Quanrud at (701) 328-2233 or tquanrud@nd.gov or Patrice Lahlum at (701) 239-7210 or plahlum@nd.gov.