Grant County Conservation District

05/08/2026

Helpful tips...

Want your trees to thrive? Mulch helps retain moisture in the soil and protect tree trunks from lawn mower damage, weeds, and competition from grass.

When mulching, be sure to follow the Rule of 3:
📏3 feet in diameter
📏3 inches deep
📏3 inches away from the trunk

Never make a mulch volcano! 🚫🌋 Piling mulch too deep and against the trunk can lead to rot, insects, and diseases. You should always be able to see the root flare where the trunk starts to widen before reaching the first woody root.

For more tree care tips, visit https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/treecare/caring-pruning.html

05/07/2026

Well it has been a bit of craziness here at work lately, but things are slowly starting to fall into place. We’ve been out in the fields getting trees planted on this wonderful chilly day — honestly the perfect weather for planting and great for the trees.🌳🌲🥶🌬
Sorry if it’s been a headache trying to track me down. I promise I’m around, but the days just don’t seem long enough lately. All tree orders are ready for pickup, and I’ll be making calls tomorrow to arrange pickup times. I’ll be around town tomorrow and a little bit on Friday, so if you’d like to grab your trees, just call or text me. If I don’t answer right away, please leave a message and I promise I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.🙃🫣💥🤯
It would really help to get your trees picked up so you can get them in the ground before the hotter weather moves in. Next week is shaping up to be another busy one with planting and laying fabric. We’re just a two-man team, so we’re doing our best to keep things moving while still taking the time to do the job right.
Thank you all so much for your patience, support, and understanding. We truly appreciate it, and I’ll do my best to get back to everyone soon.🤩🌳🌲🚜👩‍🌾

04/29/2026

Hey everyone! 🌱
It’s been a long few days in the tree shed, but orders are just about all put together! If you’ve placed an order with us, please be ready to pick up your trees soon. I’ve started making calls and will continue reaching out tomorrow.
It would really help if you could pick up your trees this week, as I’ll be out planting and won’t be around much after that. Please give me a call to set up a time to grab your trees!
Also, if you’re on my planting list, we’ll be finishing up site flagging this week—so make sure your site is prepped and ready for us to get those trees in the ground.
Let’s get this busy (and a little crazy 😄) season rolling! 🌳💪

04/22/2026

Getting another load of trees in on Earth Day — honestly, what better way to spend the day 🌱🌻🌾🌳🌲
We’re getting everything ready to plant these beautiful trees, and I’m slowly working through orders. I’ll be reaching out soon to set up pickup times, so keep an eye out!❤️😍🤩
For anyone planning to plant on-site with us, we’ll be coming around to flag locations and make sure everything is ready to go. Tis the season, and with this beautiful weather, it’s hard not to get excited for spring planting.
I also have some taller trees still available — I’ll be posting soon with what’s left!
Thank you all for your patience, it truly means a lot. Let the tree season fun begin 🌳👩‍🌾🚜
Now if only we could do something about that wind!🤔🫣😳🌬

04/20/2026

Well, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but spring is in the air… or it better be! 🌱
We just got our first truckload of trees in, and it’s going to be a busy week with two more loads on the way.💪❤️🌲🌳
Please be patient as we get everything sorted. I’ll be giving you a call when your trees are ready, and we ask that you pick them up as soon as you can so they can get in the ground for a successful growing season.
Let the tree planting season begin! 🌳❤️🌲

04/17/2026

🌱 Are you seeing this? That's not dirt in the ditch. It's top soil.

And it didn’t take a massive storm.

Just bare ground… and wind.

💰 That top layer is where our nutrients are. Our biology. Our water-holding capacity.

Years—sometimes generations—of building.

And once it’s gone, it’s not easily replaced.

No one wants to see this happen. Not for their land, not for their neighbors, not for the next generation.

Have you seen soil move like this on your land or nearby? What conditions led to it? 👇 Comment below.

👉 Learn how wind erosion happens and simple tips farmers are using to keep their land intact. Go here: growingresiliencesd.com/post/the-wind-you-dont-notice-and-what-its-taking-from-your-soil

03/31/2026

It is time to start and complete pruning of summer flowering shrubs. These are shrubs that bloom during the summer and fall. Common ones are bumalda spirea, panicle hydrangea, potentilla, smokebush, and smooth hydrangea. These shrubs form their flower buds on canes that form this year. Pruning now will give plenty of time for new shoots to form and bear flowers.

All our spring flowering shrubs from forsythia to common lilacs formed their flower buds last fall. Pruning now will remove flowers. These shrubs should be pruned after they flower this year.

Reference: Tree Pest Alert
John Ball, Professor, SDSU Extension Forestry Specialist & South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources Forest Health Specialist

Learn more:https://extension.sdstate.edu/sites/default/files/2026-03/S-00014-189.pdf

03/24/2026

I am out of the office today in Huron working with our partners NRCS on developing new and upcoming workshops for Grant County to better serve you with conservation programs.
I apologize if I missed your call or email—I will be back in the office tomorrow and will get back to you as soon as I can.
Thank you for your patience!

03/24/2026

National Ag Day is all about celebrating the farmers, ranchers, and ag professionals who work hard every day to provide our food, fiber, and fuel. Agriculture truly is the backbone of our communities—a profession built on hope and a commitment to sustaining the future.
We had a great time on March 18 at the 4-H Complex visiting with producers, sharing information, and talking about conservation opportunities. It’s always a great day connecting with people who care about the land as much as we do!
If you missed the event, no worries—you can still get your tree orders in! 🌳
We’d also love to visit with you about planting a windbreak and other conservation practices that can benefit your operation.
Reach out anytime or stop by—we’re here to help!
🌾🌳

03/23/2026

🚨 URGENT: EMERALD ASH BORER 🚨

An invasive insect is putting Milbank’s ash trees at serious risk and the impact will be felt across our parks, streets, neighborhoods, and properties for years to come.

If left unmanaged, thousands of trees could be affected.

📅 Tuesday, March 24, 2026
⏰ 6:00 PM
📍 Milbank Visitors Center

This meeting matters because:

✅ You’ll hear what the city is doing now
✅ Learn what this means for homeowners
✅ Find out how to help protect your trees

Can’t attend?
The meeting will be LIVE STREAMED on the City of Milbank page

The decisions made now will affect Milbank for years.
Be informed. Be involved. Protect our community.

03/20/2026