A walk or drive through your neighborhood will show species that historically have performed well. Other characteristics such as growth rate and longevity, soil drainage needs, shade tolerance and maintenance needs are equally important but more difficult to determine. Local foresters, arborists or nursery professionals are a good source of information concerning the species characteristics mentioned above. Once you have selected the species that will perform the desired function in your landscape, visit a reliable nursery in your local area. Nursery plants usually are properly cultivated and trained, have well-developed root and crown systems, and are more likely to survive than wild trees.
Nurseries also offer a large selection of sizes and species.
To help insure survival, select plants from a hardy seed source and grown within a similar climatic zone. Plants from seed sources in the southern United States will find it difficult or even impossible to adjust to Nebraska's climate. If possible, purchase your plants from nurseries whose suppliers are located within the shaded portion of the map in Figure 1 . Acceptable growing zone. Types of planting stock.