HARRISBURG — Landowners can begin making plans to help wildlife by planting tree and shrub seedlings offered by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

“If you are looking for seedlings for ornamental landscaping, look for a private nursery in your area,” Carl Roe, game commission executive director, said.

“However, our bare-root seedlings are produced for use to improve wildlife habitat on State Game Lands and private-landowners enrolled in our Hunter-Access Program. These seedlings also are used to help educate Pennsylvania students about wildlife habitat needs through our Seedlings for Schools program.

“We also are able to offer a limited number of surplus seedlings for sale to the general public to help with their own private efforts to improve wildlife habitat conditions on their property. This effort is part of our agency’s mission to manage wildlife and its habitat for current and future generations.”

New this year is a bundle offering, which includes 100 seedlings in a specified mix to benefit deer, game birds and songbirds, as well as riparian and winter-thermal habitats.

The order form and information are available on the agency’s website www.pgc.state.pa.us, by putting your cursor on General Store in the menu bar at the top of the home page, then clicking on Howard Nursery in the drop-down menu listing and scrolling down and choosing 2013 Seedling Order Form.

The order form can be completed and submitted online or printed out and faxed or mailed. Payments are not due until the order is confirmed by the commission’s Howard Nursery.

For those without Internet access, order forms can be obtained at Game Commission offices or displays or booths at shows in which the agency participates or by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Howard Nursery, 197 Nursery Road, Howard, PA 16841.

“Seedlings available for purchase by landowners are suitable for a variety of uses as wildlife food and cover, including hard- and soft-mast production, winter thermal cover and riparian habitats,” said Annetta Ayers, Howard Nursery superintendent.

Ayers noted that the nursery sells seedlings in bundles of 25. Orders of 12 or more total units receive discounted pricing.

Ayers noted that, for evergreens, 1,000 seedlings planted at the recommended tree spacing of 8 feet by 8 feet will occupy 1.5 acres.

Planting space for hardwood trees should be a minimum of 8 feet by 8 feet and up to 15 feet by 15 feet, depending on species.

For hardwoods, 100 trees will occupy one-quarter acre, and 1,000 seedlings will occupy 2.5 acres.

The various shrub species can be planted on a 6-foot by 6-foot or 8-foot by 8-foot pattern.

A description of each species available, along with size information, is available on the website under Tree Seedling Index.

The selection of native trees and shrubs is being expanded annually.

The Game Commission’s Howard Nursery produces bare-root seedlings for wildlife food and cover on State Game Lands. The nursery has been producing and distributing 2.2 to 6 million seedlings annually for wildlife food and cover since 1954.

Landowners who have land open to public hunting and are enrolled in one of the Commission’s public access programs are eligible to receive up to 500 free seedlings annually, as available.

Those enrolled cooperators with more than 500 acres are eligible for one free seedling per acre enrolled up to a maximum of 10,000 seedlings annually, as available.

For information, contact the Howard Nursery, 197 Nursery Road, Howard, PA 16841 by calling 814-355-4434. Hours of operation are 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.