A Tree Planting History and Timeline for the United States

Accurate estimates for wildland tree plantations in the United States are difficult to obtain. Educated guesses by forestry experts suggest that by 1952, there were nearly 5 million acres of tree plantations in the United States.

Not much is known about tree planting before 1927 when the U.S. Forest Service began keeping records. There were few tree nursery systems that could mass produce trees. When there were tree plantings, no records were kept. It is known that trees have been planted in significant numbers in the wild for over 200 years.

The latest complete USFS survey suggests there are 56 million acres of trees planted in the United States. Four million acres are planted in the northern states, 38 million in the southern states and 14 million in the west.

• Tour of a Seedling Nursery and Harvesting Operation

Photo © 2007 Steve Nix, licensed to About.com