Plant Once. Plant Legacy.

We’re currently in training with Legacy to bring you the highest-quality trees. Planting begins in 2026, and we’d love to start planning with you today!

Tree planting demand has been higher than ever—and we’re here to meet it with quality that lasts. That’s why "That Girl" Tree Care has partnered with Legacy-Trees LLC, a Wisconsin-based grower using an innovative planting system that mimics how trees naturally grow in the forest.

Why Legacy-Trees Make a Difference

Root Systems That Mimic Nature
Legacy-Trees uses a patent-pending production and transplant method that encourages roots to spread out wide and shallow—just like they do in the forest. This helps eliminate girdling roots (which can strangle trees over time) and prevents the stress of being planted too deep. The result? Trees that are ready to establish quickly and grow strong for decades.

Stronger Starts, Longer Lives
When you invest in a tree, you want it to thrive—not just survive. Legacy-Trees are designed for long-term health, giving your planting project a much higher success rate compared to traditional nursery stock. That means fewer replacements, healthier landscapes, and shade trees that your children and grandchildren can enjoy.

A Warranty That Puts Care First
Every Legacy tree planted through our program comes with a five-year warranty. That’s peace of mind that your investment will be protected while your tree gets established. If something doesn’t go right, we’ll be there to make it right.

Locally Grown, Regionally Adapted
Legacy-Trees are grown in Wisconsin and supplied across the Midwest. That means they’re adapted to our climate and soils, giving them an edge in survival and resilience. From Cedar Rapids neighborhoods to rural Iowa properties, these trees are built for our landscapes.

Restoring Our Canopy
With Oak diseases, storm damage, and years of removals taking a toll on our urban canopy, it’s time to rebuild smarter. Planting Legacy-Trees isn’t just about filling empty spaces—it’s about ensuring the trees we put back will live long, healthy lives and provide shade, beauty, and habitat well into the future.

What does it mean to have a Legacy Tree?

This partnership means healthier roots, stronger trees, and plantings that will thrive for decades—not just survive the first few seasons. With so many oaks and other trees lost in recent years, we’re committed to re-establishing our canopy with trees designed to live long, healthy lives.

When you choose That Girl Tree Care for your planting project, you’re not just getting a tree—you’re investing in the future of your landscape and community.

A black and white silhouette of a crane on a white background.

Changing the Way Trees Are Planted

At That Girl Tree Care along with Legacy-Trees we’re changing the standard for how trees are planted. Too often, landscape companies plant a tree, walk away, and never look back—leaving it to struggle in an urban environment where extra care is essential. Trees in our cities and neighborhoods need more than just planting; they need stewardship. That’s why every tree we plant with Legacy-Trees includes mulch rings, follow-up visits, and ongoing care to make sure it grows up strong. Planting with us isn’t a one-time deal—it’s a commitment to the long, healthy life of your tree.

Trained for Tree Success

One of the things that makes this partnership so powerful is the extensive training Legacy-Trees provides. Their team put us through in-depth instruction on proper planting techniques, root care, and long-term stewardship. This isn’t just about putting a tree in the ground—it’s about understanding how to set it up for success. From soil prep to correct depth, from watering to follow-up care, we’ve been trained to give every tree the best possible start. That knowledge, combined with their innovative planting system, ensures the trees we plant will grow strong and healthy for years to come.

See The Legacy Differance

Take a look at the 3 year growth Legacy-Trees has been able to achieve in the gallery below. We have experienced unprecedented growth in our trees. A true testament to our motto – plant once, plant Legacy.

Learn More About Legacy-Trees

Innovative Planting
Patent-pending system that mimics natural root growth for healthier, longer-living trees.

Midwest Grown
Over 15,000 trees produced in Wisconsin, adapted for survival across the Midwest.

Stewardship Promise
Every tree comes with a 5-year warranty and care program for long-term success.

Location: Hixton, Wisconsin
Phone: (715) 670-8395
Website: legacy-trees.com

Ron Zillmer- Founder and President

Ron Zillmer, founder and president of Legacy-Trees, has dedicated his life to understanding and improving how trees grow, especially below the soil. His journey began in childhood, roaming the woods with his dog and later pursuing a forestry degree at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point. A pivotal shift came when he was introduced to urban forestry by Dr. Robert Miller and inspired by Dr. Alex Shigo’s groundbreaking work in tree biology. This foundation led him to graduate studies at Purdue University, where he deepened his expertise in tree physiology and root system defects. A core lesson he carried forward was Shigo’s reminder that most tree problems begin underground, despite the industry focusing on what’s visible above ground.

Zillmer’s career spanned municipal forestry in Milwaukee, where he discovered that improper planting depth was killing street trees, sparking the early vision for Legacy-Trees. He went on to share his expertise nationally and internationally through seminars, helped expand arborist certification worldwide while serving on the ISA certification board, and spent nearly two decades teaching and developing programs at Mid-State Technical College. His most impactful work may be leading the development of the national Arborist Apprenticeship Program, which earned him national recognition in 2017. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Ron is remembered by his family as the “crazy tree guy” who instilled a love of the outdoors in his children. With the founding of Legacy-Trees in 2017, his mission of planting trees with strong, healthy roots continues, carried forward by both his family and the broader tree care community.

The team creating these incredible Trees

Our mission at Legacy-Trees is to bring tree planning, diversity, proper planting, and stewardship to our urban ecosystems through a revolutionary system of growing and transplanting trees that will live for generations.