How We Grow Healthy Trees at Our Brantford Tree Nursery
At our tree nursery in Brantford, Ontario, we focus on growing strong, healthy trees using natural and sustainable methods. We take care of the soil, the trees, and the land so we can grow top-quality evergreen trees in Ontario year after year.
Preparing the Land with Green Manure
When we have open land, we plant crops like clover, timothy, and rye grass. These are called green manure crops because they help add nutrients to the soil. After a season of growing, we plow these plants into the ground to feed the soil naturally. Before planting trees in the spring, we also add cattle manure, which is a great natural fertilizer. This helps give the soil even more nutrients for the young trees.
Planting Our Evergreen Seedlings
We usually start planting evergreen seedlings in May, around the first or second week. Our team hand plants each seedling, spacing them 4 to 5 feet apart, with 7 feet between each row. This gives every tree enough space—about 35 square feet—to grow strong and tall, up to 8 feet. In the first year, we keep the ground weed-free by using hand tools and clean cultivation. If needed, we use drip irrigation to keep the trees watered without wasting water.
Testing the Soil and Feeding the Trees
We test the soil to check for missing nutrients. Thanks to the green manure and cattle manure, the soil usually has enough phosphorus, potassium, and other nutrients. In the years after planting, we mostly just add nitrogen to keep the trees growing well.
Cover Crops Help the Land Stay Healthy
In the fall of the second year, we plant a cover crop with grasses and white clover. This helps stop soil erosion, adds more nutrients to the ground, and gives us solid turf to drive our equipment on.
We mow and mulch the cover crop during the growing season. This adds even more organic matter to the soil. We also leave tree clippings from pruning on the ground to feed the soil naturally. Nitrogen is added in the fall to support the trees over winter.
Harvesting the Trees Carefully
Our trees grow to a saleable size in about 4 to 7 years. When we harvest them, we remove each tree with a small root ball, leaving most of the topsoil behind. We wait until all trees in the row are harvested before using a tractor to fill in the holes and smooth out the field.
Then, we start the process all over again.
Growing Evergreen Trees the Right Way
At our Brantford tree nursery, we’re proud to grow strong, healthy trees in a way that’s good for the land. Whether you’re looking for evergreens in Ontario or want to learn more about sustainable tree farming, we’re always happy to share our process.
Visit our nursery or contact us to find the right trees for your property.