Choosing Seedlings or Transplants

Age Class Description

A tree seedling is described by its age and how it was produced. Stock types are expressed as a two-part code, with the parts separated by a plus sign (e.g. 3+0, 2+2). The first number, or fraction, represents the number of years the stock has grown in a seedbed; the second digit, or fraction, represents the number of additional years spent in a transplant bed. Adding the two numbers gives the tree’s total age.

Seedling Attributes

Seedlings germinate from seed sown directly into nursery seedbeds and remain in the same nursery bed from one to four years until ready for harvesting for field planting. Seedlings are significantly smaller, with less heft than their transplant counterparts. They require more intensive post planting care and attention but can be an inexpensive planting option on prepared sites where weeds and grass competition will be managed and water or irrigation is available.

Transplant Attributes

Transplants are produced by harvesting small bareroot seedlings from high-density seedbeds, grading them to standards and replanting them into low-density beds where they will continue to grow for an additional period of time. Transplants have a lower top-to-root ratio, a more fibrous root system, a larger stem diameter and are more heavily branched than seedlings of the same age. These factors contribute greatly to their increased survival and post-planting performance. They are sized to match the more difficult planting sites most of our customers are familiar with. Transplants may tolerate less intensive vegetation control after field planting but survival and performance is enhanced by post planting maintenance.

Ordering Information

Weather and soil conditions influence when we can start our seedling harvesting operations. Typically, our bare root seedlings are available for pick up between late-April to late-May, depending on species/stock type. Before planning any planting projects or events please call or email us to ensure your order will be available and to schedule your pick up appointment.

The minimum quantity per species/size is 10 and seedlings must be ordered in lots of 10. Price breaks are based on the quantity of each species and plant size, not the total quantity for the entire order.

Prices are subject to change without notice. All prices are F.O.B. our nursery in Everett, ON. Prices do no include HST, order packaging charge and/or shipping (if required). Personal pick up is recommended.

PACKAGING CHARGE

Orders under $1,000 (before taxes) will be charged a flat fee of $25.00

Orders between $1,000-$2,500 (before taxes) will be charged a flat fee of $50.00

Orders over $2,500 (before taxes) are exempt from packaging charges

Preplant Seedling Care

Once harvested, tree seedlings have limited reserves of moisture and nutrients. They can be exposed to stress or injury during the harvesting, handling and planting operations.

Key Factors You Can Control:

Handling

• Seedlings are perishable and need to be handled carefully.
• Dropping packages of seedlings can cause damage and affect performance.
• Do not force roots apart, and do not prune the roots. All seedlings are root-pruned at the nursery to a size that allows for easy planting without affecting seedling survival.

Moisture

• Keep the roots of your seedlings moist, but not sitting in water.
• Check seedling packages for moisture regularly if you are storing them for 2+ days.
• Bring water to your planting site so roots can receive moisture prior to planting.

Temperature

• Keeping seedlings cool (above freezing) will slow growth and increase storage life.
• Warmer temperatures will encourage seedling growth and storage mold in your seedling package(s).

Short Term vs Long Term Storage

• Plant your seedlings as soon as possible.
• For short term storage (1-3 days), seedlings should be in a cool dry place, such as in a basement or root cellar.
• If you plan on storing your seedlings for 4 days or more, they should be in a temperature-controlled environment (2-4 degrees C).
• In the field, plan on keeping your seedlings in a shaded, cool place. Only bring to the field what you think you’ll plant that day.

Planting Arrangement and Spacing

The spacing and arrangement of your planting will be critical to achieving your specific objectives. Commercial forestry, Christmas tree and Nursery planting demand straight regimented rows with equal and appropriate spacing to meet the desired objective. The row width spacing is strongly influenced by the necessity to conduct mowing, spraying or harvest operations. Most commercial forest production plantations have 7 to 8 foot wide rows and 6 to 7 foot spacing in the row. Christmas tree spacing is usually 6 or 7 feet between rows and 5 to 6 foot spacing in the row. Ornamental nursery production spacing must be geared to the size of the product to be grown and the harvest method. Conservation, recreation and wildlife planting can be much less regimented in the pattern of planting and in the mixing of species. If you do not like the appearance of rows and are not concerned about access between the trees, give your plantation a more natural appearance by planting trees in a random pattern. In general however spacing of 6 to 8 feet between trees is still suitable.