Our Process
- Home
- /
- Our Process
Every tree is processed with care.
There are many steps involved in producing high quality seedlings and transplants. Being Christmas tree growers ourselves, we know the importance of quality planting stock in establishing a successful plantation.
Here is an overview of some of our processes:
Seedbeds
Raised beds are formed and shallow grooves are created on the beds with a roller. Seeds are then sown on the grooved beds either by hand or with a seeder. The seeds are sown at different rates depending on size of the seed, germination percentage, and desired density. Once seeded, a flat roller is used to press the seeds into the beds and close the shallow grooves. Wood fiber mulch is then spread on top of the beds to cover them and help keep the seeds in place until germination begins. The seedlings will grow in the seedbeds for 2 growing seasons, before being lifted and either sold or prepped for transplanting.
Transplanting
2-year-old seedlings are planted out into transplants beds, which gives them more space to develop. While in the seedbeds, the trees are at a tight spacing but in the transplant beds they are spaced about 3 inches apart in the row and 9 inches between rows. A transplant bed consists of 6 of these individual rows of seedlings. Transplanting is done by 6 workers riding the planter, which is pulled behind a tractor. The tractor travels at .03 miles per hour during this process! We transplant about 50,000 seedlings in one day.
Lifting
Seedlings and transplants are dug from the beds before being placed in cold storage prior to the grading process. A plant lifter, connected to a high-clearance tractor, is lowered into the beds. The lifter has a blade and angled bars, which lift and shake the soil loose from the roots of the trees. Once exposed from the beds, the trees are pulled out by our crew and any remaining soil is removed. The trees are then placed in bulk crates and taken to our cold storage facility. The lifting process begins as soon as the weather allows, normally in mid-March and continues until about mid-April.
Grading
The trees are removed from cold storage and brought into our grading facility where they are placed on tables and inspected by our experienced crew. The grading process involves looking at each individual tree and measuring its height, and also examining the trees caliper, straightness, roots, and branch structure. Trees that do not make the specified grade are culled. The trees that do make grade are bundled and then placed on a conveyor belt where they are sent to our packaging crew. After being packaged in either boxes, rolls, or bulk bins, the trees are placed back in cold storage where they will wait to be shipped out to our customers.
