ProLine Nursery Equipment

  The ProLine™ series of nursery tree transplanting equipment for the nurseryman and landscape professional.  

[prolineheritage]

Jump into Spring with Your Favorite Flower Bulbs

As we see the last vestiges of winter chill dissipate and signs that spring is near, the time to think about what’s next for your flower bulbs is here. Some varieties may have been planted in the fall that should begin to pop up as the weather warms. Others may be planted in the early spring for summer flowering.

In either case, the joys of gardening begin anew.

Spring Bulb Planting

Bulbs planted in the fall that begin to come forth early include tulips, crocuses, daffodils, and others. However, whether we neglected to do that planting last year or want to supplement the glory of previous plantings, spring bulbs can bring added pleasure.

Whether in a container garden or positioned among the rest of your plantings, spring bulbs bring an extra measure of color and beauty to your landscape while summer approaches. Bulbs available for spring planting in most zones can provide virtually the entire spectrum of color and texture.

Landscape professionals or nursery experts can advise which options work best in your area and soil types.

Spring flower bulbs can yield blooms as early as late spring and early summer.

Here are some examples to consider:

Spring Blooms:

Dutch Windflowers

French Anemone

Grecian Windflowers

Early Summer Blooms

Dahlias

Begonias

Canna Lilies

Foxtail Lilies

Christmas Bells

English Iris

Mountain Bells

Asiatic Lilies

Dutch Iris

Thinking Ahead

Bulbs of the prior year can be lifted in the fall, dried and stored for spring planting. These should not be stored in plastic because living organisms must be allowed to breathe.

Planting Spring and Early Summer Flowering Bulbs

The first consideration is to purchase quality bulbs that are not withered, moldy or dried out. Usually, the more substantial bulbs will produce more flowers, although the smaller ones will increase production over the coming years.

Find a well-drained location that gets lots of sunlight in the early months of spring and early summer. Remember that trees have not developed their summer foliage yet, so more areas are suitable than you may think.

Always plant with the pointed side up since this end will become the stem.

Plant bulbs to a depth of approximately three times their length.

Amend the soil with bone meal or a water-soluble fertilizer and water.

If you have questions regarding spring bulb planting, always consult your local professional to ensure best results.

[prolineheritage]

Get a Jump on the Spring Gardening Season

Even though the ground is still frozen and, in some areas, snow-covered, gardening projects can still begin. It may not be placing those delicate flowers and vegetables out yet, but important details can be accomplished before the calendar gives the “go ahead” to start the annual planting process.

Planning

Rather than wait until the last minute to rush through the nursery with a half-baked list of ideas, late winter is always a great time to plan. Look for new ideas, perhaps at one of the important garden shows in the area, or consult with a professional landscape designer or nursery to plan that spectacular garden design.

Besides sketching the vegetable and flower plantings, late winter is an excellent time to re-imagine the yard with new trees and shrubs.

Clean Up and Service the Equipment

While your equipment may have received a cursory cleaning last fall, late winter is a great time to service machinery and prepare for the coming season. Tillers and lawn mowers should get fresh oil and fuel, and a start-up test can be beneficial to identify any operating problems.

Remove the Dead Leaves and Accumulated Debris

Some of last year's leaves and small fallen branches undoubtedly remain, either from your trees or from the neighbors'. Cleaning these up now will leave your planting areas and lawn looking great as you wait for the real gardening season to begin. Matted leaves can restrict the early growth of perennials and provide a comfortable home for insects.

Eliminate the Weeds

Weeds will begin to pop up as soon as the ground is soft. Attack the problem shortly after the soil can be worked, often before the last frost. Till the soil to discourage weeds from taking root. Pull and discard any that may have established themselves late last year. Cover the area with mulch for now until planting begins. Mulching should continue to keep weeds from developing.

Perennial Pruning and Care

Cut back ornamental grasses to allow new growth to develop. Also, for many trees and shrubs, late winter is the right time to consider pruning. However, if you are not sure, consult an expert who has experience in the varieties and climate with which you are working.

Some varieties of perennials like hostas, asters, and Siberian iris can even be divided at this time to create new plants, free of charge.

[prolineheritage]

Backyard Landscape Design

Whether for new construction or a complete do-over, backyards and lawns offer a unique opportunity to create a virtual personal paradise for homeowners. Perhaps less encumbered by neighborhood norms, a backyard to a landscape architect is akin to an empty canvas to an artist.

Backyard landscape design may adapt to the homeowner’s vision of a peaceful and relaxing retreat, an activity center, or a comfortable area for entertaining. Positioning planting areas, trees, shrubs, walls and walkways, and other elements establish the mood of the space and define its purpose.

Effective landscape design should reflect seasonal color and light schemes as they change. And, as the landscape design matures, new plants and features may be included to provide an even more exciting and ever-changing landscape.

Role of the Landscape Designer

Homeowners often learn that after several seasons of adding, replacing, and spending, doing their own backyard landscape design never seems to achieve the beautiful lushness and coordinated color that professional landscape designers can create. Professionals have years of experience, education, and knowledge of plant life and the ways a variety of plantings can come together to create a magical combination.

A professional landscape designer anticipates the long-term. Understanding how plants and shrubs mature and grow together harmoniously is essential to ensuring the investment is long-lasting with only routine maintenance and upgrading.

Creating the Landscape Design

The designer begins by determining what effect the property owner would like to achieve. Landscape designs intended for privacy and quietude may be substantially different than developing for a lively and colorful entertainment area.

Next, the landscape designer will survey the area to identify permanent fixtures, changes in elevation, prevailing wind direction, path of the sun, and access to water and electricity.

Knowing what the customer expects and the positive attributes and limitations of the space, the landscape designer will begin to draw a plan, either by hand or by using state-of-the-art software tools to replicate the vision.

The plan may include paved seating areas, perfect for entertaining, surrounded by lush shade trees or covered by a pergola for protection from the sun. Or, perhaps a gazebo amid flowering and evergreen shrubs for personal privacy is preferred.

Using ProLine™ Equipment from Heritage Oak Farm

Designed by and for landscape specialists, ProLine tree and shrub handling equipment eliminates damage to plants and trees while reducing time and effort.

Contact Heritage Oak Farm for more information at 1-888-288-5308.

[prolineheritage]

Opportunities to Grow in Nursery Jobs

Working mostly outside, helping plants and trees grow and flourish is how many people love to spend their precious spare time. Many who are in nursery jobs as a career cannot imagine doing something else with their lives.

Working for a nursery is a wonderful way to enjoy the outdoors, watch nature take its course (with a little help), and learn more about the science and business of plants and trees.

What Do Nursery Workers Do?

Depending on the size of the nursery and the breadth of offerings, nursery workers perform a vast number of essential jobs. Whether in a greenhouse or outside, nursery workers assess and adjust the conditions for best growth and good health for a broad variety of plants, shrubs, or trees. Functions include, but are not limited to, planting, watering, feeding, cutting, pruning, transplanting, and even transporting and replanting.

Tree Farm Workers

Tree farms specialize in shrubs and tree growing for commercial sale. Starting with the planting and care of seedlings in greenhouses, nursery jobs move outside where workers plant, tie, wrap, feed and spray the saplings. Eventually, the young trees are lifted and prepared for transport to their new homes. Highly specialized equipment is required to ease the physical work and protect the trees and shrubs from damage.

Large Nursery Operations

With larger concerns, certain nursery jobs are more specialized. For instance, where controlled irrigation is used to precisely water plants and trees, some workers are dedicated to monitoring, measuring, replacing, and repairing irrigation systems to ensure proper hydration throughout the farm.

Marketing and Record Keeping

Some nursery workers are adept at explaining the operations and pointing out the positive attributes of each plant. They detail the proper care, feeding, and natural characteristics of each plant, shrub, and tree to prospective customers. Also, some nursery jobs involve keeping detailed records of inventory, marketing projections, sales results, budgeting and more.

Nursery Management

Like any business, nurseries require solid management. From overseeing numerous employees, establishing the core objectives, monitoring the budgets, and setting the course for coming years, nursery managers must be experienced in virtually all areas of nursery operations.

Opportunities in Nursery Operations

Nursery operations are becoming more comprehensive. Opportunities are abundant for individuals to become more engaged in the art and science of growing plants. Education and experience in horticulture, botany, soil science, plant breeding, irrigation, and landscaping are real assets.

[prolineheritage]

Just Because Winter Arrived, Don't Forget the Lawn

Although most of the leaves have been raked and the air has turned cool, lawn work should not end. Lawn care maintenance in winter is important to ensure lawns come back healthy when spring arrives.

Is Overseeding an Option?

Professional lawn care companies are busy all year making sure their client’s lawns stay great looking. Once cold weather sets in, lawns will take on a yellow-tan color as the grass goes dormant. Depending on the severity of your winter, lawns can be overseeded with a perennial or annual ryegrass if staying green is the owner's objective. However, if snow will be covering the lawn during most of the winter, owners may choose not to go this route.

Rake Up the Rest of the Leaves

During the early winter months, it is important to rake any remaining leaves and debris before the turf freezes. Leaving this material in place restricts the reemergence of the grasses in the spring, causing a late start to the desired appearance. Rake gently to avoid uprooting the sleeping grass. And avoid treading on grass areas while the turf is frozen since this tends to kill the grass crowns or result in snow mold which will delay normal growth in the spring.

Weeds Like to Start Early

Weeds do develop in the winter. The first prevention for weed development is to apply a pre emergence herbicide in the fall. While this can be very effective, some weeds may still develop. Spot treating these as soon as they are detected should keep the lawn in great shape for the spring growth.

Continuing to mow the lawn after the fall season can be useful to keep the lawn looking great.

Voles Love Grass

As many homeowners know, snow cover creates the ideal environment for these rodents to do their damage. They burrow beneath the snow cover eating the grass roots as they go. Once the snow melts, lawns may be criss-crossed with tunnels. The ruts can be gently raked and seeded in the spring and signs of the damage will soon disappear.

Contact Heritage Oak Farm

For information regarding winter lawn, shrub and tree care and lawn care maintenance in winter, contact the experts at Heritage Oak Farm. Their ProLine™ of professional landscaping equipment helps lawncare and nursery professionals perform their tasks efficiently and profitably.

Call Heritage Oak Farm at 1-888-288-5308.

[prolineheritage]

Winter Tree Transplanting

After the fall lawn cleanup is complete and those late autumn plantings are in place, some homeowners have another set of jobs to accomplish as cold weather arrives. Maybe moving a tree or shrub has become a priority.

The best time to transplant a tree is during the winter and early spring. Once the first hard freeze sets in, trees and shrubs go to sleep, resting until the coming spring. Although in midwinter the ground may be frozen in northern climates, starting the winter tree transplanting process before the tree reawakens is an ideal time. After the tree comes back to life in the spring can be the worst time to transplant.

However, winter tree transplanting is not recommended when the ground is solidly frozen. In icy climates, the best time to transplant is before the ground is frozen hard or after it has begun to thaw.

Preventing Shock

The process of transplanting involves cutting some of the roots. If the tree or shrub is dormant during a winter transplanting process, the tree, in essence, is numb and will not suffer. During other times of the year, the tree or shrub can go into shock and may not recover.

When existing roots are cut, the tree begins to develop new, more fibrous roots that are even more capable of absorbing water and nutrients from the soil.

Digging and Transplanting

At a nursery or tree farm, removing young trees from their original growing spot requires digging up the tree and wrapping the root ball snugly in burlap covering. Lifting the tree during its dormant season ensures the health of the tree until replanting on the new owner’s property.

Similarly, winter tree transplanting is best if the property owner decides the original location is wrong. In winter, professional landscapers can dig up the tree correctly and replant it in a designated spot. The tree will revive as usual in the spring.

Using Heritage Oak Farm’s ProLine™ Nursery Equipment

Whether you are tackling winter tree transplanting or only moving them from one spot to another, Heritage Oak Farm’s ProLine equipment is professionally designed to accomplish each task quickly and without damage. For digging, lifting, hauling or transplanting, ProLine equipment is ideal.

Check out the Heritage Oak Farm’s website to view their broad line of professional nursery equipment.

Or, phone the Heritage Oak Farm experts at 888-288-5308.

[prolineheritage]

Winter’s Here! Hire a Landscaper

Just because the leaves are now falling, all the flowers are gone, and the air is developing a notable chill, don’t think that the landscaping challenges can be put aside until warm weather returns. As experienced gardeners and professional landscapers know, there are meaningful and productive projects that should be performed during the colder months.

Many homeowners are unaware of the threat to their investments that not preparing for winter weather can pose. Professional landscapers understand that approaching cold season can be as busy as any other.

Here are some critical areas of concern for protecting people and properties from winter weather challenges:

1. Clear Away the Leaves

Accumulated fallen leaves, particularly on properties where leaf bearing trees are abundant, can clog gutters and damage roofs. Also, clearing wet leaves from the lawn in the fall will allow the lawn to have a fresh start in the early spring.

2. Prune Away

For most trees, bushes, and shrubs, pruning is best done in the late fall when leaves have fallen and the plant or tree structure is more visible. Shaping and reducing the growth will restore the desired shape as the plant becomes dormant. In the spring, new growth starts the process over again. Many homeowners do not know how and when to properly prune, while a professional can produce the best results for the long-term health of any plants or trees.

3. Winterize Outdoor Irrigation

In colder climates, irrigation systems must be blown out and moisture free for the coming freezing weather. Professionals with the right equipment should execute the winterization process before the first hard freeze to keep the system in good working order when the spring thaw arrives. A properly maintained irrigation system should last for many years.

4. Rework the Lawn

A professional landscaper takes advantage of late fall weather to rake and clear the lawn of all debris. Any bare spots can receive new soil to allow grass seed to spread in the spring. Any depressions can be filled and leveled during this time.

5. Clear Away Snow and Ice

Even in mid-winter, a professional landscaper can ensure the safety of occupants and visitors by clearing away accumulating snow and ice. Winter storms create dangerous footing and cause substantial damage to property. Having snow and ice removal services is vital for private homeowners and businesses as well.

[prolineheritage]

Preparing Perennials for Winter

Landscapers know that preparation in the fall and early winter can make a big difference in the coming spring and summer. The right preparations for perennials will assure homeowners that these plants will be back in full and beautiful glory in the new year. Poor management may stunt or kill many perennials.

When Do You Prepare Your Gardens for Winter?

The answer to when to prepare depends on the climate and location. When pruning is involved, one suggestion or rule of thumb, according to Urban Cultivator, is to prune based upon when the plant typically blooms in the following year. For example, if the plant is likely to bloom in early spring through June, then pruning should be performed in the late fall. If the plant is a late bloomer, preparation in the early spring is preferred.

Start by Clearing Out the Dead Annuals

All the plants that have died after the first frost should be cleared out and discarded to prevent these from developing diseases and harboring insect eggs during the winter. The soil does remain active beneath the surface until it entirely freezes as earthworms continue to produce organic material and bulbs continue to develop their root systems. Mulching beds at this time can be very beneficial in keeping the soil temperatures steady during the winter months.

For perennials, there are several steps that landscapers practice that support future development. Below are some of these:

Eliminate dry stems to ground level to prevent disease and certain spores from developing.

Consider composting the dead materials. Active compost enriches the soil and prevents diseases from developing.

For evergreens shrubs and plants, remove any sickly or potentially diseased growth. Discard these as they may not be a proper addition to a composted mixture. Clear away the old mulch that may have deteriorated over the summer.

Spread new mulch or organic materials around the perennials. However, it is best to wait until the ground freezes substantially before applying the winter cover. Waiting until freezing prevents rodents from nesting in the mulch while the material is still loose and penetrable.

Snow protects the plants by keeping the temperatures stable beneath the surface. Until a hard freeze establishes, the soil remains active by continuing to process organic material that promotes further root growth for plants that bloom in the springtime.

[prolineheritage]

Winter’s Here! Hire a Landscaper

Just because the leaves are now falling, all the flowers are gone, and the air is developing a notable chill, don’t think that the landscaping challenges can be put aside until warm weather returns. As experienced gardeners and professional landscapers know, there are meaningful and productive projects that should be performed during the colder months.

Many homeowners are unaware of the threat to their investments that not preparing for winter weather can pose. Professional landscapers understand that approaching cold season can be as busy as any other.

Here are some critical areas of concern for protecting people and properties from winter weather challenges:

1. Clear Away the Leaves

Accumulated fallen leaves, particularly on properties where leaf bearing trees are abundant, can clog gutters and damage roofs. Also, clearing wet leaves from the lawn in the fall will allow the lawn to have a fresh start in the early spring.

2. Prune Away

For most trees, bushes, and shrubs, pruning is best done in the late fall when leaves have fallen and the plant or tree structure is more visible. Shaping and reducing the growth will restore the desired shape as the plant becomes dormant. In the spring, new growth starts the process over again. Many homeowners do not know how and when to properly prune, while a professional can produce the best results for the long-term health of any plants or trees.

3. Winterize Outdoor Irrigation

In colder climates, irrigation systems must be blown out and moisture free for the coming freezing weather. Professionals with the right equipment should execute the winterization process before the first hard freeze to keep the system in good working order when the spring thaw arrives. A properly maintained irrigation system should last for many years.

4. Rework the Lawn

A professional landscaper takes advantage of late fall weather to rake and clear the lawn of all debris. Any bare spots can receive new soil to allow grass seed to spread in the spring. Any depressions can be filled and leveled during this time.

5. Clear Away Snow and Ice

Even in mid-winter, a professional landscaper can ensure the safety of occupants and visitors by clearing away accumulating snow and ice. Winter storms create dangerous footing and cause substantial damage to property. Having snow and ice removal services is vital for private homeowners and businesses as well.

[prolineheritage]

Preparing Perennials for Winter

Landscapers know that preparation in the fall and early winter can make a big difference in the coming spring and summer. The right preparations for perennials will assure homeowners that these plants will be back in full and beautiful glory in the new year. Poor management may stunt or kill many perennials.

When Do You Prepare Your Gardens for Winter?

The answer to when to prepare depends on the climate and location. When pruning is involved, one suggestion or rule of thumb, according to Urban Cultivator, is to prune based upon when the plant typically blooms in the following year. For example, if the plant is likely to bloom in early spring through June, then pruning should be performed in the late fall. If the plant is a late bloomer, preparation in the early spring is preferred.

Start by Clearing Out the Dead Annuals

All the plants that have died after the first frost should be cleared out and discarded to prevent these from developing diseases and harboring insect eggs during the winter. The soil does remain active beneath the surface until it entirely freezes as earthworms continue to produce organic material and bulbs continue to develop their root systems. Mulching beds at this time can be very beneficial in keeping the soil temperatures steady during the winter months.

For perennials, there are several steps that landscapers practice that support future development. Below are some of these:

Eliminate dry stems to ground level to prevent disease and certain spores from developing.

Consider composting the dead materials. Active compost enriches the soil and prevents diseases from developing.

For evergreens shrubs and plants, remove any sickly or potentially diseased growth. Discard these as they may not be a proper addition to a composted mixture. Clear away the old mulch that may have deteriorated over the summer.

Spread new mulch or organic materials around the perennials. However, it is best to wait until the ground freezes substantially before applying the winter cover. Waiting until freezing prevents rodents from nesting in the mulch while the material is still loose and penetrable.

Snow protects the plants by keeping the temperatures stable beneath the surface. Until a hard freeze establishes, the soil remains active by continuing to process organic material that promotes further root growth for plants that bloom in the springtime.

[prolineheritage]

Tree Irrigation: Doing it Right

Professional landscapers use different tree watering strategies for each stage of growth. The root system is intended to grow deep and wide to support the tree as it matures. Believing that tree roots naturally grow toward water is false if the soil surrounding them is dry. For proper growth, water should be sufficient to travel downward beneath the tree to a depth that encourages the roots to grow into a system substantial enough to support the developing tree.

Providing sufficient water during the early years increases the likelihood that the tree will thrive.

How Much Water?

While there are many variables in determining how much water to use, keeping the soil moist to a depth of 18 inches is a great starting point. The type of soil, temperatures, season, and the variety of tree are all factors to consider. Newly planted trees require more water to encourage root growth to help them become accustomed to their new surroundings. Soak the root ball and surrounding area thoroughly in the early weeks after planting.

Note that watering a young tree lightly, as with a typical lawn sprinkling system, does not allow for sufficient soaking to reach deeper roots. The water tends to run off or be absorbed before it reaches the thirsty roots.

Frequency and Proper Drainage

Trees, small plants, and grassy lawns have very different watering needs. Trees require a far greater quantity of water applied less frequently than with smaller plants. Deeper soaking can only be achieved with a slower yet longer application.

However, overwatering can be extremely harmful and “drown” the tree by preventing the roots from absorbing the oxygen they need to survive.

Also, if the water accumulating around the base of the tree does not appear to be flowing into the ground within seconds, clay soil could be the problem. Correct drainage is essential for the roots to receive the proper amount of moisture. Test the soil before planting. If the composition contains too much clay, mix with coarse compost to improve drainage.

Mature Trees

As a healthy tree develops and its root system spreads, direct watering at the trunk is no longer necessary. The better approach is to employ drip systems that encircle the tree, approximately at the drip line. The tree absorbs necessary water at the end of the roots and is encouraged to spread further as the tree grows.

[prolineheritage]

Tame the Great Outdoors with Beautiful Evergreens

Evergreens bring a glorious element of constancy to homeowner lawns and landscaping. While other types of plants and trees bud, bloom, and eventually drop their leaves, evergreens provide a backdrop of continuous greenery and texture.

Evergreens furnish privacy and may provide an effective windbreak and sound barrier. They can also be a source of food and protection for various types of wildlife.

However, evergreens do require care and attention during planting and early growth to maintain the desired shape and health.

Site Plan, Placement, and Selection

Landscape designers usually allow ample space for each tree and shrub to reach maturity without overcrowding. Too often, homeowners place them too close together, which will limit growth or eventually impose upon outdoor living areas, walkways, or buildings.

Sufficient space must be allowed for root systems to reach their optimal depth and breadth. Limiting growth will cause the evergreen to die prematurely.

Before creating a plan, an initial site survey should locate existing plants, trees, and human made features as well as drainage, soil types, topography, and view points. Corrections may be needed to improve soils and drainage before planting begins.

As for placement, understanding the growth limits and rates of each plant is essential. Varieties of evergreens may grow out instead of up; some will grow slowly and some quickly. In the case of some varieties of spruce, for example, leaving sufficient room to grow without excessive trimming will allow the tree to attain its ideal shape.

Note which type of evergreen needs or tolerates sun exposure. While many, like arborvitae, thrive in direct sunlight, others tolerate light shade or even full shade. Hemlock and Japanese Yew do not require significant sunlight to thrive.

Planting and Watering

The best seasons for planting balled-and-burlapped evergreens are spring, summer, and early fall in most climates. Planting in late fall does not allow the tree or shrub to sufficiently acclimate to the new location before the first freeze.

During the first year gently apply water directly over the root ball under the limb canopy. The following year, after the roots have grown and spread, soaker hoses spread around the perimeter of the canopy will be sufficient.

Proper Handling with ProLine™ Equipment

Heritage Oak Farms has developed the best equipment for lifting, transporting, and replanting evergreens of all types and sizes. For more information, call Heritage Oak Farms at 888.288.5308.

[prolineheritage]

Turn a Backyard into a Paradise

Turning a backyard into an inviting and comforting oasis away from the noise and stress of the outside world can be a rewarding adventure for a homeowner. Not only can owners benefit from color changing seasons, but each new year is an opportunity to blend new with the old in their backyard landscape design. Plants grow and spread as the design blends into to an ever more beautiful environment.

Nursery professionals are the best resource for advice to achieve the desired effect. They understand how plants complement each other aesthetically, but also growth rates and compatibility among different types of vegetation.

Budget

A beautiful landscape does not require a massive investment. However, a starting budget can be a guide for what is accomplished that season and more can be added each year. Landscape designers can create an outstanding starting plan and “phase-in” new elements each year.

Collaboration among the homeowner, the landscape designer, and the nursery can yield magnificent results at a reasonable cost.

Creating a Backyard Landscape Design

Begin with a sketch. A landscape designer makes topographical measurements and uses a property survey as a starting point. With this information and a target focal point, a series of sketches will show the major elements of the backyard plan.

Whether using a computer program or staying with drawings on graph paper, plot the underlying grid of the area. According to hgtv.com, National Gardening Association supplies tips for creating a workable landscape plan.

1. Set fixed features, such as the back of the house, garage, fences, trees, entryways, sprinkler systems, and so forth.

2. Identify the directions, east and west, to understand where the sun will track.

3. Try out all your ideas. Experiment with pathways, shrub and tree placement, planting areas, water features and additional fixed elements. If sketching, use tracing paper over the basic sketch to try out various ideas. With a computer program like Google Sketchup, several designs can be tried and saved.

4. Add patio or seating areas and items like a fire pit as the focal points.

5. Consider practical matters such as wheelbarrow access, electrical outlets, irrigation, water faucets, and lighting.

Final Backyard Landscape Design

Plan plantings to provide the amount of color, contrast, and privacy you desire. Sketch in the types of plantings and planting areas to provide the shade, color, and seasonal change that keeps the area attractive throughout the year.

[prolineheritage]

Pests and Weather Can Destroy Your Trees

While we enjoy the shade, beauty, and environmental contributions of trees and plants, they do have their share of enemies. Adversaries like insects, freezing weather, deer, and gnawing rodents can seriously harm them. Mourning a dried and drooping skeleton is more than a sentimental response when your livelihood depends on supplying healthy plants.

Protecting Your Trees

How do we protect them from this diverse brigade of attackers?

Experienced nursery workers know that the care of healthy trees and plants is a year-round job.

Many nursery managers, tree farmers, and home gardeners have experienced the devastation of extreme winters. Tree and shrubs suffer mightily with the effects of early and late frosts, variable temperature ranges, blizzard-like winds, and sub-zero temperatures that accompany winters.

According to gardeners.com:

Early cold spells can damage tissues before they can harden for the coming winter.

High winds can dry out plant tissues and evergreen foliage.

Frozen soil prevents trees and plants from replacing the water they lose through evaporation.

Midwinter thaws cause plants to leave dormancy to grow new shoots, which die quickly with the next cold period.

Variable and alternating temperatures literally “heave” new plants out of the ground.

Deer, rabbits, and mice gnaw the base of plants when other food sources have frozen.

Preparation for Winter

Healthy trees and plants are more likely to survive winter than ones that struggle because of limited sunlight, water, or nutrients. Make sure they have enough of each.

If insects have had their way in the summer, the plant is ill-prepared for winter. Protect them from insect infestation.

During late summer, it is a good idea to stop pruning. New growth stimulated by pruning will delay dormancy and cause damage.

Stop fertilizing six weeks before the earliest frost date.

Keep watering until the ground freezes.

Deciduous Trees

Deciduous trees lose leaves and go dormant for the winter. While these tend to withstand typical winters well, young ones need extra care. Gardeners.com suggests:

Add a 3 - 4" layer of mulch to protect shallow roots of young trees.

Surround trunks with tree guards to discourage deer and rodents.

Add a wrap to young trunks for protection.

Conifers and Evergreens

Provide a windscreen in case winter winds become substantial.

Remove excessive snow from overladen branches.

Wrap young shrubs with burlap to discourage deer snacking.

Be prepared this winter. It may be another rough one.

[prolineheritage]

The best and worst pots for your garden

Selecting the right pots for a micro garden is not as simple as grabbing last year’s collection, adding soil, and planting whatever you want. Considerations such as product life and durability are important factors when deciding what goes where.

According to MicroGardener, there are positives and negatives to consider when deciding which pot is right for a specific plant or application. Some factors are:

Economy

Price and value are important. It may not make sense to invest in an elaborate pot that will be concealed by other plants or structures.

Making your own containers from available or discarded material can be rewarding and save money. Be careful that the materials you use are not harmful to the plants. Metal containers such as old coffee cans can work, but these heat up substantially in direct sunlight.

Product Life

Considerations like product life and durability are important factors. If the pot will be sitting in a dominant position for years and years, investing in a more durable and attractive pot may be the best course. If the use is short-term, than cheaper ones can do the job.

Environmental Considerations

Some retail pots require a considerable amount of fossil fuels and minerals to produce. Environmental sustainability is another good reason to consider making your own pots or reusing old ones.

Plant Health

Five elements are necessary to create the right environment for each plant. These are:

Drainage: the pot should have holes at the bottom to allow water to escape to keep from drowning the plant. Plants also acquire oxygen through their roots.

Porosity: porous containers like uncoated terra-cotta, compressed paper, wood, and other natural materials allow water and air to move through them. Moisture escaping through the sides is helpful for the plant and keeps them cool. However, plants will require more frequent watering.

Weight: the overall weight including the pot, plant, soil, and water can add up to a heavy load when you are trying to move the pot.

Food Safety: metals and plastic pots can affect the taste of edible plants, vegetables, and herbs. Better to stay with natural components.

Insulation Properties: plants are susceptible to temperature variations. It is important the soil and roots are insulated as the weather cools. A good thermal pot should have positive thermal properties and be dark in color to attract and hold heat.

[prolineheritage]

Do It Right: Use Heritage Oak Farm’s ProLine Nursery Equipment

Heritage Oak Farm of Indiana began by growing, marketing, and delivering trees of all types. Over time, the company developed specialized equipment to facilitate every process.

Their ProLine® group of tree handling equipment is the state-of-the-art answer to saving time and money while reducing damage and adding efficiency. These extensions can be mounted on conventional skid steers and are ideal for tree farmers, professional landscapers, and nursery operators.

Grabber

The Grabber™ is designed to move root balls between 14” and 54” in diameter. Both Grabber models easily attach and come with auxiliary hydraulics. The telescoping arms reach up to 8 feet for easy loading and unloading.

The paddles on the Grabber coddle root balls gently and reduce damage when lifting and transporting. The Grabber can move boulders weighing up to 3000 lbs.

For smaller projects, the ProLine GrabberMINI™ attaches to common walk-behind equipment like Dingo, Ramrod, Ditchwitch, and more.

Swingin’ Grabber

The Swingin’ Grabber™ is designed for growers operating in compact spaces. The device can turn 90° and lift trees within narrow rows without turning the skid steer.

Forques

Alternatively, as paddle attachments on the Grabber, Forques™ are designed for moving multiple root balls at one time. Forques can handle three 24” rootballs at once and benefit from the Grabber’s extending arms for placement of the stock.

PotHandler

The PotHandler™ handles some specific transplanting jobs. Capable of gently lifting and carrying even delicate terracotta pots up to 40” in diameter, the PotHandler encircles pots with 4 padded paws.

Tree Tyer

The Tree Tyer™ gently lifts and compresses the tree limbs for manual tying.

Pot Forks

The Pot Fork™ consists of multiple tines that allow the operator to move multiple pots sized from one to fifteen gallons. The equipment adapts to any size pots and may be custom designed and built by Heritage Oak Farm.

Shovel

For transplanting, removing rocks, and more, the ProLine Shovel™ is more precise and easier to operate than standard tree spades.

Tree Auger

ProLine’s Tree Auger™ makes quick and neat work of digging holes for planting while eliminating any hand digging.

Grapple

The ProLine Grapple is available in 48” and 60” lengths. The Grapple is ideal for collecting and moving logs, limbs, and other debris from a site.

Contact Heritage Oak Farm for more information about their ProLine group of versatile tree handling equipment at 888.288.5308.

[prolineheritage]

Equipment Solutions for Tree Planting

Building upon their decades of growing, moving, and planting trees and plants, Heritage Oak Farm of Indiana has developed a super efficient line of equipment specifically designed to make each phase of this hefty work easier. From lifting and hauling to placing and planting, their ProLine™ equipment can manage trees of any size without manual effort.

Equipment Designed for Each Step

Trees and their rootballs can be extremely heavy and cumbersome when you consider that a young 10-foot tree might come with a 38-inch rootball and the total weighs about 1,000 lbs. A twenty-foot tree and ball can weigh up to 6,000 pounds.

Even a gang of healthy nursery workers cannot efficiently move an average sized tree without some mechanical assistance.

Equipment for Moving Trees from Nursery to Destination

The ProLine Grabber™ and Swinging Grabber are extensions for late model skid steers that lift and move various sized plants and tree rootballs without distorting or damaging them. Equipped with paddles to carefully lift and carry the material, the Grabber can handle rootballs as large as 54” in diameter. The Grabber is capable of lifting and hauling items that weigh up to 3000 lbs.

The Grabber with extendable arms is capable of lifting trees up to a height of about eight feet to a flatbed for hauling to another site.

Digging the Hole

Trees require a hole that will sufficiently surround and cover the tree ball. The ProLine Tree Auger cuts through the hardest soils and keeps the dirt from falling into the hole while digging. The result: a clean, precisely dug cavity, sufficiently broad and deep enough to lower the tree ball for perfect planting. As a result, there will be no hand digging.

Transplanting Trees

ProLine Shovel™ is designed for transplanting trees from one onsite location to another. The Shovel can lift rootballs up to 40” and carry them to another place.

Lowering the Tree

Once the hole is properly dug using the ProLine’s Tree Auger or Shovel, the Grabber can retrieve the tree, and by using the extendable arms, place the tree precisely in place.

The whole process can be mechanized and accelerated which will eliminate damage to the tree and physical harm to individuals.

Contact Heritage Oak Farm

For more information about ProLine Nursery Equipment, call the experts at 888.288.5308.