Our Process
At Kaspar Nursery, we take an ecological approach to horticulture, with function and habitat serving as our priorities, rather than just aesthetics.
Kaspar Nursery trees are pruned and grown to have one central leader (trunk) running straight up the center of the tree which allows for balanced growth on all sides of the tree with even growth year after year. This quality of tree is the highest quality available. It takes staking, tying, training, pruning, irrigation and nutrition to grow this quality of tree.
LINERS
This is where it all begins. In order to consistently grow trees of high quality and uniformity, you must start with high quality liners. The Kaspar family has strong working relationships with well known producers in the northwest part of the country. These liners are received and planted only in the spring of the year and are planted at exact distances apart from each other depending on tree variety. Each liner is staked, fertilized and irrigated with a drip irrigation system. This assures that the end product will be the size and quality to meet the Kaspar standards prior to sale.
ROOT BAGS
Field grown trees in root-bags have excellent survival rates and have a vigorous first year of growth. Root bags prevent root circling while encouraging root growth. The roots can grow through the fabric, yet are constricted, causing a proliferation of roots with high carbohydrate reserves. Kaspar tree farms plants all their oak trees from root-bag liners for speedier growth and quicker establishment.
SOIL
The type of soil that the trees are grown in is very important to the harvest and shipping process as well as the growth of the tree. There is a fine balance between sandy loam and clay content. The soil must be able to absorb and disburse the water and nutrients to the growing tree or the growth will be uneven or abnormal. The soil must be tacky enough to hold together during the multi-processes of digging, balling in burlap, and shipping to protect the root structure and assure a healthy growing tree when replanted. The soil for the liners must be conditioned to meet these standards to provide the growth, survival rate and replanting success required. Because of this soil conditioning the survival and successful growth percentage of liners is over 98% at Kaspar tree farms.
DRIP IRRIGATION
Every tree at Kaspar Nursery is lined with drip irrigation. The trees are irrigated from the time they are planted until harvest, and continually irrigated in the re-wholesale yard. This gives the trees uniform and consistent growth that results in top quality trees. Drip irrigation assures that no water is wasted, reducing run off and soil erosion.
STAKING
Kaspar tree farms is one of few nurseries in the country that stakes every tree to a 15ft fiberglass stake. This keeps the dominant center leader of the tree up to 15 ft tall, giving great balance and structure to the tree canopy. The fiberglass material allows the tree to blow in the wind and come back to center which gives strength to the tree trunk and bark. Kaspar tree farms also ties bamboo stakes to the tops of all evergreens. This keeps the birds from breaking off terminal buds and keeps a dominant center leader.
ANNUAL PRUNING
A tree must be pruned continually and any missed year of proper pruning will result in inferior quality that cannot be changed later in the tree’s life. The Kaspar family is very meticulous about pruning, and is hands on in their methods. All trees are pruned annually and some varieties more than once. Proper pruning gives shape and structure to a tree, allowing it to grow consistently and efficiently.
FERTILIZING
All trees are fertilized multiple times throughout the year, following the Kaspar’s expertise and decades worth of building a fertilizing program. Trees with vigorous, hardy growth are a result of proper nutrition and have better resistance to insect pests. A tree with proper fertilization can overcome weak growth and will help them recover from stresses like insect feeding, diseases, and other damage.
ROOT BALL
Kaspar Nursery specializes in 2”-4” caliper trees and 5’-10’ evergreens. The trees are dug with an oversized root ball and wrapped in burlap, tied with twine, and pinned together neatly. This allows the root ball to sit comfortably on a truck or trailer for transport. It also keeps more of the root system intact which will allow the tree to establish itself more quickly in its new location.