Clear Ridge Nursery specializes in wholesale, containerized Native trees. We grow species that thrive in the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast and Midwest in a variety of sizes to meet your needs. We take great care in growing high-quality trees and it shows!
Buying large quantities of trees is an investment that requires research – Here are some tips on what to look for in a healthy, happy tree and what to ask about when choosing a Wholesale nursery.
Our number one tip is TAKE A TOUR and ask about the topics we go over below! Seeing the trees will really help you make an informed decision.
PLANT SPACING – We space our trees properly and thoughtfully to meet their needs. Correct spacing encourages proper canopy growth and healthy branching. Some nurseries grow their trees can-to-can for the entirety of the tree’s stay, which means they don’t get enough sunlight and grow spindly and tall with little branching. We do sometimes start small seedlings off can-to-can, but as soon as they have put on growth, we move them as shown in these next two images:
IRRIGATION – We have a dedicated irrigation team who monitor watering of every zone, every tree, every day of the season. Our trees are put on drip, spray stakes, or overhead irrigation and each row in the nursery is timed to receive the correct amount of water for the size and species of plant. We monitor moisture levels with sensors throughout the nursery, this helps us to understand the watering needs of each species.
ROOT HEALTH – What happens underground is equally important and it all starts in the soil. We bring in 30 – 40 truckloads of soil each season that is made just for us. We root-prune each tree to encourage proper root growth when we receive them in the Spring, and we add fertilizer, calcium and worm castings based on the size and species of plant. We also test EC and pH levels throughout the season to make sure we know what is going on in the soil; and we check for root growth frequently to ensure nothing gets rootbound.
IPM – Our Integrated Pest Management program ensures that our trees are healthy and beautiful from the inside out. We monitor for specific pests and work closely with the University of Maryland to know what to look for and when; we keep extensive records from season to season to help keep us on track with our spray program, most of which has moved to drone technology which helps us be as efficient and targeted as possible. We also *try* to be as gentle and thoughtful as possible to promote the good guys – Native insects who actually help us fight the bad guys.
CLEANLINESS – While we are not 100% weed-free, we aim for a clean nursery. We spend countless hours weeding, mowing, and tidying, both for disease control and to ensure there are less spots for pesky pests to hide.
Here at Clear Ridge Nursery, we know what we are good at – Growing containerized, Native trees in a variety of sizes. Our list of species is dialed in and our quantities are large to meet your needs – whether you are planting 10 or 10,000 trees. If you have a large upcoming project, we encourage you to come for a tour – We promise our quality & track record will impress you!