Great Plains System
What makes us unique
See the Results
Seedling Growth
Bur Oak - 4 years later
Roottrapper Roots
Finished Material
3 GALLON ROOTMAKER®
3-4′ Tall
Ideal size for conservation and habitat plantings.
7 GALLON ROOTMAKER® Bag
3/4″ – 1″ Caliper, 5-7′ Tall
Our favorite size – easy to handle and plant.
15 GALLON ROOTMAKER® Bag
1.25-1.5″ Caliper, 6-8′ Tall
12″ Green Knit Bag
1-1.25″ Caliper, 5-6′ Tall
Field grown for landscape and conservation plantings.
Growing System
Our Nebraska Tree Nursery believes fibrous, non-circling roots are key to a healthy and long-lived tree. Therefore, Dr. Carl Whitcomb’s Rootmaker® system is the primary method we choose to grow our trees. These “root pruning containers create fibrous root system using air, constriction, or trapping.” By promoting root branching, roots have a greater surface area resulting in a superior performance. To learn more from the years of research put into this system, visit www.rootmaker.com.
#1 RootMaker® 6.5" x 7.5" | #3 RootMaker® 10.5" x 9.5"
Nebraska Tree Nursery uses a series of vertical ribs and horizontal ledges, this container directs roots to side opening, which allow for air root pruning. This pruning creates a well-balanced root system.
#7 RootTrapper® 12" x 15" |#15 RootTrapper® 18" x 15"
This container works by trapping the root tip in the soft-sided walls. With thousands of root trapping points in the bag and the reduced temperature, this container produces a vigorous tree with a tremendous root system. This is one of the most popular for grow bag trees.
12" Knit Fabric Bag In-Ground
These containers small roots extend through the fabric but are unable to expand, causing constriction which leads to root branching. Once harvested not only is the majority of the root system intact but well branched. * Used in-ground, with our native soils. This is a great option in Nebraska for grow bag trees.
Production Schedule
Step 1
Propagation Seed is germinated in RootMaker® trays, starting the air pruning process at 4″.
Step 2
Shift to 1 gallon or 3 gallon RootMaker® containers to continue air pruning.
Special care is taken to allow for generous spacing to get maximum sunlight which helps build caliper and develop stem taper.
Step 3
Trees grown from Nebraska for Nebraska
Seed Source & Pruning Here in our Nebraska tree nursery, we deal with weather extremes: wide swings in temperature, strong winds, heavy snow loads and ice. Tree need to be able to withstand these extremes.
- Local seed source is, first and foremost, key to ensuring a selection of the species that is ideal for our area and conditions. We collect seed from across the state and region.
- In our Nebraska tree nursery, we use production techniques that encourage a building of caliper first rather than height so the tree is able to hold itself up strong along with any pressures from the elements. We prune only as needed to encourage a straight central leader and balanced branching. You’ll find our trees are branched lower than the norm. We look for the 2/3 : 1/3 ratio of canopy to trunk.
GreatPlants® We utilize the GreatPlants® Program in selecting the species we grow. This program gives recognition to species that are especially suited for our Great Plains Region. This is a joint program of the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum and Nebraska Nursery & Landscape Association. To learn more about Nebraska Tree Nursery visit: http://arboretum.unl.edu/greatplants * Look for the GreatPlants® logo throughout our catalog
We are proud Ambassadors & Participating Nursery of ReTree Nebraska. “ReTree Nebraska is a 10-year cooperative initiative to raise public awareness of the value of trees, reverse the decline of Nebraska’s tree and forest resources and improve the health and sustainability of trees and forests across our state for future generations. The primary goal of ReTree Nebraska is to work in partnership with people across Nebraska to foster the proper planting and maintenance of 1 million new trees by 2017.”
Great plains Nursery has the Highest Quality Nebraska Tree Nursery
