What We Grow and Sell

At present we grow mostly conifers, with a bias toward trees for acreages and farms. Some of our trees get very large. Mostly we grow trees that interest me.
Sure, that's probably a narrow way to decide, and flies in the face of modern market research, but hey, I'm the guy who weeds and waters them. And the ones that don't sell will be added to one of my forests.

In addition to popular trees such as blue spruce and paper birch, we grow trees that are uncommon in garden centres. White Pine, Concolor Fir, Ponderosa Pine, Bristlecone Pine, Larch.

If you want something unusual, come back and check our lists. Or drop me a line. I may know if someone local carries it. Or you may even infect me with your enthusiasm, (not hard to do...) and I'll bring it in.

See Trees for all the great and gory details.

Sizes

We sell trees at the stage when they are filling their present pot, and are ready to go to the next size up. Not all species are available in all sizes

One-litre block flats:

When a tree arrives, it is initially planted in a styrofoam block with 15 one-liter holes in it. Blocks make handling many trees easy to do, and because of the close spacing they are easy to care for. Trees in one-liter block flats range in height from 10-16 inches, more for larch, poplar, and birch. They are the least expensive way to buy trees, and the easiest to transplant. Consider these for planting shelterbelts or windbreaks in the fall.

This is our third year using these blocks. We anticipated that trees would spend an average of eighteen to twenty-four months in these before moving up to a larger pot. However, at the end of our second year we were so successful with our one-liter sizes, that I had to transplant nearly all of the yearlings, as well as all of the 2nd year trees. My aching back! Our stock of one- liter trees will be very limited this spring, unless you want new seedlings.

I suspect generally that I will be transplanting most of my one-liter trees in fall when they're going dormant. If you want one-liter trees for spring delivery, place your order by mid-September, and I will set them aside for you.

Two-litre pots.

These are the roughly 6x6x6" square pot often used in garden centres for perennials. We use these for woods violets, blue-eyed grass. (NOT listed on our inventory at present because of very small quantities. Some things you just have to visit...)

Two-liter cans. The standard juice can, or restaurant supply soup

can. About 10" high. About 5" in diameter. These work well for starting willows as well as some of the perennials that we're now starting to grow.

Three-litre cans.

This is your standard restaurant-sized food tin. I like cans in general because I can control the drainage rate. If I'm working with a plant like a marsh marigold or a sandbar willow, having a can that drains slowly can help.

#1 Trade pots

The standard 'one gallon' plastic nursery pot. I treat these the same as a three-litre can for pricing.

#1 Stueuwe tree pot.

Like the #1 trade pot, but very narrow and deep. Approximately 4" x 4" by 16." Nine of these fit into a milk crate.

#2 Stuewe tree pots:

These pots are 6" x 6" x 16" Four fit into a milk crate. These are usually my 3-4 year-olds. Most of these trees are 20-40 inches tall. Birch and larch may be up to 4 feet.

Stuewe pots, due to their shape and the vertical ridges, encourage trees to form vertical root systems, and discourage root spiraling.

#3 and #5 pots:

Last fall some of the larger trees started moving to 3 and 5 gallon pots. Stuewe tree pots at this size are less of an advantage, so most of these are in conventional or tall form nursery pots. These won't be ready for spring 2008 sales, but may be ready by mid-summer.

New this year: Cutting Starts.

As an experiment this year, I have brought in 1/4 liter styroblocks.
Each block has 60 holes 2" x 6" more or less, and holding 240 ml of media. The idea is to use these for starting cuttings in the mist house. We'll be experimenting with ninebark, potentilla, willows and dogwoods this year. This may be a good size for reclamation work, as they should be almost as fast to plant as a conventional 310 plug, but with several times the volume.

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Sherwood's Forests is located about 75 km southwest of Edmonton, Alberta. Please refer to the map on our Contact page for directions.