Sustainable cultivation

By achieving an ecological balance in our plots, we contribute to strong basic health and greater resilience in our trees. Sustainable cultivation means that we work with biological means for fertilisation and disease control and that we manage to significantly reduce the use of plant protection products by, for example, sowing grass strips and wildflower mixtures between the trees. With this native flower mix, we attract insects as natural enemies for aphids, among others. By hanging nesting boxes and planting thickets, we attract birds, which also help us control unwanted insects. We control weeds with our adapted hoeing machine equipped with a rubber foot that taps the tree, causing the hoe to move with it, go around the tree and remove the surrounding weeds. This enables us to prevent damage to the tree and its roots. After a cultivation period, we calm the plots by sowing clover (to bind nitrogen) or a wildflower mixture to stimulate soil life.

Where possible, we use sustainable materials in our nursery. For instance, we use biobased twine, labels and colour labels for marking the trunk circumference. These biobased products are composed of renewable resources and the twine is biodegradable. In terms of waste from our nursery, we adopt a Cradle2Cradle policy. All natural materials such as pruning waste, grass clippings and bamboo canes are recycled. 95% is processed to make mulch mix which stimulates soil life, suppresses weed growth and reduces evaporation. Beds made out of coarse timber protect the root balls against frost at our tree depot. This wood is processed into mulch mix after 2 seasons.

Climate change means sunburn poses an ever-greater threat to the health of trees. This is damage that occurs because the bark of trees becomes too hot, damaging and killing off the cambium cells. Therefore, we protect all limes, maples, beeches, hornbeams and ornamental cherries against the sun using reed mats, coir mats and biodegradable limewash.

Tree nursery Ebben does all it can to promote biodiversity. As an example, we have planted a plot of the nursery as a publicly accessible park in the municipality of Land van Cuijk that extends over 18 hectares, with a great diversity of trees. A number of landscape interventions have also been made to encourage nature development. For instance, straight ditches have been converted into meandering streams with a wide embankment to create a habitat for all kinds of animals. A pool has also been created with stagnant water, good for reptiles and amphibians. Through an adapted mowing schedule and the planting of many fruit-bearing trees, we try to give an extra boost to biodiversity.

To use water responsibly and reduce consumption, rain and irrigation water is collected in a wadi. This water is reused after a natural purification process. To optimise watering, we use soil sensors on our plots and the use of drip irrigation ensures optimal watering and prevents wastage. On a large part of our plots, we deploy level-controlled drainage for watering. This is a technique that allows us to water the trees underground, resulting in less evaporation. We generate the required electricity for this with local solar panels. By using wood chips, we reduce evaporation from the soil and suppress weed growth. It is also a good protection against the weather.

Sustainable cultivation is not only good for people and the environment, but also produces better trees. By exposing the tree to natural enemies during the growing process, the plant learns to protect itself. It is more resilient and recovers faster, which means it will perform better at its final planting site. Because our trees spend many years at the nursery, it will take some time before we can offer all our trees of full organic origin according to EU directives.