• Why a nursery?
• Practical education for students in the green sector
• Nursery tours
• A visit to the nursery; preparation is half the work.
• Make sure the guidelines are known
• Harvesting and delivering your order

For a planting scheme to be successful, high-quality planting stock is essential. Key factors in this regard include: the choice of species, the authenticity of the species, the origin of the planting stock, the practices employed during cultivation, and the type of soil used in combination with the choice of species. In short, choosing a reliable supplier with a reputable nursery is of crucial importance. All the procedures carried out at a nursery determine the shape and, to a large extent, the lifespan of a tree. Cultivation requires knowledge, time, expertise and space, and this largely determines the price of the tree. At our nursery, the trees are grown with care and attention so that they arrive well-prepared for their final planting site. Key operations in this process include pruning (to create a balanced temporary canopy), repeated transplanting and guiding growth. Upon delivery, rootballing, loading and storage are also essential. We prepare trees for their future and permanent planting site.

Given the developments in horticultural education, the transfer of targeted practical knowledge is invaluable today. Ebben Nursery welcomes students from horticultural courses to add an extra dimension to their existing theoretical knowledge and put it directly into practice. Through a wide range of workshops and courses for students, Ebben Nursery offers a valuable addition to existing education. In addition to students, there is a growing group of people from other professional backgrounds who come to attend an in-depth workshop. We determine the topics in advance in consultation with the client.

During a nursery tour – also known as a ‘tree safari’ – you’ll see up close how we grow trees, care for them and prepare them for transport. We’ll take you to see the finest specimens and show you the growing process, from young seedlings to mature trees. We’ll also provide insight into sustainable cultivation and land use, and you’ll get a sense of our craftsmanship. During the tours, we are happy to discuss species selection, applications in public spaces and the importance of biodiversity. A tour is inspiring, educational and gives you a good idea of the possibilities surrounding the use and application of trees. For larger groups, we drive around in our distinctive yellow school buses. But there is also plenty to see on foot. Make an appointment.

With an area of 550 hectares spread across 197 different plots, a visit to the nursery is an enjoyable but time-consuming undertaking. That is why it is important to be well prepared before visiting the nursery. During this visit, we will work with you to identify which trees are suitable for your landscaping project. The starting point is usually a planting plan so that we have a clear idea of quantities and dimensions in advance. Please allow plenty of time for the visit; the nursery is large and the plots are not all located together, meaning we can easily spend several hours there. The wide variety of trees provides inspiration for future projects, so we tend to look at more rather than fewer options. We recommend going through some species with your contact person in advance and, if necessary, requesting an initial quote as a guide. You can also discuss how much time you should set aside for the nursery visit.

It is advisable not to stick strictly to the planting plan. The most beautiful projects emerge when you allow yourself to be surprised by the beauty of the many tree species. The nursery is the perfect place to find inspiration. It is important, however, that the basic requirements are clear in advance, such as root ball sizes, heights or widths. The type of soil, as well as the intended location, is also important. It makes a big difference whether a tree will be in the sun or in the shade, or whether it is intended to provide shade or, conversely, to let the light through. Also bear in mind weight and space restrictions for loading and unloading the lorry. For very specific project applications, such as trees on a roof garden, more detailed project planning in advance is essential, and this often involves several visits to the nursery beforehand. In any case, it is often helpful to have a total or indicative budget in mind, as this allows us to make a selection of trees in advance that fits within that budget.

At the nursery, we are at the mercy of the seasons. Trees can only be rootballed and delivered when they are dormant. This is the time when the leaves have fallen. This period generally runs from early November to mid-April, weather permitting. We do not dig up trees during severe frost, and if spring starts early and the tree has already begun to sprout, the season ends sooner. In some cases, we can dig up the trees earlier and store them in a depot; they will then sprout a little later, allowing us to deliver them later in the season.

The equipment you need for transporting and planting trees depends partly on the weight of the root ball and the size of the tree. You can find the average weight of root balls relative to the tree’s trunk size in the root ball information table.