At our nursery in Oirschot, we know one thing for certain: a tree is only as strong as the soil in which it is grown. That is why we grow our avenue trees and multi-stemmed trees in fertile soil where soil structure, organic matter and soil life are key.
Living, fertile soil does things that no artificial intervention can replace:
Our conclusion is simple: a tree is only as resilient as the soil in which it is grown. That is why we make a long-term investment in soil that is alive, vibrant and biologically balanced, making the use of chemicals virtually unnecessary. We have been applying this principle for years. Would you like to know how we do it?
On plots that are not currently in use, we sow specific green manure crops to allow the soil to recover and become richer. We also use dual-purpose green manure crops such as Tagetes (marigolds); these plants not only provide more organic matter for the soil but also help to control nematodes in the soil. These fallow crops:
As a result, our soil becomes more fertile every year and our trees become more resilient.
Our autonomous mowing and weeding system is a major step towards sustainable farming. It enables us to:
Healthy soil must allow air, water and roots to move freely. That is why we use:
As a result, our soil becomes more fertile every year and our trees become more resilient.
To maintain optimum soil quality, we use water-level-controlled drainage on almost all our plots. The drainage pipes are installed in the ground at six-metre intervals.
This system enables us to precisely regulate the water level in the soil, which is essential for maintaining the stability of the soil structure and preventing both drought and waterlogging. By optimising water management in this way, we support a healthy growing environment for our crops.
The major advantage of this system over reel irrigation is that we can maintain a consistent water level and retain more rainwater in the soil. This ensures that the trees can always absorb moisture through capillary action, even during dry periods.
We sow wildflower mixes amongst our growing beds. Not for ornamental purposes, but to promote biodiversity:
The result: less stress on the trees, fewer interventions and more natural forces at work.
Insect hotels have been placed in several locations around the nursery to encourage beneficial insects such as:
Together with a healthy soil biota, they form a rich soil food web.
Thanks to these measures, every tree grows in soil that is well-aerated, rich in organic matter, teeming with microbial life, capable of retaining and draining water effectively, and naturally keeping diseases and pests in check. This results in strong, future-proof trees that are prepared for tomorrow’s climate from day one. And that, in our view, is the essence of sustainable cultivation: not treating the symptoms, but investing in the fundamentals.
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