Sustainability & Biodiversity
For our tree nursery, sustainability is an important issue. We are visibly making the world a lot greener, but how is sustainability woven into our business processes? Our goal is to promote a balanced and resilient environment so that our plants can grow and flourish naturally. Read along to see how we approach this.
Natural pesticides on the nursery
At Smits Nursery we strive to reduce the use of chemical pesticides as much as possible. Of course we comply with applicable laws and regulations in this area, but we like to go a step further. We are committed to accelerating this process by implementing natural solutions. For example, we sow flower mixtures, which we use to naturally combat diseases and pests. Moreover, these flowers promote biodiversity on and around the nursery. We are also currently growing mixed hedge elements (think Hawthorn and Blackthorn). In fact, these species – on top of our existing range of hedge plants – make a positive contribution to biodiversity. Both at the nursery and in the end customer’s garden.
Water consumption on the tree nursery
At our nursery, healthy soil is a crucial factor. For both our own cultivation and the preservation of nature. Healthy soil must always have access to sufficient water. This is why we have set up our plots with level-controlled drainage. This allows us to retain water longer and control its release. This approach contributes to the quality of our plants, reduces water consumption and supports the environment. It also reduces CO2 emissions, as we have to drive around significantly less with tractors. Moreover, we collect rainwater in large basins, which are used to water the container field and our tree park.
Healthy soil
To maintain healthy soil, we give the soil a year’s rest after each crop. During this time we sow green manures, which naturally restores the soil. In this way, we ensure that our soil remains healthy and fertile for future crops.