Trees are an important component of many golf courses. Maintaining a healthy tree population requires an adequate budget, sound maintenance practices and careful consideration when deciding what types of trees to plant. Selecting tree species that are well adapted to the local environment is essential for producing high-quality trees that enhance the landscape. Many golf courses purchase new trees from a commercial nursery when replacing or adding trees to their property. However, limited inventory, questionable plant stock, significantly different soil conditions and the overall cost associated with purchasing trees from commercial nurseries pose a concern for superintendents tasked with managing hundreds, if not thousands of trees at a given property.
An on-site tree nursery was created at Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club to meet the facility’s tree needs in a more sustainable and fiscally responsible way. The nursery was created in an unused area of the property that rarely came into play. The 0.5-acre site was conveniently located between two holes and in close proximity to existing irrigation.
Establishment costs of the tree nursery were minimal. All of the trees started out as seedlings that were purchased for $0.50 each. The stakes and ties used to secure the young trees came from on-site materials and are reused. Other necessary materials included above-ground irrigation, some starter fertilizer and mulch to place around the bases of the trees.
At least once per year, the young trees are pruned to encourage strong branching and remove codominant leaders. Once the trees mature to a 3- to 4-inch trunk diameter at breast height, they are transplanted using a tree spade owned by the facility. Only the best trees that have demonstrated steady growth are selected. On average, 80% of the trees from the nursery will be transplanted to other areas of the property. Every five years or so the entire nursery is replanted with a new batch of seedlings.
The current tree nursery was established in February of 2012 and consists of the following tree species that have demonstrated success in Oklahoma:
Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa)
Chinkapin Oak (Quercus muehlenbergii)
Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)
Golden Rain Tree (Koelreuteria paniculata)
Shumard Oak (Quercus shumardii)
Chinka-Bur hybrid (Q. muehlenbergii x Q. macrocarpa)
Over the past 30 years, the maintenance staff at Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club has transplanted some 600 trees that were originally established in their on-site nursery. This has helped to ensure that only well-adapted, vigorous trees with a track record of success are planted on the golf course.
Species that tend to struggle and individual trees of poor quality are easily screened out and not used. Growing the trees on-site eliminates soil compatibility issues and the short transportation time reduces transplant stress. This results in less shock to the young trees and ultimately a healthier plant.
Significant financial savings have also been achieved by using an on-site tree nursery. Instead of having to pay upwards of $200 for a 3-inch caliper tree, the club is paying $0.50 to purchase the seedling and investing a small amount of maintenance time in pruning, watering and mulching. On average, it takes five or six labor hours to transplant a single tree.
While golf course tree management is often focused on pruning and removal of problem trees, there are many courses that are also looking to add the right trees in the right locations. An on-site tree nursery is an affordable way to build and maintain a healthy tree population with trees that have a high probability of being successful.
Need help with the trees on your course? Our Tree Evaluation consulting visit can help you evaluate tree plantings as they relate to turfgrass health and provide short- and long-term recommendations for removals, pruning and planting.
Central Region Agronomists:
Paul Jacobs, agronomist – pjacobs@usga.org
Zach Nicoludis, agronomist – znicoludis@usga.org