Trees with year-round interest are the focus of young Maryland nursery Raemelton Farm

When Steve Black founded Raemelton Farm in June 2004, he quickly learned two lessons: Don’t re-invent the wheel and don’t be afraid to invent a wheel.

Black didn’t inherit a family nursery with built-in processes. Instead, he looked to his fellow growers for guidance on how to set up the nursery.

The first field of balled-and-burlapped stock was planted in March 2005. By December 2005, Black installed drip irrigation lines and valves, sod aisles and deer-exclusion fencing.

Double duty

The nursery’s drip irrigation system uses pressure-compensating emitters and covers 100 percent of the production area.

“Blocks are individually controlled by electric valves, all of which are centrally managed by an automated system,” Black said.

In spring 2008, the nursery will partner with the University of Maryland to develop a soil moisture sensor system, which will drive irrigation based on actual water content of the ground, he said.

Black also uses the drip system for applying fertilizer. The chemigation system also is automated.

“We conducted a trial with University of Maryland to use the irrigation system-injected systemic pesticide for control of potato leafhopper. It was ridiculously effective,” he said.

Save the soil

Black uses grass aisles for soil conservation, soil building and improved rain infiltration. But with the benefits come the cost of mowing the grass. He typically mows 10 times a year. Black tried a low rate (5 ounces per acre) of glyphosate to suppress, but not kill, the fescue in the aisles.

“It saved us four mowings without any permanent damage to the grass,” he said.

The nursery also uses cover crops including sudex (a hybrid of sorghum and Sudan grass) and soy beans.

“In a good year, sudex can add 28 tons per acre of organic matter,” he said. “We also try to grow flowering cover crops in fallow rows for soil conservation and as a habitat for beneficial insects.”

Pest protection

Beneficial insects are important to Black’s production method. He doesn’t yet apply biological controls, but he encourages naturally occurring beneficials.

“We have a pretty complete integrated pest management program. We contract a pair of trained, experienced pest scouts who visit the farm every other week during the growing season,” he said.

Black actively seeks out and uses the most focused chemicals for the problem pest. He does not conduct any form of scheduled cover spray.

“We apply chemical pesticides in the most targeted way we can devise, such as the application of systemic agents through the drip system directly into the tree root zones,” he said.

Protecting beneficials does not end with the six-legged variety. Black recently installed a pair of raptor perches in the production area to help with vole control.

He protects crops from deer grazing with an 8-foot perimeter fence and a double-deep cattle guard.

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“Because we are constantly increasing our production area, we used steel fence on the permanent perimeter and plastic fence on the temporary sides. Each year we take down, move and reinstall the plastic to save on materials costs,” he said.

For more: Raemelton Farm, (240) 416-0714; www.raemelton.com.

Raemelton Farm

Founded: By Steve Black in June 2004.

Location: Adamstown, Md.

Crops: Trees and shrubs of four-season interest,

with a focus on pest and disease resistance.

Sizes sold: 2- to 4-inch-caliper B&B trees and mature shrubs.

Production space: 30 acres of trees and 175 tillable acres.

Market: Local and regional landscapers and

commercial property managers.

- Kelli Rodda

March 2008