Plants are essentially nutrient transfer agents; naturally, if they aren’t in the right soil and conditions, they won’t flourish or be able to provide as much benefit as they would if planted in the right conditions. Browse through our plant offering by category or search our plant catalog for specific plants. You’ll learn valuable information about each one including the proper soils to plant them in and the natural benefits you and the wildlife will receive from planting them.
At Mossy Oak Nativ Nurseries, we follow a belief that “every tree is a snowflake.” In other words, no two trees or plants are alike, and we rely on the variation within the species to develop seedling stock from parent trees that exhibit traits that are superior for wildlife and your property.
The idea of using a selection process for improving plants is not a new one. For example, many fruits and vegetables have been improved for pest resistance, flavor, storage, and shelf appeal, and others. Several pine tree species have been improved with faster growth, resistance to disease, and superior timber quality. Most importantly to us is that very little has been done to improve the oaks for enhanced mast production for wildlife…until now.
Oaks from most nurseries are simply referred to by their scientific and common name followed with a brief description about their general value to wildlife. While every individual oak can provide acorns for wildlife, it’s common knowledge that certain individuals within a species drop more acorns or are more desired than the one growing nearby. Thanks to this wide range of variation within the species, we search for traits that wildlife and wildlife enthusiasts prefer, and only collect seed from parent trees that exhibit those preferred traits. For example, the white oaks are notorious for dropping only on “good years,” which may be once every four or five years. That’s why we only collect acorns from white oaks that produce crops on a consistent basis. Drop times also vary within the species. We noticed a few Shumard oaks that consistently drop much earlier or later than the norm. Planting seedlings from these trees can allow you to “customize” your planting areas based on when they drop. Several of our oaks were chosen because deer seem to single their acorns out compared to the same species surrounding it, which tells us they must taste better. We also choose for precocity, which is the ability to produce a crop at a much younger age than normal. If wildlife and property managers want it, we’ve probably made selections for it!
Managing wildlife all begins with managing the habitat. Improving natural habitat is the most important gift you can give your land and its inhabitants. Planting food plots, maintaining roads, controlled burning, and deer herd management are all good ways to ensure that you and the wildlife are getting the most out of your land. However, often times many forget that the addition of natural elements can be the best thing you can do for your property. Water, food, and cover are the essential parts of a habitat. At Nativ Nurseries, these are our specialty.
The Nativ Nurseries Rapid Mast system utilizes a combination of our own proprietary treatments, focused on producing the absolute healthiest stock and root system available. The process begins with seed collection, with parent tree traits such as; mast production at a young age(precocity), vigorous growth, heavy and consistent production, wildlife preference, and disease resistance. Our select seeds are propagated and raised in greenhouse/nursery facilities following a specific protocol that ensures a fibrous and aggressive lateral root system. These fibrous “feeder” roots allow the plant to assimilate exponentially more nutrients and water, resulting in larger, healthier, stress tolerant stock that literally takes off when transplanted into its permanent home. The Nativ Nurseries Rapid Mast system is a completely natural, yet enhanced growth environment that can offer results from mast producing trees much sooner than ever before thought possible! Research indicates that not only do these plants grow much faster and survive much better, they typically produce mast in less than half the time of most traditional plantings…sometimes even three times faster!!
So if you’re interested in providing your property and it’s wildlife nothing but the best that Mother Nature can provide, look no further than Mossy Oak Nativ Nurseries! We’re picky! We’re serious about success, and know you are too, which is why we do what we do.