Bob Cook Fish Branch Tree Farm, Florida palms, FNGLA

Trees on the Go

November 29, 2018

Fish Branch Tree Farms in Zolfo Springs hosted the Trees on the Go educational seminar in partnership with FNGLA, Roots Plus Growers and ASLA Florida. Their nursery is a model tree farm emphasizing quality and consistency. 

Speakers: Dr. Ed Gilman (U.F. Professor Emeritus) on the state of the urban forest and early tree root training, John Conroy, owner of Fish Branch, about Grades and Standards, Lloyd Morgan about ideal handling and shipping of large trees, Joe Samnik, about legal issues regarding contracts/specifications (how not to get sued for negligence), Russell Adams about mass planting palms in difficult situations (Orlando highway sides), Mike Marshall, Marshall Tree Farms demonstrating grading trees and discussing the future of tree supply/demand.

Here is a link to the Florida Grades and Standards:  https://www.freshfromflorida.com/Divisions-Offices/Plant-Industry/Business-Services/Florida-Grades-and-Standards-for-Nursery-Plants-2015

  • Flanked by Mule palms.
  • Dr. Ed Gilman addressing urban tree challenges.
  • Mike Marshall teaching how to grade a tree: Florida Fancy, #1 or #2.
  • LLoyd Morgan showing proper tree handling and protection.
  • Uniformity on display. Live Oaks.
  • Dr. Gilman showing good roots versus defective roots and how they are formed.
  • New pots that air root-prune to form a dense, fibrous system.
  • Elle pots made of paper that also encourage a fibrous root system.
  • These tree roots were grown in a typical plastic pot that forced the roots to grow in circles: Defective!
  • These lower branches contribute to a thicker stem (caliper) that will be removed before shipping.
  • These young oaks are selected, then directed to create the best shade tree…five to seven years down the road.