Today I worked in the field using a ring hoe to break up weeds along rows of tiny buttonbush seedlings as well as other species. This was to keep rye grass from out-competing the young plants as they grow. Doing this in the fall is important because rye is an extremely tolerant plant and can survive much lower temperatures than others. Cutting it in the fall keeps its roots from further developing and taking up nutrients that the seedlings need. The first picture above shows a row of seeds covered with leaf litter from local landscaping companies. The ICN uses leaf litter to protect the seeds and to simulate germination conditions present in a natural environment. The leaves break down and replenish the soil's nutrients which eliminates the need for fertilizers and allows for quality crops of trees year after year. Activities like this show that a tree nursery is not a seasonal line of work, but that there are things to be done throughout most of, if not all of the year.

-Josh