I'm curious to hear from landscaping professionals about how sourcing mature trees locally would impact your projects. Specifically, if you could easily find and acquire established trees—rather than just saplings—how would that influence your designs, client options, or overall business operations? What opportunities and challenges would come up with this easier access to larger, healthier trees? Looking forward to your insights!
2 Answers
I typically work with trees that are about 1.25" to 1.5" caliper, and they serve me well. They're manageable and establish quickly without major transplant shock. While there might be a niche for larger trees for high-end clients looking for that 'instant landscape' effect, that's not a huge market. Most clients appreciate the smaller trees just fine!
It really depends on what you're trying to solve. Most landscapers I know can source trees without much hassle. I usually stick to 2-4" caliper sizes since they're easier to plant and manage. I have a few reliable wholesalers that can get me up to 6" caliper just with a couple of calls. For anything larger, I rely on specialty farms, but sourcing isn't much of an issue for me. What are you specifically trying to address with your question?