Tree Stock to feature at ‘Three Days of Trees’ in Melbourne
Wednesday, 3 October 2018
The nationally recognised Tree Stock standard is up for review; an initiative that could impact the nursery industry. Although not a mandatory standard, it is widely used to reduce risk and help ensure the successful establishment of container-grown trees in landscape plantings.
Having a national standard to assess the quality of container-grown trees has shown to be an important metric at instilling grower and customer confidence. Adopted in 2015, the AS2303:2018 tree stock standard is used to assess tree quality according to above-ground testing, below-ground testing and root to shoot balance.
From April 2016 to January 2017, a team from the Western Sydney University Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment travelled across Australia’s states and territory, visiting 23 wholesale nurseries; analysing the standard and the impact of varying climates and tree species. Findings indicated that the current standard was limiting, and modifications could be made surrounding the root to shoot balance criteria. For more information on the study findings, head to: http://bit.ly/TreeStocks
These important findings will be communicated over a series of Tree Stock Roadshow events, to be hosted in six of Australia’s state capitals starting at end of October, and concluding December 2018. These events provide a great opportunity to share these findings widely, and discuss what the Tree Stock Standard means for industry, production nurseries and customers.
The first Roadshow will take place in Melbourne later this month. Run by NGIV, the ‘Three Days of Trees’ event will launch on the 31st of October. Members from the WSU’s Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment will present their findings from the Tree Stock Standard project on Day 2 of the event.
Three Days of Trees – AS2303: Tree Stock for Landscape Use session
Session: Evaluation of Nursery Tree Stock Balance Parameters: Using AS2303 to determine Tree quality (as part of Three Days of Trees).
When: November 1, from 11am.
Where: Melbourne University, Burnley Campus, 500 Yarra Blvd, Richmond, VIC.
RSVP: Book online (tickets selling fast!) via the link below or call 03 9576 0599.
To register and for more information, click here to visit the NGIV website.
More information on the upcoming Roadshows will be available soon – stay tuned!
This event and the project Evaluation of Nursery Tree Stock Balance Parameters (NY15001) is funded by Hort Innovation using nursery research and development levies and funds from the Australian Government