Nitrogen is a vital nutrient for plant growth and although about 78% of the earth’s atmosphere is nitrogen, most plants cannot utilise this. The majority of nitrogen is provided in the form of industrially produced fertilizers. Nitrogen fixing plants, on the other hand, are hugely beneficial in any ecosystem because they have the ability to transform nitrogen from the air into the soil. When their leaves fall and their roots die, the excess nitrogen is released back into the soil where it is picked up by other plants in the area and utilized for their own growth. The plants are also capable of growing in poor soils and improving them through their nitrogen fixation. In this way various trees and plants growing next to each other (including the nitrogen fixers playing their unique role), can thrive in harmony. This benefits the plants themselves, but also the soil, microbes, insects and animals, and last but not least- us humans. PERMACULTURE is a fairly new term applied to this really old concept. Bareroot trees

BLACK LOCUST 30-60cm (1- 2') On Own Root

$14.95

In stock

(Robinia pseudoacacia)
This fast growing native North American legume tree has many uses. It is a nitrogen fixer and a good choice to plant with black walnut or chestnut in a shelter-belt or windbreak setting. Also ideal for hostile sites with poor or depleted soil, clay or gravel as it is very tough and drought resistant. The tree has fern-like foliage covering thorny branches and extremely fragrant strands of white flowers in the spring which bees find irresistible. Hard rot-resistant lumber makes long lasting fence posts and the highest BTU firewood. Mature trees can reach 18 meters (60') in height and 9 meters (30') in width.

ZONE 3

$14.95 each
10 plus $10.95 each

Rootstock
Zone
Rootstocks
G41 Dwarf
(2.5-3.1m/8-10ft)
G935 Small Semi-Dwarf
(3.25-4m/10-13ft)
G969 Small Semi-Dwarf
(3.25-4m/10-14ft)
G30 Semi-Dwarf
(3.6-5m/12-16ft)
G890 Semi-Dwarf
(3.6-5m/13-16ft)
Pollenator definitions
Some trees and many berry plants are SELF-FERTILE ̶means the insect pollinators or even the wind can pollinate the blossoms without the need of a second tree.
NEEDS A POLLENIZER ̶ means another tree of the same type or kind but a different variety must be blooming nearby at the same time.
EXAMPLE A Liberty apple and a Wealthy apple can cross-pollinate. Two trees of the same variety ie: ̶ 2 Wealthy apples, cannot cross pollinate because they are genetically identical.
Other trees are marked as SEMI-FERTILE. These will set fruit without a second tree. However they will often bear more, and sometimes larger fruit if another variety of the same kind of tree is nearby.
You can select 2 different trees of the same kind marked as NEEDS A POLLENIZER or plant one of those along with one SELF-FERTILE or one SEMI-FERTILE. Also consider ripening times ̶ a Goldrush apple might not start blooming before a Pristine is finished.

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