About Us

Accredited nurseries are conscious of quality. NIASA (Nursery Industry Accreditation Scheme Australia), EcoHort and BioSecure HACCP are national accreditation schemes with the purpose of reassuring the buyer of industry best practice.

They also highlight growers already investing time and money in quality, processes and product performance.

Speciality Trees prides itself in producing superior material focusing on a trees structure and root ball.  Being NIASA accredited means that we are accountable with audits and strict process compliance. With recent concern over bio-security issues, NIASA also provides a safety net against the spread of unwanted weeds, pests and disease. Our environmental stewardship and commitment to the wellbeing of the community we live in is covered off by the inclusion of EcoHort certification.

NIASA accredited and EcoHort® certified, our material is produced with the highest respect to environmental standards. As a NIASA accredited nursery we have ongoing accountability in the following key production areas:

• Quality of stock entering the nursery.  Good feeder stock is vital; we are particular about the quality of all material into the nursery for growing on.
• Regular formative pruning.  Pruning is carried out to promote health and a strong branching structure.  Early removal of problematic branches assures the tree will have a single dominant stem and a crown requiring less pruning when established.
• Regular root pruning. Root pruning is vital and is conducted every time potting occurs. The ability of the tree to thrive post planting is clearly linked to the tree’s root structure and its ability to anchor and support itself in soil.
• Tailored growing media. After trials and observations over many years, the importance of a high quality mix tailored to the requirements of each species is vital, as is the purchase from accredited potting mix manufacturers.
• Irrigation management.  One hundred percent reliable on our own site for water capture, our irrigation systems are constantly reviewed to maximise use and minimise plant stress.  Recent changes provide a saving of up to 10% by delivering a more considered timing, volume and frequency.
• Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Our IPM system has been in place now for over a decade with outstanding success.  Ongoing training provides a focused and shared understanding of the need to keep an ecological balance within the nursery. Select members of staff are given a focused responsibility for areas of nutrition, pest, weed and disease management giving Speciality Trees a holistic approach to plant health.

Australian Standard AS2303 - Tree Stock for Landscape Use

Australian Standard AS2303 – Tree Stock for Landscape Use - provides technical above and below the ground information to evaluate the quality of tree material grown by production nurseries.

So why do we need AS2303?

• To provide growers, specifiers and purchasers with criteria for the selection of quality trees
• To simplify the specification process
• To educate buyers about production processes
• To encourage  growers  to be accountable for their product
• Promote a higher level of industry professionalism
• To recognise the value of trees, and 
• Ensure better tree performance in the landscape.

Speciality Trees is proud of its material consistency. For us, AS2303 is a welcome dimension to our business, as it opens up discussion between the buyer and the seller on not only how a quality tree is grown but on the attributes sought for new residential lines sometimes based on slight genetic differences.

With a balanced view and transparent processes, both the buyer and seller are in a better position.

So what should you look for when buying trees?

• Material that is true to type
• With appropriate height and calliper  
• The tree must look healthy with adequate crown density, good cover & form, leaf colour & size, absence of epicormic shoots and absence of dieback
• Look for crown symmetry
• Trees with appropriate stem taper that are self supporting
• Trees with good branching off a strong central leader
• Premium material is formatively pruned with no signs of included bark
• Rootballs should show no evidence of suckering or girdling.

We believe AS2303 will drive growers towards new and better processes on each and every species they grow, as well as highlight those innovative nurseries already growing to quality production standards.