Nursery operations update from the May 2018 AGM

The following comments were presented at the AGM by Peter Woodward, GOMPS Director and Nursery Project Manager. 

The GOMPS volunteer Garry Oak nursery is now in its second full year of operation.

Our oaks overwintered successfully; in the fall of 2017 we took them off the pallets and placed them directly on the landscaping fabric to prevent frost damage. At this point we have put them back on pallets for the summer. Being up off the ground accomplishes air pruning of the roots.

Oaks in 1-gallon pots up on pallets

With the seedlings potted up from 4" styroblocks into 1-gallon pots, all the available space on our irrigation strip has been taken up and work has started on a second irrigation strip. This will double our irrigated area.

Expansion area in foreground

We have now planted all the acorns collected last autumn and stored over winter in a fridge on site. Some 2,400 acorns were planted this spring and if 2,000 of them are viable, it will raise our total stock to about 6,000.

Acorns planted in 2" styroblocks

About 40 to 50 plants inherited from the City’s former nursery operation have all been repotted in larger, generally 5-gallon pots. These plants are five years old or more. In addition, a few field grown oaks in the range of 10 to 15 years were root pruned in the fall of 2017

No browsing damage has been noted on our stock from wildlife. The perimeter fence is secure and we have improved the gate to prevent ingress of rabbits.
In November of 2017 we successfully laid up our irrigation system for winter. This spring we put it back in operation.

Oaks inherited from the City of Victoria in 5-gallon pots

We officially tested the backflow device in April and submitted our report to the CRD as part of our obligation with respect to our linkage to Victoria's water supply system.

In March we delivered our second annual report to the city of Victoria.

Photos were taken by Jenny Hebb, GOMPS Director-At-Large & Nursery Volunteer Coordinator. Email: jenny.gomps@gmail.com