Official Opening of the Almstead Tree Nursery at Russell Farms Community Park

WYCKOFF, N.J. - June 12, 2014 - PRLog -- Almstead Tree & Shrub Care Co. has donated 130 trees to begin a nursery at Russell Farms Community Park. They began the project last fall and completed the planting last weekend. The trees will be grown using organic methods and transplanted as street trees and ornamental flowering trees for parks. The trees in the nursery include Redbuds, Kousa Dogwoods, Flowering Dogwoods, Red Oaks, Swamp White Oaks, London Planes, Red Maples and Lindens.

"Russell Farms is designed for passive recreation and education," notes Michael Almstead, Vice President. "By creating this nursery, we can research different methods of organic care, and use it as a hands-on teaching environment. We plan to use the nursery to conduct seminars on organic land care, proper pruning and tree health and biology, for organizations such as school groups, garden clubs and scouts."

In order to achieve their Bronze award, the Girl Scouts from Troop 76 in Wyckoff have created a Tree Guide for visitors in the park. they also raised donations to have two signs installed labeling groups of Red Oaks and London Plane trees. They enthusiastically participated in transferring ladybugs to the nursery trees, with some help from Michael Almstead and arborist Ryan Duff. "Ladybugs are members of the beetle family," says Almstead. "They're favorite food is aphids -- each ladybug can eat 5,000 aphids in its lifetime. This is a way to control damaging insects organically. We also added liquid sea kep to the soil around each tree: this is a mix of organic acids and humates to encourage root development."

Almstead Tree & Shrub Care will continue to oversee the nursery, as well as participate in educational programs at the park.

About Almstead tree & Shrub Care Co.

Family owned and operated, Almstead Tree & Shrub Care Co. celebrates its 50th year in 2014; the company has been serving homeowners, businesses and communities in the tri-state area since 1964. Services include: tree pruning and removal, tree risk assessment, plant health care, lawn care using organic or traditional programs, tick and mosquito control, custom blend fertilization, horticultural consulting and disease and pest management. Headquartered in New Rochelle, NY, Almstead has locations in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Almstead can be reached at 800-427-1900 or online at http://www.almstead.com