Cherry Lake Tree Farm in Groveland is celebrating over 30 years in business. The farm is an 1,800-acre nursery growing quality trees, shrubs and palms with an innovative environmental stewardship focusing on water management, integrated pest management and nutrient management.

Over the past five years, Cherry Lake Tree Farm has reduced its water consumption by 15 percent, while simultaneously increasing its production by 15 percent. This was achieved through the implementation of best practices, new technology and innovative production management techniques. The farm adopted soil moisture sensor and evapotranspiration-based irrigation technology recommended by the St. Johns River Water Management District. Nursery trees and plants with similar water needs are grouped strategically into the same irrigation zones to further reduce the amount of irrigation. In addition, the farm is converting to a new irrigation emitter that is projected to save an additional 70 million to 80 million gallons of water each year.

Cherry Lake Tree Farm practices integrated pest management by effectively minimizing chemical use and promoting plant health. The farm tracks the data generated from multiple weather stations located throughout the nursery to know precisely when to spray. Scouting, beneficials, biological, horticultural soaps and oils, and traps are used to produce healthy plants while using the least amount of pesticides. In turn, these healthy plants and trees possess a higher natural pest resistance, and they carry this with them once they leave the farm and are planted into the landscape.

To further increase the plants’ natural immunity, the team promotes the use of supplemental foliar nutritionals. Nutrient management at Cherry Lake Tree Farm includes optimal fertilizer application, which reduces runoff and maximizes efficacy and uptake, using precision timing, frequency and rate. Fertilizer trials are conducted to evaluate efficacy of products and application method by plant species. Routine soil and tissue analysis is used for monitoring nutrition.

Cherry Lake Tree Farm’s environmental program starts with the company’s higher purpose: “We believe that through our sustainable connection to the environment we can transform the world exponentially.” This statement helps align the owners, leadership and all of Cherry Lake’s employees, vendors and partners around the farm’s environmental goals, promoting a culture of stewardship and responsibility.

This article originally appeared on FreshfromFlorida.com, here.