Ex Ground Trees

What ex ground trees actually are

An ex ground tree is grown in open farm soil rather than a container, root pruned over successive seasons to build a compact, fibrous rootball, then lifted for sale. The result is a tree of 4m to 12m with real trunk calibre, ready to give shade and structure in its first summer. This is how avenue plantings, resorts and premium residential projects get an established landscape on day one instead of year ten.

How to choose

Start with climate, because at this price a mismatch is expensive. For subtropical and tropical projects, jacaranda, poinciana, Tabebuia trumpet trees, golden penda and frangipani are the proven avenue and feature choices. In warm temperate gardens, water gum, weeping lilly pilly, native frangipani and ivory curl tree all perform. For cool temperate and frost prone sites, look to the deciduous options here, ornamental pear and liquidambar, which also carry the strongest autumn colour in the range.

Then choose on role. Screening runs suit weeping lilly pilly 'Warners Select' and 'Green Avenue'. Flowering feature trees include the Michelia magnolias, Bauhinia and Cassia. The boab is a sculptural one off for a project that wants a centrepiece nothing else can provide. Container grown alternatives at everyday prices are in our flowering trees and deciduous trees collections.

Site access and delivery

These trees travel on trucks and are placed by crane or large excavator, so access decides feasibility before budget does. Check gate widths, overhead wires and the swing path for the crane. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, with specialist transport quoted for every ex ground order, so talk to us with your site details before you buy. Smaller advanced sizes of many of the same species are in the advanced trees collection.

Planting and establishment

Dig the hole no deeper than the rootball and twice as wide, sit the tree at its original soil level and backfill with the excavated soil. Water in with at least 100L, then build a soil berm around the rootball edge and fill it two or three times a week for the first three months, tapering over two years. Stake or guy wire for the first 18 months. A tree this size is buying you time, not skipping establishment: the watering schedule is the difference between a landmark and a loss.

Common questions

How big are these trees on arrival?

Most are between 4m and 12m tall depending on species, with several years of trunk development. Each listing states the current height and rootball details, and we can supply photos of the actual trees before you commit.

Why do ex ground trees cost so much more?

You are paying for five to fifteen years of farm growing, repeated root pruning, then lifting, cranage and freight. Priced against a decade of waiting on a landscape, established projects usually find the numbers reasonable.

Do they transplant reliably at this size?

Yes, because the root pruning program builds a dense rootball long before lifting. Survival comes down to handling and the first two years of watering, and every tree is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Can I order one for a normal suburban backyard?

If a crane can reach the planting position, yes. Rear yards with no side access are usually the sticking point, so measure access first and send us the details for a freight and placement quote.