Grow Trees from Seeds with Nick Wrenn
Each month, we share expert-led training sessions to help community orchard stewards grow and care for thriving fruit trees. On this page, you’ll find a recorded workshop, a summary of key takeaways, and additional resources to deepen your knowledge. Be sure to explore past workshops for even more insights into urban orcharding best practices!
Interested in attending a workshop? Sign up for our workshop series email list!
Workshop Summary:
Getting Started
Outline your goals & resources
Start small - don’t overextend yourself
Decide on a focus area
Appropriate diversity of plants
Basic Materials
Seeds, cuttings, or small plants
Nursery Beds or Pots
Soil, Mulch & Compost
Irrigation
Browse Protection (Deer, Rabbit, Squirrels, etc.)
Seed Sources
Collect seed locally
Free, except for your time
Locally adapted seed (potentially)
Full control over quality
Grow seed processing skills
Buy seed from other nurseries
Instant access to seed in exchange for cash
Specific genetics not accessible locally
Questionable quality
Minimal seed processing skills required
Seed Storage
Each species is different
Some seeds require stratification (Hot or Cold)
Some require scarification (Breaking Outer Layer: Water, Acid, File)
Forest Service “Woody Plant Seed” Manual (Insert Link)
Where to grow your trees
Air Pruning Beds
Build frames
Fill with soil/compost
Degrades over time
Protects nuts from rodents
Tap root remains intact
Easy to dig trees
In-Ground Beds
Prepare the soil once (kill grass/weeds)
Mound up organic matter
Improves over time
Cover crop potential
Nuts more exposed
Easy to dig
Pots
Pots are familiar to customers
Used pots are cheap
Fabric pot benefits
Root binding can be an issue
Almost anything can be a pot (milk crates/plastic cups/containers)
Soil, Mulch, & Compost
Use what is available locally
Preference: leaf compost, worm compost, wood chips
Trees in pots are pickier than trees in beds
Do not use “hot” (high nitrogen) inputs
Heavy clay - drainage issues
Pure sand - won’t hold water
Beware of hay (weed seeds and spray contaminants)
Irrigation
Wells are nice
Rainwater also works
Hose and quality of life
Automated systems
Protection
Hardware cloth for rodents
Plastic or electric deer fence
Welded wire for rabbits & groundhogs
Living fences & dead hedges
Taxes & Regulation
Each state is different
Living Soil Farm nursery is an LLC
Federal & State tax
Nursery inspections & licenses
US Plant Board
Sowing Seed
Large seeds can be mulched heavily
Small seeds need intense care
Larger spacing = larger trees
Smaller spacing = more trees
Rodents
Fall plant or after the first frost
Digging Up Your Trees
Slow and careful
Straight shovel @ 90 degrees
Moist soil helps big time!
Trees can handle some root damage
Water soak
Tree Storage
Pots Over Winter
Need insulation from freezing
Keep the soil moist
Heeling Bare Root Trees
Tucking roots into loose soil
Water deeply
Mulch
Finding Customers
Word of mouth
Facebook marketplace
Website
Social media
Other nurseries
Landscapers
Municipalities
Tree Distribution
Roots can not dry out in transit
Pack in moist medium (compost, woodchips, leaves)
When shipping the medium must be inert (sawdust coco coir, peatmoss)
About Nick Wrenn:
Nick Wrenn has always been connected to trees, from playing in the woods as a child to working as a landscaper near Philadelphia. After studying Civil Engineering and working in construction management, he shifted his focus to plants in 2020. Inspired by Dr. Elaine Ingham, he completed the Soil Food Web School foundations courses in 2021 and delved into permaculture, regenerative agriculture, and agroforestry. Over the past four years, Nick has held various roles on small-scale farms, co-run seed swaps, and established a tree nursery and food forest on his grandparents’ farm in Cedar Grove, NC, where he grows thousands of mostly native, food-producing trees. In 2024, he expanded to a second site in Bassett, VA, while continuing to explore sustainable tree-growing techniques.
