Page 17 - Landscape SA 104

PROFILE

Company activities
Nectasource’s tree and plant supply
service manages the broking of plants to
client specification, while guided by their
own quality criteria. They have developed
a standard procedure over time that
meets specie specific requirements to
accommodate the service offered by
their turnkey solutions. This includes
transplanting, storage and preservation of
trees, allowing each transplant optimum
survival opportunity.
They have transplanted thousands of trees
successfully over the years; even the more
difficult species such as Protea, Searsia
and Acacia trees have been successfully
relocated.

Value added services include tree
assessments and maintenance contracts,
root management and barrier systems, tree
anchoring, cabling and bracing systems,
tree replacement recommendations and
policies, identification and tagging of
trees, industrial vegetation management
(IVM), integrated pest management (IPM), Jacaranda re-location
drainage systems and in situ staff training.
Ray is a founding member and co-director universities in the USA and China to find following rigid OHS implementation helps
of the newly established South African solutions for the treatment of Fusarium to manage the risks.
Tree Care Association (SATCA). Together and other ascomycete pathogens
with other arborists, he has established existing in trees. This falls under their Large tree work is researched individually,
SATCA to help advance the urban tree care Tree Doctor Service which extends to taking into consideration all influencing
industry through educational, safety and biological inspection using whatever factors. This approach has delivered an
professional development programmes, method is required to address plant astounding track record of a 97% survival
as well as developing and introducing distress, combining physical observation, rate for over 25 000 trees exported.
internationally acceptable performance laboratory testing and structural analysis.
standards based on current research and The value of methods developed for
sound practice to manage trees, shrubs Nectasource developed the initial exports through years of trial and error
and other woody plants. treatments for the Rhynchophorus manifested recently during Covid-19,
phoenicis, (African Palm Weevil) and creating a backlog and general chaos in
Ray has also been involved in identifying continues to manage the palm trees at the shipping industry. Container transit
and working alongside the Forestry and various corporate buildings and casinos, times are normally 36 days, however due
Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI) where Phoenix palms are a central part of to port limitations, container transit times
in conjunction with other arborists to help the design. were extended to more than 120 days.
develop solutions for the Polyphagous From port to the customer’s nursery, all
Shot Hole Borer (PSHB) infestation that Conditions on site can be challenging trees were delivered in good health.
was first identified in South Africa in and high risk when dealing with large
2017. In addition, he is working alongside trees, often with difficult access, However, Sound relationships with clients and
suppliers are part of the company’s core
tenet, and they prefer to work through a
problem rather than change suppliers or
Typical installation of Phoenix canariensis palm tree walk away from unhappy clients.
Projects that the public may be familiar
with include the transplanting of Jacaranda
trees along many Bus Rapid Transit System
(BRT) routes in Johannesburg and Pretoria,
relocation and supply of trees during the
2010 World Cup, as well as various capital
projects for Peermont Global and Sun
International casinos.
Information and photos supplied by
Nectasource LSA

Landscape SA • Issue 104 2021 15