Every healthy landscape begins with a well-harvested tree. To maintain plant quality, we time our field digs to match the natural growth cycle of the species.
Loma Vista Nursery’s process is a disciplined approach that provides our wholesale clients with premium in-ground stock. Our 650-acre tree farm in Willow Springs, Kansas sits on premium farmland soil divided into specialty areas, with each containing a variety of deciduous and evergreen trees.
High-quality trees are grown at Loma Vista Nursery’s 650-acre tree farm in Willow Springs, Kansas.
We dig twice each year to fulfill client orders. In late winter, spring digging starts as temperatures begin to warm. So, right now we’re looking at the entire range of our plant material, including smaller ornamental trees. Our fall dig typically starts later in the growing season once we have sufficient moisture at the farm and temperatures drop low enough. Fall is all about evergreens, crabapples and maples.
Digging occurs each year with the transition of the seasons, in spring and fall.
Client orders drive our digs. We start receiving fall orders in early September and finish taking them by mid-October. On a parallel track, we begin collecting spring orders in September and take them electronically and by phone well into early January.
Tall, healthy and proud—trees on our farm are grown in rich, loam soil.
Once an order is confirmed at our Ottawa, Kansas headquarters, our sales team sends it to the shipping department where tags are printed with the customer’s basic information. Tags are then sent to our Willow Springs tree farm where each specimen is physically marked according to the customer’s order. This ensures the exact tree selected for them is the tree that eventually leaves our farm.
Ornamentals are dug and shipped first in the spring. Shade and evergreen trees go next.
Timing is the most critical factor influencing our digs. We dig and ship ornamental materials first because they are first to bloom and leaf out in spring. Shade and evergreen materials leaf out later, so they can be held back a little longer. This priority protects the health of the plant during its most sensitive growing stages.
Trees are balled and burlapped by hand.
Removal is a well-oiled process for us. We use a spade attached to a bobcat to dig tagged trees out of the high-quality loam soil. Each tree is wrapped in burlap by hand and secured with a wire cage. It’s then moved by bobcat from the field to a staging area.
Client orders are carefully tagged and organized for distribution.
Our tree farm manager, Manuel Lopez, creates a list that organizes loads by customer. With this information, the sales department can stage full truck loads for shipping. This organized transition from field to staging ensures that every order is accounted for and ready for transport.
An organized transition from field to staging accurately prepares orders for distribution to client destinations.
Shipping methods evolve as the season progresses. Flatbed trucks allow for easier loading and unloading of trees with heavy root balls. As the trees begin to leaf out and ornamental materials start to bloom, we switch to box trailers. This protects delicate flowers and new foliage from wind and weather damage that can result during transit.
This careful coordination ensures plant material arrives in the same excellent condition it left our farm. Our commitment to detail means trees arrive ready to thrive.
About Loma Vista Nursery ‒ Midwest Wholesale Plant Grower
Celebrating 35 years in business in 2026, Loma Vista Nursery grows a variety of healthy trees, shrubs and perennial plants for independent garden centers, landscape contractors and wholesale distributors. Review our plant catalog for detailed information and to order.
Visit our website to learn more about our nursery, including our processes, plant varieties and business values. For assistance with orders or plant-related questions, please call (785) 229-7200 or send an email to sales@lomavistanursery.com. Our team of plant experts is happy to answer questions and provide information about the reliable varieties we grow.
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