Running a modern tree nursery is about more than planting and watering—it’s about precision of variety and size, processing of information, and knowing where every tree is in the field. At Urban Forest Nursery, we’ve always cared about the trees we grow, but until 2017, tracking our inventory was a challenge, like every nursery in business.
A Look Back: Paper Inventory Days
Before 2017, keeping track of our trees meant going out into the field with pen and paper, trying to record species, sizes, and quantities. With thousands of trees across multiple fields and blocks, it was time-consuming and often inaccurate. Misplaced or miscounted trees made it difficult to know exactly what we had in stock or where trees were located.
The Game-Changer: RFID Inventory Program
In 2017, we made a major shift: we started using the Arbre Technologies and began entering all 25,000 trees into the new inventory program.
For each tree, we can now track:
Source and species
- Size and growth rate
- Grow bag size
- Location in the field
- Price and sales information
This system was a game-changer. Suddenly, we could generate accurate inventory reports, track orders, and provide our customers with up-to-date information about availability.
To make this system even more powerful, these RFID tags allow us to attach trees to specific customer orders, so we always know exactly which trees are allocated, where they are in the field, and when they’re ready for pickup or delivery.
The Benefits We’ve Seen
Implementing RFID and Arbre has completely transformed the way we manage our nursery:
- Accurate inventory: No more guesswork or miscounts — every tree is logged and trackable.
- Order tracking made easy: Trees can be tied to specific orders, ensuring accuracy and reducing errors.
- Efficient field management: Staff can quickly locate trees and manage stock across multiple fields.
- Better customer service: Accurate inventory reports help landscapers and cities know exactly what’s available.
- Data-driven insights: Tracking size and growth helps us plan for future production and sales.
Challenges and Considerations
Of course, no system is perfect. Maintaining the equipment, technical glitches, keeping RFID tags on trees and in good condition, and updating tree sizes regularly requires time, effort, and investment. It can be costly to maintain over the long term.
Even so, we found that the benefits far outweigh the challenges. Being able to provide accurate inventory was something we had always chased, and RFID combined with Arbre finally made it possible.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Urban Forest Nursery and Technology
While RFID and the Arbre app have already transformed our operations, we’re always thinking about ways to make our nursery work even better. In the future, we hope to:
- Better project tree growth rates to plan more accurately for sales and availability
- Autonomously control weed to reduce chemical use and labor
- Improve row and tree layout to more efficiently utilize available growing space.
- Pursue additional contract growing opportunities to guarantee tree species and quality for cities and landscapers.
At Urban Forest Nursery, technology is a tool to better serve our trees and our customers — helping us stay organized, maintain accurate inventory, and continue providing high-quality, root-ready- trees.
Our journey from pen-and-paper inventory to RFID-enabled, tracking has revolutionized the way we run our nursery and look into the future. Despite the maintenance and equipment costs, we now enjoy accurate inventory, streamlined order management, and better planning for growth — all of which support our mission to deliver high-quality, root-ready trees to landscapers and municipalities.
Discover how our technology-driven approach supports efficient nursery operations — visit our nursery or explore our inventory online today.