History

Our Founders

Founded in 1945 by Harold and Rebecca Nickel, Greenleaf Nursery was originally operated as a “cash and carry” retail and landscape nursery in Muskogee, Oklahoma. As early as 1954, Greenleaf began conducting experiments into methods of growing plant material in containers. By 1957, John Nickel, a son and partner in the company, felt that they had gained enough knowledge to warrant the purchase of Greenleaf's present location 35 miles east of Muskogee on Lake Tenkiller. The first saleable crop of container-grown material was ready for market in 1960. The 1960 crop seems small compared to today's production (there were only 20,000 plants). These consisted mainly of broadleaf evergreens grown from the Oklahoma market that year.

Most people who live in Oklahoma are well aware of the severe weather changes that occur. The winter of 1962-63 could definitely be cited as an example. One of the harshest on record, the resulting freeze caused the loss of 90% of that year's saleable crop at Greenleaf. Following that loss, the decision was made to propagate and grow hardier types of plant material such as junipers, deciduous shrubs and deciduous shade trees. In addition, extensive over-wintering procedures were developed and implemented the following fall. Winter protection, including A-frame structures covered with plastic film, was erected over the more tender crops of broadleaf plants. Since that time, winter protection continues to be a major, but necessary, expense for the protection of crops in all locations. In the fall of 2000 over 10,000,000 square feet of steel Quonset structures were covered with 4 and 6 mil. plastic. Fifteen thousand bales of wheat straw were used to mulch the 4,000,000 containers of plant material not over-wintered under plastic at the Lake Tenkiller location. New plastic containers have been developed with designs that enhance the ground heat entrapment for better over-wintering of plants. Original ideas and continuing research into new and innovative ways of winter protection are an ongoing process at Greenleaf.

Corporate Office

The beautiful corporate office at the Lake Tenkiller location was designed by, and built as a home for, John Nickel and his family. Construction began in October 1965 and was completed in the summer of 1966. The original plans for the home were designed to allow for conversion to office space without having to renovate the entire structure. The conversion to office space took place in June 1969. In 1986, the office space was expanded an additional 4,200 square feet. During that same year, the landscaping around the office was completely redesigned. The plantings represent examples of ways plant material can be used in contemporary landscapes.

Leadership

Gil Nickel, another son of Harold and Rebecca, served as president of the company from 1969 until 1977. In 1971, under his guidance, a second growing location was purchased near the Texas gulf coast at El Campo, Texas, approximately 75 miles southwest of Houston. Total acreage at the Texas operation consists of 560 acres. Three hundred acres are in production, making it one of the largest container nurseries in Texas.

One of the primary reasons for expansion into this geographical area was the favorable weather conditions and the longer growing season. A large percentage of the crops being grown in Texas are broadleaf evergreens. At present, the Texas operation produces over 9 million liners and 6,800,000 finished plants.

Austin Kenyon served as president of Greenleaf from 1977 until 1988. Under Mr. Kenyon's direction, the company enjoyed unprecedented growth and expansion. Additional land that joined the original acreage at the Lake Tenkiller and El Campo locations was purchased and growing areas were expanded. New methods of growing plants in containers were implemented as well. As Greenleaf continued to expand, emphasis was placed on the quality of nursery stock produced. This quality is maintained through a systematic approach to the production of nursery stock and utilizing an excellent technical staff. At present, our supervisory, sales, and upper management staff has accumulated a total of 820 years of experience at Greenleaf. Their educational achievements include degrees in horticulture, agronomy, entomology and plant pathology.

Northeastern Oklahoma's “Green Country” also contains many historic sites. One of these is Fort Gibson, the first military outpost established west of the Mississippi River. In 1984, Greenleaf purchased and began developing a field nursery around a small hidden lake near Ft. Gibson. The original purpose of this new facility was to provide a low-cost production site for growing tree whips and seedlings for our Park Hill, Oklahoma and El Campo, Texas container divisions. In 1990, we constructed a 14,000 square foot grading building on the property at Hidden Lake Tree Farm for the purpose of sorting the bare root tree whips prior to shipment to our cold storage facility at Park Hill. There is a total of 476 acres at Hidden Lake Tree Farm and the 1997 crop included 400,000 bare root trees and 900,000 seedlings in 56 different varieties.

New Growth

In 1990, we also completed construction of a new 239,400 cubic feet cold storage facility at the container division in Park Hill. This building creates a humidified, temperature-controlled environment to maintain the high quality and vigor of our trees. As a result of this investment, we began offering our bare root trees and seedlings for sale in the spring of 1991.

In 1999, we completed a new facility that houses our computer system, human resources offices, and purchasing office. In addition, this new structure will contain a 4,000 square foot warehouse, tool storage checkout and 800 square foot conference room.

Presently, the Oklahoma operation produces over 10,000,000 liners and 8,500,000 finished plants. Of these, there are 58 varieties of conifers, 901 varieties of broadleaf evergreens, deciduous shrubs and color, and 170 varieties of shade and flowering trees.

In 1997, 295 acres of additional land was purchased in Tarboro, North Carolina, located approximately 70 miles east of Raleigh. Envisioned as a diverse, "complete product line" miniaturized version of our Texas and Oklahoma operations, the North Carolina division has already become a major supplier to Greenleaf's eastern customers. With nearly one half of our original acreage in production, our aggressive expansion continues.

Customer service has always been an important part of Greenleaf’s marketing concept. Under the guidance of our current president, Randy Davis, it is at the forefront of an ongoing policy. In recent years, as competition for the share of customer’s dollars has increased, Greenleaf has concentrated its efforts on improving service to established and new customers alike. This is done in part by highly qualified and organized customer service departments, enhanced by the latest computer technology available at all locations. Customer service personnel assist 27 territory representatives who serve approximately 3,000 customers and are responsible for the distribution of plants in 45 states and Canada.

The economic impact on the areas around our Park Hill and Ft. Gibson, Oklahoma, as well as our El Campo, Texas locations has been very positive. During the peak of the season, we employ 600 people at Park Hill, 61 people at Ft. Gibson, 332 people at El Campo and 90 in Tarboro. Expansion continues at a controlled and organized pace so that resources, both human and natural, will not be overpowered. Combined production at all three locations distinguishes Greenleaf as one of America’s largest, most diverse nursery production operations.

…And the “Quality remains Predictable”