An aerial view of the impressive nursery owned by Nantong Virescence Zaoyuan Development Co Ltd in Xindian town, in Rudong county. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

Shuanghongqiao village in Xindian town, Rudong county – administered by Nantong city in East China's Jiangsu province – is home to a lucrative and prolific nursery covering over 66 hectares.

The nursery cultivates megaphanerophytes and dungarungas – such as the pond cypress, cypress and citron – giving its vegetation rich and vibrant colors.

Owned by Nantong Virescence Zaoyuan Development Co Ltd, the nursery has some 140,000 seedling trees – young plants, already sprouted from seeds.

"In the cold winter, workers take charge of pruning trees, cleaning and repairing drainage ditches. If extremely cold weather comes, they also need to take precautions such as drying the trees in advance," said Ding Yi, in charge of the nursery.

A nursery worker said the work was hard but satisfying.

"Before spring comes, it is necessary to increase the fertilization of the seedlings to ensure that the key seedlings and the weaker-growing seedlings receive enough fertilizer," he said.

"Our seedling trees are used in the waterfront area of the Five Mountain scenic spot, the Nantong Botanical Garden, the Nantong Forest Safari Park and in other small gardens, urban main roads and green space in the city," he added.

Yang Jingfeng, chairman of Nantong Virescence Zaoyuan Development, said time was of the essence in his group's field of endeavor.

"The speedy construction of urban landscaping drives the rapid development of nursery," Yang said.

The company focuses on the marketing of high-quality and large seedling trees, promoting a standardized cultivation model featuring scientific procurements, optimized planting and refined management.

Through the cultivation and production of high value-added landscape trees and bonsai trees, the company is promoting the transformation and upgrading of the local seedling industry, aiming to build itself up as a major seedling bank.