The location of BKN Strobel was designed with the highest ecological responsibility. The company lies in the midst of a landscape protected area and in immediate proximity to a nature reserve. Dealing with water as a scarce resource sets standards in the European tree nursery economy. More than 75% of all areas are provided with water economizing techniques such as boom irrigation and mat watering systems, ebb-and-flood systems or drip irrigation. The yearly requirement of more than 250,000 m³ (325,000 cubic yards) is taken exclusively from the closed irrigation system. Irrigation technology that is completely computer-controlled is the basis of this rational way to manage water. Fiber optic data cables and electrical cables run through every single area. The irrigation is carried out by a two-part piping network, which separates clear water from fertilizer. All the rain water off of the buildings and greenhouses as well as the surplus water from all the production areas are carried by means of a full-coverage pipe line system to a collecting pond totaling 39,000 m³ (50,700 cubic yards). During heavy rain, a 1.5 hectare area (4 acres) for infiltration collects the excess water. An essential component of this closed system is the three-layer cover over the production areas. It consists of a protective fleece, a moisture-resistant PE foil and on top, heavy duty fabric tape. Before the collected water is reused, a biological slow sand filter cleans it in order to prevent the spread of phytopathogenic bacteria. The use of pesticides is therefore lowered to a minimum. The rate of the 2,500 m³ (88,250 ft³) filter system is approximately 300 m³/ h (10,650 ft³/ hour). Thanks to this method, we have made it possible to exclusively use precipitation water for the culture of your plants. Removing groundwater becomes unnecessary. Another integral part of our environmental concept is the integrated production. According to these principles, we strictly use a peat-reduced substrate that we have developed and tested constantly ourselves over the past 30 years. Today, we use special recycled wood materials, allowing our substrate to be up to 50% peat-reduced. This is our contribution to conserving the peat moors. Nutrient-storing components, added individually, comparably increase the quality of the substrate and the plants. The use of slow release fertilizers during plant production not only prevents leaching and the loss of nutrients, it also guarantees that even after the shipping date, your plants will have an adequate supply of nutrients available to them in your garden center.