NURSERY PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT 3 00 Understand Nursery

NURSERY PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT 3. 00 Understand Nursery Management

3. 01 UNDERSTAND NURSERY STRUCTURES, GROWING ENVIRONMENTS AND MAINTENANCE

NURSERY STRUCTURES AND GROWING ENVIRONMENT Consider climate, soil and topography, available water source, type of plant material, and production method when selecting a nursery structure or growing environment.

SHADE HOUSES (COLD FRAMES)

ADVANTAGES OF SHADE HOUSES Constructed of wood, PVC or galvanized steel No artificial heat source, heated by solar radiation Used for hardening off plants and hot weather holding Protects plants from adverse weather conditions Cover with white plastic during the winter to reduce overwintering injury to woody ornamentals as well as reduce temperature fluctuations during the overwintering period

ADVANTAGES OF SHADE HOUSES A variety of plant material can be grown in a shade house structure. Provides good air circulation Provides filtered light when covered by a shade cloth Inexpensive growing structures

DISADVANTAGES OF SHADE HOUSES Some plants cannot be grown year round No heat source other than the sun No heat or cooling

HOTBEDS

ADVANTAGES OF HOTBEDS Constructed of wood or galvanized steel, glass and/or plastic Solar heated, electric cables, steam or heated by natural materials such as hay or manure Used for starting plants earlier than in a cold frame Inexpensive growing structure

DISADVANTAGES OF HOTBEDS Can be expensive to heat Hay or manure needs to be replaced when the temperature in the hotbed drops below 50 degrees

CONTAINER

ADVANTAGES OF CONTAINERS Plants are easy to move and transport Grown to sellable size in the container Less shock to plants Retailers can keep plants longer before selling Uniform soilless media Insects, diseases, fertility and p. H are easier to control Monitoring of water intake is easily controlled

DISADVANTAGES OF CONTAINERS Requires more water More labor intensive May become pot bound May require winter protection May have a higher start-up cost: pots, potting media Plants may have to be moved to a larger container May be expensive to ship

FIELD GROWN (TRADITIONAL)

ADVANTAGES OF FIELD GROWN Plants are grown directly in native soil Bare root plants are easy to handle and plant

DISADVANTAGES OF FIELD GROWN Requires equipment to be harvested Plants may go into shock when moved or transplanted Harder to control insects, diseases, fertility and p. H Soil must be well drained Limited time to harvest Supply cost: liners, burlap, wire baskets, twine, pinning nails Expensive to ship

POT IN POT

ADVANTAGES OF POT IN POT No staking No blown over containers Cooler roots in the summer Well insulated root system in the winter Easy to move and transport Is becoming a more viable option to the traditional field grown Combines the benefits of field production with the marketing flexibility of container production

DISADVANTAGES OF POT IN POT Startup cost is expensive largely due to field preparation and purchasing two containers for every plant as opposed to one. 15 to 25 gallon pots are more commonly used. Labor costs

MAINTENANCE OF NURSERY STRUCTURES

SHADE HOUSES (COLD FRAMES) Need painting or replacing over time Plastic covering will need to be replaced on a regular basis Replacement of gravel and weed block Debris removal

HOTBEDS Change out heat source (straw, hay, manure) Pest control Cover replacement Debris removal

CONTAINER Pest control Replace weed block Replace gravel on roads and under containers

FIELD GROWN (POT-IN-POT) Replacement of damaged pots Pest control Replace gravel on roads

FIELD GROWN (TRADITIONAL) Erosion control Pest control Replace gravel on roads

MAINTENANCE OF NURSERY PLANTS

FERTILIZER Needs to be replaced regularly in order for the plants to continue to grow and remain strong

IRRIGATION Sprinkler or drip irrigation is determined by crop requirements and container arrangement

SHADING On newly established plants or plants that will grow in shady areas

PRUNING Shape plant material Make plants more compact Train growth to form into a mature plant (central leader or many stems) Remove dead or diseased parts Train into an espalier-a plant that is trained to grow flat against a wall, railing or trellis

PEST CONTROL METHODS IPM (Integrated Pest Management)-a process used to solve pest problems while minimizing risks to people and the environment. Chemical Control-uses chemicals to eliminate plant pests Mechanical Control-manages pests by physical means such as the use of a barrier, screens, row covers, trapping, weeding or removal of the pests by hand

PEST CONTROL METHODS Biological Control-uses living organisms such as predators, parasites and pathogens to control the population of pests.

PEST PROBLEMS-INSECTS Identify insect-aphids, spider mites, whitefly, scale, etc. Determine type of control-chemical, biological or mechanical Treat based on method recommendations

PEST PROBLEMS-WEEDS Identify weeds-henbit, chickweed, grasses, etc. Dig or pull weeds Treat based on method recommendations

PEST PROBLEMS-DISEASE Identify disease-blights, fungi, rusts, etc. Treat based on method recommendations

PEST PROBLEMS-RODENTS Identify the rodent-voles, mice, squirrels, etc. Trap or treat based on method recommendations.

PEST PROBLEMS-MOLLUSKS Identify mollusks-snails, slugs, etc. Treat based on method recommendations

WINTER PROTECTION-FROST BLANKET Traps and collects heat during the day and releases it at night to keep your plants warm and growing. In the spring it gives you a jump-start on plants and wards off pests. In fall, use it to extend your growing season. Float or drape the lightweight fabric over your plants.

WINTER PROTECTION-WATER Bud protection Spray water on buds before a freeze Often used on fruit trees and strawberries

WINTER PROTECTION-WHITE PLASTIC Reduce overwintering injury to woody ornamentals Protects young plants in early spring

3. 02 UNDERSTAND NURSERY PRODUCTION AND MARKETING TECHNIQUES

TYPES OF PLANTS FOR CONTAINERS Trees-container, pot-in-pot, balled and burlapped, bareroot Shrubs-container, pot-in-pot, balled and burlapped Perennials-container, pot-in-pot

PROPAGATION-SEXUAL Seed treatments � Stratification-chilling seeds to simulate winter conditions before germination Examples: baptisia and daylily � Scarification-breaking of the seed coat Examples: redbud and maples

PROPAGATION-ASEXUAL Cuttings � Softwood (herbaceous) cutting-leaf, pieces of the stem or roots from non-woody plants. Cuttings are taken late spring through early summer. � Hardwood cutting-pieces of stem from woody plants. Cuttings are taken fall through winter.

PROPAGATION-ASEXUAL Grafting-joining separate plant parts together to form a union and grow � Scion-top portion of the plant � Rootstock-root or bottom portion of the graft

PROPAGATION-ASEXUAL Budding-a form of grafting when a bud is used instead of a scion

PROPAGATION-ASEXUAL Layering-forcing roots to grow on the stem of the plant while it is still attached to the parent plant.

SOIL FOR CONTAINERS Media must be porous Soilless media � Peat � Perlite � Vermiculite � Bark � Amendments

SOILLESS MEDIA Peat � Partially decomposed material mined from swamps � Good moisture holding capacity Perlite � Natural volcanic material that helps aerate the soil � Good moisture holding capacity Vermiculite � Mica mineral matter used to start cuttings � Neutral p. H � Good moisture holding capacity Bark � Ground pine or oak bark � Increases the porosity of soil

SOIL AMENDMENTS Lime-calcium and magnesium increases the p. H level of soil making it alkaline or “sweet” correcting the acidity of the soil Fertilizer-adds macro and micro nutrients to the soil Wetting agents-increases water retention of the soil

SOILS FOR PLANTING IN THE GROUND Use native soil in traditional field planting Tree and shrub roots need to grow in native soil A soil test should be done to determine if soil amendments are needed � Amendments increase water and nutrient holding capacity. � They also improve aeration and water infiltration. � Amendments must be mixed with the natural soil.

SOILS FOR PLANTING IN THE GROUND Organic- “Fresh” organic material should first be composted � Sphagnum peat-dehydrated remains of acid bog plants hold moisture and are high in acidity � Grass clippings-add nutrients to the soil � Saw dust-high carbon to nitrogen ratio can make nitrogen unavailable to plants � Compost-decayed organic matter, good fertilizer and soil conditioner � Manure-adds nutrients to the soil, good moisture holding capacity

SOIL FOR PLANTING IN THE GROUND Inorganic � Vermiculite-good moisture holding capacity � Perlite-good for aerating the soil � Pea gravel-normally used in heavy clay soil

PLANTING CONTAINER CROPS Place one plant in the center of the container. Evenly space plants in the container if more than one plant is used. Planting depth is important and varies depending on plant material.

PLANTING FIELD CROPS Determine the layout and spacing of trees and shrubs in the field. Determine the equipment needs of field grown plants.

WATERING CONTAINER AND PNP Watering is more important for container grown plants than field grown plants because roots can go no deeper or spread any wider than the container. It is best to water container plants in the morning for maximum absorption, however, some may need to be watered more than once a day depending on the weather. Container plants should be watered until the water runs through the holes in the bottom of the pot.

WATERING CONTAINER AND PNP A gallon container needs about a pint of water at each watering. Container plants require more water in dry, hot windy weather. Container plants need more water when actively growing and flowering. Do not allow any container plants to dry out.

WATERING FIELD GROWN CROPS Should be watered in the morning for maximum absorption. A more porous soil needs more water than a clayey soil. Watering for field production depends on the weather. Field grown plants require more water in dry, hot, windy weather. Need more water when actively growing or flowering. Do not allow any field grown plants to dry out.

FERTILIZING NURSERY CROPS A fertilizer schedule should be established for each type of plant grown. Scheduled periodic liquid fertilizing should be established depending on plants, soil, size, etc. Slow release fertilizers such as Osmocote and Magamp are mixed into the potting media or top dressed on the soil surface.

FERTILIZING NURSERY CROPS Plants in containers for more than one year require additional fertilizer and should be watered thoroughly after fertilizing (varies on pot size and plant material) Plants should be observed and fertilization changed as plant foliage shows a need for either more or less fertilizer. Tissue analysis can be done to determine deficiencies.

MARKETING NURSERY PLANTS

DEVELOP A MARKETING PLAN Complete a marketing analysis (research used to predict the future of a market) to determine your target market Once a marketing analysis is complete, determine what to sell. Know your competition.

PRICE YOUR PRODUCT Use this formula to determine your price: Materials + Overhead + Labor = Selling Price Pricing may vary depending on availability of plant material in your area.

PROMOTION Advertising Public relations Personal contacts Communications

PRODUCT PLACEMENT Providing a place that is convenient to the customer. Shipping, delivery, internet ordering, or nursery pick up