1. Nursery Production
Competencies

2. What is Nursery Production?
The growing of plants in controlled environments (or nurseries).
Nurseries are places where plants, shrubs, and ornamental trees are grown for transplanting into landscape areas.

3. Field Grown vs. Container

4. Field Grown vs. Container
Field grown production is being replaced by container grown plants because there is less shock to the plant.
Plants are easier to move.
Retailers can keep plants longer before selling
Insects, diseases, fertility and pH are easier to control in uniform media.

5. Field Grown vs. Container
Container grown plants have some disadvantages such as
requiring more water
becoming pot-bound
requiring winter protection for cold climates
having a higher start-up cost.

6. Field Grown vs. Container
Types of plants grown in containers vary from ground covers to trees
Proper selection of containers should include several considerations such as
Cost
Durability
Appearance
Insulation value to plant roots
Shape
Drainage
Size

7. Growing Container Plants
Either sell or transplant to a larger container when the plant reaches maximum recommended size for the current container.

8. Potting Nursery Plants

9. Potting Nursery Plants
Growing mixes (media) should provide adequate drainage and aeration.
Container media must be more porous than media for field-grown crops.

10. Potting Nursery Plants
Space plants so that the tips of the branches almost touch those of other plants.
Containers will have to be moved as plants get larger.

11. Potting Nursery Plants
Place plant in the center of the container if only one plant is used.
Evenly space the plants in the container if more than one plant is used.

12. Potting Nursery Plants
Plant in containers at the right depth
Planting depth varies depending upon the type of plant.

13. Watering

14. Watering Nursery Plants
Water as needed to grow quality plants.

15. Tips on Watering
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.
Plant containers are above the ground and will dry quicker.

16. Tips on Watering
Plants should be watered until the water runs through the hole in the bottom of the container.
A gallon container needs about a pint of water at each watering.

17. Factors that Affect Watering

18. Weather
Plants require more water in dry, windy, hot weather

19. Plant Growth
Plants need more water in active growth and flowering stage

20. Media
More porous mix requires more watering

21. Kind of Plant
Broadleaf evergreens require more water than narrowleaf

22. Size of Container
Small ones dry out faster

23. Type of Container
Fiber or pressed paper dry faster than plastic

24. Surface Mulch
Mulch helps reduce need to water

25. Fertilizing Nursery Crops

26. Fertilization
Fertilization should be done on a schedule based on each type of plant grown
Some media have fertilizer in them
Nutrients have to be added to supply needs of growing plants

27. Liquid Fertilizer
Liquid fertilizer used in watering is applied at a rate of 100 to 150 ppm (parts per million) of nitrogen
Periodic liquid fertilizing every two to three weeks is applied at a rate of ppm nitrogen

28. Slow-Release Fertilizers
Slow-release fertilizers such as Osmocote and Magamp are mixed in potting media

29. Fertilizing Containers
Plants kept in containers more than one year require additional fertilizer at the rate of one teaspoon of 18% nitrogen for each gallon of container capacity and should be watered thoroughly after fertilizing.

30. Tips on Fertilizing
Plants should be observed and fertilization changed as plant foliage shows a need for either more or less fertilizer.

31. Pruning

32. Why Prune? To shape the plant To make the plant more compact
To train the growth or form of the mature plant (central leader or many stems)
To remove dead or diseased parts

34. Time for Pruning
The best time is immediately after planting and during the growing season
May be done in winter in temperate climates

35. Methods of Pruning Hand pruners
Electrical, battery, or gasoline powered pruners
Chemicals to kill buds of plants