Nursery Operations Hort 2: Objective 33.0

Nursery Production Landscaping increases=demand for high quality nursery stock increases Trees Shrubs Ground covers (ivy, monkey grass) Vines

Top States in Nursery production California Oregon Florida Michigan North Carolina!!! Tennessee Ohio

Growing Nursery Stock Field grown production is being replaced by container grown plants because there is less shock to plant, plants are easier to move, retailers can keep plants longer before selling, and insects, diseases and fertility and pH are easier to control in uniform media. Container grown Field grown

Disadvantages Container grown plants have some disadvantages such as requiring more water, becoming pot-bound, requiring winter protection for cold climates, and having a higher start-up cost. You have to transplant into a bigger pot so they don’t become pot-bound. Creates a lot of work keeping plants in the right size nursery pot Pot-bound-> Roots have outgrown the container.

Types of plants grown in a Nursery C. Types of plants grown in containers vary from ground covers to trees.

Containers for growing nursery stock Proper selection of containers should include several considerations such as cost, durability, appearance, insulation value to plant roots, shape, drainage, and size.

Media (Soils used in nursery production) Growing mixes (media) should provide adequate drainage and aeration. Add small bark particles

Spacing nursery pots 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. This can create a lot of manual labor in large nurseries. Don’t want lop-sided plants!

Head em up…Move em out! When a plant reaches its maximum recommended size or its container, is should be SOLD! Otherwise, you are loosing money keeping it alive.