Nursery Production 33.00-35.00

1. Nursery Production 33.00-35.00 And I don’t mean for you big ‘ol babies!

2. Growing Nursery Stock • Field Grown • Container Grown • Types of Plants • Planting Techniques • Maintenance • Selling $$$$

3. Field Grown Production • This is being replaced by container grown plants • Plants are not easy to move • Plants are not all in the exact same media and must be treated differently • pH, diseases, and fertility is difficult to control • Can shock when planted • Can only be stored/transported for two weeks

6. Types of Plants in Nurseries • Ground covers • Trees • Christmas Trees • Shrubs • Perennials • Ornamental Grasses

7. Container Grown Plants Advantages • Less shock to plants when planted • Easy to move • Lighter weight for shipping • Retailers can keep plants for a long time • Insects, diseases, and fertility is easier to control

8. Requires more water Can become pot-bound Requires winter protection Higher start up cost Pots can tip over Pots break Container Grown Plants Disadvantages

9. More Water

10. Pot -bound

11. Winter Protection

12. Fewer Diseases

13. Retailers Can Keep Longer

14. Containers • Many factors to consider: • Cost • Durability • Appearance • Insulation of plant roots • Shape • Drainage • Size

15. Growing Mixes (media) • Should provide adequate drainage • Should provide aeration • Nursery production often involves unique media materials: • Sand • Bark • Peanut shells or other organic materials

16. Nursery Media This is a picture of the potting soil used at Plant Delights Nursery that we visit in Horticulture I! The media is much more porous than media used for field-grown plants. This is from a company called Bio-comp. It is old peanut hulls. Totally sustainable.

17. Planting (Potting) • Soil should be at the top of the pot, tap twice to get soil settled • Dudes… you have to plant your plant at the right depth! • The crown of the plant should be at the soil height

18. Plant Spacing • Space plants so that the tips of the branches almost touch those of the other plants • Containers will be moved as plants get larger

19. Watering • Watering as needed • Too much or too little can adversely effect plant • Large nurseries utilize hand and automated watering

20. 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 • Plants above ground dry faster, too!

21. Watering • Water until it runs through the holes in the bottom of the container • A gallon pot usually requires a pint of water at each watering

22. Factors that affect how often to water • Weather • Plant growth • Media • Kind of plant • Size of container • Type of container • Surface mulch

23. Fertilize • Fertilize on a schedule • Apply slow release every few months as directed- Osmocote • Apply fertigation every watering • Just depends on what method you employ

24. Fertilizer • Fertigation is applied each time at 150 ppm of nitrogen • If using slow release, periodic fertigation of 300-350 ppm of nitrogen (once a month)

25. Fertilizer • Plants kept in containers more than one year require additional fertilizer at a rate of one teaspoon of 18% nitrogen for each gallon of container capacity • Leaching is also done at this time

26. Fertilizing • Plants should be observed and foliage will show symptoms of deficiency • Talk to an extension agent or send samples off for more information on nutrition

27. IPM • Integrated Pest Management • Cultural • Mechanical • Biological • Natural • Chemical

28. Pruning of Nursery Stock • Shaping • Compact plant • Training • Remove dead or diseased • Best immediately after planting and during growing season • Can be done in winter

29. Pruning Can be done with: • Hand pruners • Electrical or gas powered pruners • Chemicals to kill buds

30. Transplant • Either sell or transplant to a larger container when plant reaches maximum recommended size for current container