Nursery Production
And I don’t mean for you big ‘ol
babies!
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.
Growing Nursery Stock
•
•
•
•
•
•
Field Grown
Container Grown
Types of Plants
Planting Techniques
Maintenance
Selling $$$$
Types of Plants in Nurseries
•
•
•
•
•
•
Ground covers
Trees
Christmas Trees
Shrubs
Perennials
Ornamental Grasses
Field Grown vs. Container
Field Grown Production
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
This is being replaced by container grown plants
There is more shock to 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
Less Dynamic
Less labor
Less start-up cost
Container Grown Plants
• Less shock to plants
• Easy to move
• Retailers can keep
plants for a long time
• Insects, diseases, and
fertility is easier to
control
• Greater return per acre
Fewer Diseases
Retailers Can Keep Longer
Container Grown Plants
• There are some
disadvantages
• Requires more water
• Can become potbound (root growth is
limited)
• Requires winter
protection
• Higher start up cost
• More management
More Water
Pot -bound
Winter Protection
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 (1 quart-100 gallon)
Potting Nursery Plants
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
Nursery Media