Transcript Nursery Production 4

Nursery Production 4
Commercial Plant Production
Soil Preparation
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Since every nursery operation is unique,
there is no single, correct way to prepare
the soil prior to planting.
The following field implements are used
by nurseries to prep the soil:
Subsoiler
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Long, thin knives.
Penetrates deep into the
soil.
Rips out the root systems
of previous crops.
Loosens the tracks left by
harvesting equipment.
Improves water percolation
and aeration.
Spring tooth Harrow
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“Finishing” tool used
to level a field prior to
planting.
Chisel Plow
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Usually used in the
Fall.
Leaves the soil in a
“rough” condition.
Freeze-thaw cycles
during the winter
break down soil clods.
Disk
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“Finishing” tool used
to prepare a field for
planting.
Levels the field.
Howard Rotovator
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Rototiller attachment
for a tractor.
Pulverizes the soil.
Used to incorporate
green manures.
Can also be used in
field prep.
Soil Preparation Steps at Dwight
Hughes Nursery
Step
No.
1
Process
Subsoiler
Season
Performed
Spring
2
Spring tooth Harrow
Spring
3
Plant green manure
Spring
4
Mow green manure
Summer-Fall
5
Fall
6
Rotovator Incorporate green
manure
Chisel plow
7
Spring tooth Harrow
Spring
8
Line-out
Spring
Fall
Planting
Plant box
Chute
Direction of movement
Shoe
Sweeps
Press wheels
Preparing Bare-root Liners for
Planting
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Generally speaking, the roots and tops of
the liners are pruned prior to planting.
Treat the roots of the liners to prevent
them from drying out until they are
planted:
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Mud slurry
Gel-based root dips
Gel-based root
dip with
mychorrhizal
fungi.
Sweating
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Most bare-root tree and shrub liners can
be stored in refrigerated cold storage all
winter and develop normally when planted
or potted in the spring.
There are a few species, though, whose
buds become extremely dormant during
storage.
These species must be forced into
breaking bud before they are lined out.
This process is called sweating.
Methods Used to Sweat Plants
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Place plants in a warm, humid greenhouse or
polyhouse.
Use a shed or garage that can be kept between
60 – 70 degrees F.
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Lay out a bed of straw on the floor.
Lay the bundles of plants side-by-side on the straw
and moisten them with water.
Cover the bundles with straw and moisten with water.
Check the plants daily for bud break.
Line-out after they have broken bud.
Bud break on
Willow
Plant genera which may need
sweating…
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Amelanchier - Serviceberry
Betula - Birch
Berberis - Barberry
Carpinus - Hornbeam
Celtis - Hackberry
Cercis - Redbud
Crataegus - Hawthorne
Morus - Mulberry
Potentilla - Cinquefoil
Pyrus - Pear
Quercus - Oak
Rosa - Rose
Salix – Willow (Weeping)
Preparing Potted Liners for Planting
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Prune the tops of the liners.
Thoroughly water the liners prior to
planting.
Remove plastic containers prior to
planting. Biodegradable peat pots are not
removed prior to planting.
If needed, break apart the root mass to
prevent circling roots.
The End