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Nursery Production 4

Commercial Plant Production

Soil Preparation

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

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

“Finishing” tool used to level a field prior to planting.

Chisel Plow

Usually used in the Fall.Leaves the soil in a “rough” condition.Freeze-thaw cycles during the winter break down soil clods.

Disk

“Finishing” tool used to prepare a field for planting.Levels the field.

Howard Rotovator

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.

Process

Season Performed

1

Subsoiler

Spring

2

Spring tooth Harrow

Spring

3

Plant green manure

Spring

4

Mow green manure

Summer-Fall

5

Rotovator - Incorporate green manure

Fall

6

Chisel plow

Fall

7

Spring tooth Harrow

Spring

8

Line-out

Spring

Planting

Direction of movement

Shoe

Chute

Press wheels

Sweeps

Plant box

Preparing Bare-root Liners for Planting

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:

Mud slurry

Gel-based root dips

Gel-based root dip with mychorrhizal fungi.

Sweating

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.

Place plants in a warm, humid greenhouse or polyhouse.Use a shed or garage that can be kept between 60 – 70 degrees F.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.

Methods Used to Sweat Plants

Bud break on Willow

Plant genera which may need sweating…

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

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