Propagation

Seed

v Parentage of seeds

v Seed should be adapted to nursery's market area

v Germination requirements

v Trueness to type

v Seed stock plants

v Collection and handling of seeds

Vegetative Source

v Vegetative propagation = cloning

v Collection of propagation material similar to seed collection

v Propagation information (hardwood, softwood, leaf, root, air layers, division tissue culture, etc)

Grafting & Budding

v Grafting usually done on dormant plants. Grafted plants often placed in cold storage for callus development then lined out in early spring.

v Evergreens grafted in pots and cared for in greenhouses until callus development

v Buds are done on growing or dormant plants. Done in the field in production areas.

Trade-offs

v Vegetative propagation

v Reduced juvenility

v + Ornamental effects

v Increased adaptation

v Labor

v Incompatibility

v Weak unions

v Longer production

v - Ornamental effects

Propagation Comparison

v Seed- inexpensive, cultivar issue, inability to propagate vegetatively

v Cuttings- primary means of cultivar replication, relatively inexpensive, fast

v Grafting/budding- when cuttings don’t work, ornamental effects, relatively expensive, fast

v Tissue culture- rapid bulking, last resort, expensive

Small Plant Culture

v Propagated materials placed into liner beds/rows, small containers/flats or immediately into production area

v Small plant culture in liner areas is used to provide protection and optimum growing conditions for young, tender plants (hardening off)

v 2nd most intensively cultivated area after propagation areas. High investment in plants, labor, materials.

v Narrow- and broad-leaved evergreens are usually placed into small plant culture before ultimate production area.

v Only healthy, vigorous liners should be used in future production. Unhealthy plants should be discarded.

General Fertilization Program

v Ground Beds- May be fertilized once/year or split fertilizations (2-4 times/year).

v pH 6.0-6.5 for most plants

v Deciduous trees and shrubs: 5-6 lbs N/1000 sq. ft./year

v Narrow-leaved evergreens 4-5 lbs N/1000 sq. ft./year

v Broad-leaved evergreens 2-3 lbs N/1000 sq. ft./year

General Fertilization Program

v Containers (pots or flats)- Small container volume, large irrigation volume (=high leaching) and low cation exchange capacities result in need for more frequent fertilization than ground beds.

v Slow release fertilizer at manufacturers recommendation

v Slow release + soluble fertilizer at 150 ppm N/week

v Soluble fertilizer at 250-300 ppm N/week.

Transplanting

v Fall vs Spring planting

v Protect transplants from desiccation

– Puddling, misting, Water buckets, Moist material

v Bare root vs container transplants

v By hand or mechanical

v First year care most critical

v Irrigation

– Solid set (portable pipe) vs drip vs travelling gun

“Growing on”

v Common Culture- irrigation, fertilization, pest control & pruning will discuss separately

Root Pruning

v When?

– During slow canopy growth- usually Fall

– 2nd year for fast growing shrubs on 3-4 year production cycle

– Every 3-4 years for trees

– Year 1 or 2 for plants that develop tap roots

Alternatives to Root Pruning

v Water

v Fertilizer

v Sod/grass alleys

v Root control bags

Harvesting

v Bare root

v Balled and burlapped

v Balled and potted (Containerized)

v Balled and bagged