How the nursery industry has evolved from fields to containers
At the end of last season, we completed and celebrated our 30th year of business for the Bloomin Garden Centre in Ohio. I personally completed my 41st year in the gardening business. I have been very lucky to have a career in a business that offers so much to both its customers as well as its employees.
I can say I have always finished a year smarter and better than I started. Every new season offers us an opportunity to discover new plants and new ways to care for them. The knowledge we gain does not come from a formal setting in a classroom. The knowledge comes from the shared experiences we have with business associates, co-workers and customers.
All businesses need improvements in technology to keep up with future challenges. Most frequently, this would be associated with a machine or a computer. These certainly do have an impact in our industry. However, in our industry, we have seen great improvements to the methods used to grow the plants we sell.
When the nursery business began, all of the trees and shrubs were grown in the ground and in fields before they were sold in garden stores or used for landscape jobs. These days, the majority of plants are potted, growing in containers. Only larger-sized trees and shrubs are still grown in fields.
Over time, growers discovered that when you grow a plant in a container, you can provide the best soil for the plant to thrive. When the plant is thriving, it is going to grow much faster. The ability to grow plants faster means nurseries can “turn” their crops faster. Less space is needed in a nursery when plants grow faster.
The reason the plants are able to grow in this soil better is that the soil is much lighter. The roots can grow and move through it easier. The lighter soil also makes the weight of the plant lighter. This makes the plants easier for workers and homeowners to handle the plants. The soil from field-grown plants is very heavy. The weight of the plants also makes them less expensive to buy. Since they are lighter, you can put a lot more of them on a truck. This reduces the price of transportation.
As the transition to more container-grown plants took place, improvements to irrigation systems started developing. These plants are grown on gravel where the field-grown plants used to grow. Under the gravel are systems to capture the water that the plants do not use when they are watered or when it rains. This water is reused, reducing runoff that occurred when plants were field grown.
Container-grown plants are also better for transplanting. When plants are field-grown, they are dug out of the ground. The “ball” of soil containing the roots is wrapped in burlap to hold it all together. During this process, many of the roots are severed by the digging and left in the ground. When they are re-planted, the plant first needs to grow to replace the lost roots before the top of the plant will grow.
When a container plant is transplanted, the majority of the roots remain intact. Typically, the roots will be growing in a circular direction in the shape of the pot. It is recommended to loosen these roots to encourage them to grow outward. Since the majority of the roots are intact, the plant will establish itself in its new home very quickly. This will allow the plant to start growing faster.
This spring, you will be able to go to your favorite garden store and easily fill your vehicle with all the plants you will need for most landscape projects. You are able to do this thanks to the innovations in nursery growing.