Making a difference

[Matt Follett]

Beyond the perils of Topping, over thinning and crown rasing till its a stick...

What is one of the largest problems with todays industry?

In my opinion, nursery stock. Man I'm tired of picking through junky, overpruned, tipped back, mis-potted, poorly dug, beat up junk!

Well I have been given the chance to actually make a small (maybe big) difference in my little part of the world. One of the local big nurseries had hired me to provide an unbiased report on some returned plant material. What has ensued is a report and recommedations on their prunning practices, field growing practices, health care and potting techniques. We are planning to provide a small tree pruning seminar to their field and frontline staff!

Here instead of making a small effect on a few big old trees I might be able to improve the quality of stock in future trees, even ones I don't personaly touch!

Wow, I'm flying over this!!!!

 

[Tom Dunlap]

You HAVE to cover stem girdling roots too. It doesn't do any good working the top part of a tree if the roots are going to fail.

http://www.cnr.umn.edu/FR/extension/StemGirdlingRoots.html

Contact the MSA: http://www.isa-msa.org/ And get a copy of the video tape on SGRs. It's in Spanish too.

Good to hear about a progressive nursery.

Tom

 

[Nickrosis]

Good link. Rich Hauer's da man... Rich Hauer's da man...

So much of what we do is working with the aftermath of nurseryman and landscaper torture. The key to progress, in my mind, is getting to those people in an effective, collaborative way to change the "roots" of the problems.

 

[Matt Follett]

Yep, covered, as well as graft quality (and several comments against the use of grafted plants), Potting techniques for Bare root plants (common problems), mechanical injury, field tying methods.

Thanks for the link!

 

[ROLLACOSTA]

we get tons of junk trees sold overhere ..co-dominant stems, multi-stems..extremely poorly pruned stock ..one nursery near me well there an absolute disgrace to all nursery men i would'nt buy a thing from them they sold a client of mine a QUERCUS ROBUR with that many stems it looked like a hornbeam...the price these trees cost you'd exspect a bit more attention to detail imo..by the way the nuresry is called CROWNS FROM WOODBRIDGE..another thing we all know most of these trees are going to be planted by the home owner so why dont they the nurserys provide a information sheet to help with the planting and future care?? we all know most home owners haven't got a clue and think its just a case of dig hole put in humm water humm whys it dieing..it wouldnt be that hard to provide an info sheet

 

[Matt Follett]

Funny you say that Rolla, One of our recommendations is an info sheet on proper planting procedures and pruning for structure, as well as posters showing good plant habit.

 

[jimmyq]

May I ask how you got the job? I read this link and thought wow, I would love to get the opportunity to do that at the nurseries around here! ( I worked at a few over the last 15 years and had no success in changing the bosses methods). I read this post and thought that perhaps a guy could make a nice flyer of sorts and go to the nurseries, present himself and his services and bam, try to make some changes.

ie. Don't spade dig the big tree, drop it into the wire basket with burlap and "fill" up the soil to make the rootball look round and full. LEAVE THE FLARE OUT!

anyhoo...