Greenhouse - Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus INSV

Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus is one of the most common viruses in greenhouses. It is spread by thrips. The following are lists of plants that are susceptible to this virus.






INSV on Fuschia.

Tables from "Symptoms and management strategies for impatiens necrotic spot virus" by Mary Hausbeck,Plant Pathology in the March 3, 2006 edition of the Michigan State University Greenhouse Alert newsletter.

Greenhouse - Photoperiod and Flowering

The following is an article on photoperiod effects on flowering from the Michigan State University Greenhouse Alert newsletter.

Photoperiod or day length is the duration of light in a given 24-hour period. Photoperiod naturally varies with latitude and time of year, and many plants, including annuals and perennials, have fine-tuned their flowering to coincide with these seasonal changes in day length. As a result, we can classify plants as being short day, long day or day neutral species.

Short day plants flower when the day length is less than a critical length (often considered to be 12 hours of light or less). Long day plants flower when the day length is greater than a critical length (often considered to be 14 hours or greater). Day neutral plants flower regardless of the day length.

Plants can further be described as having a facultative or obligate photoperiod response. Plants with a facultative response flower faster under a particular photoperiod but will eventually flower under all photoperiods. For example, a facultative short day plant will flower faster under short days but will eventually flower under long days as well (Figure 1). Plants with an obligate response absolutely require a particular photoperiod for flowering. For example, an obligate short day plant will only flower under short days – and never under long days.

Photoperiod manipulation can be achieved in the greenhouse with relative ease. When the day length is long but a short day photoperiod is desired, blackcloth fabric may be pulled over plants in the evening and opened in the morning to provide plants with a short day. This is the same technique used in fall mum production to promote earlier flowering of chrysanthemum when days are naturally long. Growers may utilize existing blackout systems used in fall mum production to provide short days for other crops.

Conversely, long days can be provided when the day length is naturally short by using night break lighting with incandescent or high pressure sodium lamps. This is the same technique used in lighting chrysanthemum crops to keep them vegetative until flowering is desired. Night break lighting generally occurs from 10:00 PM to 2:00 AM and is the most efficient method of providing long days. Growers may also choose to light crops for several hours at the end of each day from 5:00 to 10:00 PM.



Reprinted from "Light and flowering of bedding plants" by Beth Fausey, OSU Extension ABE Center in the February 17, 2006 edition of the Michigan State University Greenhouse Alert newsletter.

Greenhouse - Pictures of Some Greenhouse Businesses in Kent County

Some pictures of greenhouse businesses in Kent County.







Photos by Jean Thomas, Extension Program Assistant,UD, Kent County

Greenhouse - Response to Light Levels

Light levels can have dramatic affects on certain bedding plants. The following is an article on the subject from the Michigan State Greenhouse Alert newsletter.

Flowering of bedding plants can be influenced by greenhouse light conditions, specifically irradiance. Irradiance is the amount of light reaching a plant at any given moment in time. It is an instantaneous value and is measured in units called micromoles over a square meter of greenhouse space (µmol·m-2·s-1). Growers can use a number of hand-held light meters to measure irradiance in the greenhouse. Depending on the meter used, measurements may be available in footcandles or µmol·m-2·s-1. One µmol·m-2·s-1 of sunlight approximately equals 5 footcandles of light.

Bedding plants may have a facultative irradiance response where high light levels promote faster flowering or an irradiance indifferent response where high light levels do not affect flowering. Species exhibiting a facultative irradiance response flower faster because the juvenile stage of development is shortened under high light levels. As a result, plants form fewer leaves before initiating flowers than those grown under lower light levels. For example, Salvia farinacea has a facultative irradiance response. Plants generally form 24 leaves before flowering under long days yet form only 18 leaves before flowering when grown with an additional 150 µmol·m-2·s-1 (approximately 750 footcandles) of light.

It is important to note that temperature influences the rate of development, and plant temperature of species in both response groups can increase under high light levels. Plants exposed to direct sunlight can be 5 to 7ºF warmer than the surrounding air temperature. Although elevated plant temperature due to high light conditions does contribute to faster flowering, it does not influence the number of leaves formed below the flower.

Facultative irradiance plants

Centranthus
Cleome
Cosmos
Flowering tobacco
Gazania
Lavatera
Poppy
Silene

Irradiance indifferent plants

Ageratum
Stock
Amaranthus
Thunbergia
Celosia
Verbascum
Dianthus
Zinnia
Gomphrena
Lobelia
Mimulus
Statice

Reprinted from "Light and flowering of bedding plants" by Beth Fausey, OSU Extension ABE Center in the February 17, 2006 edition of the Michigan State University Greenhouse Alert newsletter.

Landscape - Horticultural Ecosystems X

This is the last of the series on horticultural ecosystems in sustainable landscaping. Slides are from a presentation that I give on the subject.

Pest problems in the landscape result from a horticultural ecosystem that is out of balance. This often is due to lack of diversity in a landscape that leads to pest buildup. Use of plants that have noted pest problems should be reduced. Practice those methods that encourage the buildup of competitors or natural controls of pests. If pest control is necessary, practice integrated pest management and consider all options before using a pesticide.

Encouraging beneficial or benign organisms in the landscape can go a long way to reduce or eliminate pest problems. Strive for a balanced ecosystem. Understand those practices that can encourage these "good" organisms above ground and below ground.

It is critical to use native plant species as much as possible. These are well adapted plants that are important for wildlife and will help to develop a horticultural ecosystem that will function well in our area.

In the end, consider whether you want to fight natural forces or learn to take advantage of them. Highly managed horticultural systems with limited diversity and high maintenance species are costly and often do not succeed in the long term. Think of how your short term actions will end up in long term consequences. In landscape design make sure your vision includes the creation of a successful and healthy horticultural ecosystem. Strive to understand the interactions that occur in the landscape to help you make better decisions.

I hope this series has been helpful with those of you interested in sustainable landscaping.

Gordon Johnson, Extension Horticultural Agent, UD, Kent County

Happy Holidays!

Photo by Ransom, UK

Some Seasonal Poems

"At Christmas I no more desire a rose than wish a snow in May’s new-fangled mirth;
But like of each thing that in season grows."

William Shakespeare

"I heard a bird sing
In the dark of December
A magical thing
And sweet to remember.
'We are nearer to Spring
Than we were in September,'
I heard a bird sing
In the dark of December."

Oliver Herford, I Heard a Bird Sing

2009 Northeast Branch American Society for Horticultural Science Meeting - This year in Newark, DE

The 2009 Northeast Branch American Society for Horticultural Science Meeting is in Newark, DE this year. The following is more information.

2009 ANNUAL MEETING NORTHEAST REGION OF AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR HORTICULTURAL SCIENCE

CAMPUS BASED MEETING AT UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE, NEWARK, DE

From January 8-10, 2009, the Northeast Region of the American Society for Horticultural Science (NEASHS) will meet in Newark, Delaware. University of Delaware will host the meeting.

Highlights of the meeting include dinner, awards presentations, and a conservatory tour at Longwood Gardens on the evening of January 9 (transportation provided), paper sessions including a graduate and undergraduate student paper competition (up to $300 award for best presentations), symposium on public horticulture January 10, and the NEASHS business meeting.

Longwood Gardens will host us for dinner and a conservatory visit on Friday evening. Longwood is underwriting the cost for this event - NEASHS will provide bus transportation to the Gardens as part of registration.

Tentative Schedule of events:

Thursday
-Arrive in Newark, Registration and Poster setup at the Courtyard Marriott (4-6 pm)
-Dinner on your own

Friday
-Breakfast on your own (there is a café in the hotel)
-Oral presentations including student competition
-Lunch provided in the hotel cafe
-Paper sessions continue
-Travel to Longwood Garden (included in registration)
-Dinner (Courtesy of Longwood Gardens), student award presentations, self-guided tour of Longwood Conservatories

Saturday
-Poster session and continental breakfast (provided)
-Business meeting
-Symposium on Public Horticulture
-Take down posters and adjourn (12:00 pm)

To register go to http://shop.ashs.org/search.php?mode=search&page=1

Gordon Johnson, Extension Horticulture Agent, UD, Kent County

Greenhouse - Greenhouse and Marketing Sessions at New Jersey Meetings

The Mid Atlantic Direct Marketing Conference and the New Jersey Atlantic Coast Agriculture Conference have been combined this year and will be held the second full week in January. The following is more information.

Mid Atlantic Direct Marketing Conference and the New Jersey Atlantic Coast Agriculture Conference

Dates: January 13, 14, 15 Pre-conference marketing tour on Jan 12
Location: Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort, 1000 Boardwalk at Virginia Ave, Atlantic City, NJ
Registration: A registration brochure can be downloaded at http://www.njveggies.org/convention.htm
Program: The program can be downloaded at http://www.njveggies.org/2009%20Advance%20program.pdf

Greenhouse session:

Greenhouse Environmental Controls. Tom Piini, Owner, Microgrow Greenhouse Systems, Inc.

Greenhouse Design & Construction. John Hoogeboom, Vegetable Production Specialist, Rough Brothers

Growing Your Own Fuel. Arie Van Vugt, Pres, Plainview Growers

Greenhouse Energy Conservation & Efficiency. A. J. Both, Bioresource Eng. Specialist, RCE

Business - Surviving and Thriving in Tight Times

The following is information on a series of workshops to be held in Dover on horticultural business survival in tight times. This is a part of the Ornamental Short Course series from Delaware Cooperative Extension.

Business Survival in Tight Times

Dates: February, 5, 12, 19, 26
Time: 12 noon—3 p.m.
Location: Kent County Extension Office, Dover, DE (Paradee Center next to DelDOT)
Cost: $35
Lunch: Light lunch included.
Registration: Register by calling (302) 730-4000

Horticultural business owners and managers should mark your calendars for a series on surviving and thriving in these tough economic times. Landscapers, landscape maintenance firms, lawn care companies, nurseries, greenhouses, garden centers and other horticultural businesses will benefit from these workshops.

Come join us for lunch, learn about approaches to help your businesses in tough economic conditions, and participate in discussions on topics that are important to your business.

This series is designed to help small businesses evaluate their bottom line, determine portions of their enterprise that are profitable, implement cost cutting procedures, manage employees under difficult conditions and prioritize how to deliver products and services successfully to your customers.

Instructors: Gordon Johnson and Susan Barton

Gordon Johnson, Extension Horticulture Agent, UD, Kent County

Landscape - Horticultural Ecosystems IX

This is a continuation of the series taken from a presentation that I give on sustainable landscapes as horticultural ecosystems.

In a balanced horticultural ecosystem, plants will for the most part be healthy. However, undue stress from abiotic (environmental) factors and biotic stressors (such as pests) can upset the balance. The goal in any horticultural ecosystem is to create and maintain a healthy environment. Landscape maintenance activities should be designed to maintain plant health.

Abiotic or environmental stress factors include drought/water stress, flooding, high temperatures, low temperatures, wind dessication, physical damage, salt injury, and nutrient deficiencies. Plant health can be negatively affected if these stress factors are excessive. However, moderate stress is normal and a healthy landscape can tolerate many stresses and actually will benefit in some ways. Understanding when you should intervene to reduce stress (such as with water during a drought) is key. Other stresses can be avoided by prudent landscape maintenance activities (no damage to landscape plants for example).

Biotic stress factors in the horticultural ecosystem include the common pests - insects, mites, slugs, weeds, diseases (fungi, bacteria, nematodes), rodents, and other animal pests. Many times our pests become an issue because of a lack of diversity in landscape, improper plant selection or use of poorly adapted plants, having excess environmental stress that predisposes plants to pests, or improper landscape maintenance activities that favor pests.

As stated before, the goal is to reduce plant stress. Use of organic amendments can go a long way to reducing water and nutrient stress. Proper pruning and thinning can reduce diseases by lowering humidity around plants. Providing proper drainage can reduce the incidence of root rots. It is important when considering methods to reduce stress not to upset the balance in the horticultural ecosystem. For example, excess nitrogen fertilizer can push plants to produce too much growth. This excess growth is often more susceptible to plant diseases.

To be continued.

Gordon Johnson, Extension Horticulture Agent, UD, Kent County

Nursery - Christmas Tree Growers in Delaware

There is still time to get a last minute Christmas tree. The following is a list of Christmas Tree Growers in Delaware from the Delaware Department of Agriculture. Many of these tree farms will also sell dug trees for landscapers in the spring.

Click in tables for a larger image.







You can also print this list off at http://dda.delaware.gov/marketing/forms/200809_XmasTreeGrwrs.pdf

Gordon Johnson, Extension Horticulture Agent, UD, Kent County

Landscape - Horticultural Ecosystems VIII

This is a continuation of the series on managing landscapes as horticultural ecosystems for sustainable landscaping. Slides are from a presentation I give on the subject.

Consider what effects structural components will have on the horticultural ecosystems and design to minimize negative effects. Limit root restrictions or design with rooting in mind (structural soils under walkways for example). Consider where water runoff will go and design to manage that runoff (rain gardens for example). Consider how structural components may increase radiation load, change light conditions, or limit plant space.

Consider how the landscape will be used by people and how this will effect the horticultural ecosystem. The goal is to blend man as part of the landscape.

Your management activities in the horticultural ecosystem can have major effects. Consider how you will manage the root environment. Plant nutrients and water can be limiting factors in a landscape; however, overuse of these inputs can have negative effects. Consider how your management affects light conditions, temperature, wind, humidity, and other microclimate effects.

Consider what the effects of the above management decisions would be on the horticultural ecosystem.

To be continued...

Gordon Johnson, Extension Horticulture Agent, UD, Kent County

Landscape - Landscape Contractors Association Workshops

The following is information on the upcoming Landscape Contractors Association of MD, DC, and VA winter workshop.

Landscape Contractors Association of MD-DC-VA 2009 Winter Workshop

Dates:

January 21, 2009 Pesticide Recertification Track
January 22, 2009 Design and Management Tracks
January 28, 2009 Installation and Maintenance Tracks
January 29, 2009 Spanish Track

Location: Turf Valley Resort & Conference Center, Ellicott City, Maryland
Registration: Program information and registration can be downloaded at http://www.lcamddcva.org/_pdf/ww09_jan21_22.pdf and at http://www.lcamddcva.org/_pdf/ww09_jan28_29.pdf

Addressing the top Green Industry issues confronted by landscape professionals, attendees will come away with information and skills they can put to use everyday. So plan to enhance your knowledge and grow your company this January. Attend the LCA 2009 Winter Workshop!

Wednesday, January 21 - Pesticide Recertification Track

8:00 am – 8:45 am Get Ahead of the Major Scales on Landscapes and Unfriendly Caterpillars. Stanton Gill—University of Maryland Cooperative Extension
8:45 am – 9:30 am Top 10 Insects—Turf & How to Deal With Them. Daniel A. Potter, Ph.D.—University of Kentucky
9:45 am – 10:30 am Your Trees on Crack. Hannah M. Mathers, Ph.D.—Ohio State University
10:45 am – 11:30 am Top 10 Insects—Ornamentals & How to Deal With Them. Daniel A. Potter, Ph.D.—University of Kentucky
11:30 am – 12 noon New Research Results—What Are We Learning About How to Protect the Health of Pesticide Applicators? Amy Brown, Ph.D.—University of Maryland Department of
Entomology
1:00 pm – 1:45 pm More Bite to Bark: Herbicide + Mulch Combination. Hannah M. Mathers, Ph.D.—Ohio State University
2:00 pm – 2:45 pm Monitoring, Detection & Decision Making with an IPM Program. Tina MacIntyre—Farmington Country Club
2:45 pm – 3:30 pm Aquatic Weed Control. Lloyd Hipkins—Virginia Tech
3:30 pm – 4:15 pm Pesticide Regulations Update for 2008.

Thursday, January 22

Management Track

8:30 am – 10:00 am Removing Barriers to Communication, Bernard L. Erven, Ph.D.—Ohio State University
10:15 am – 12 noon Principles of Ecological Landscaping: Sustainable Design, Installation and
Management for the 21st Century Landscape Company. Michael Talbot—Michael Talbot &
Associates, Inc.
1:15 pm – 2:45 pm Becoming a Better Boss Bernard L. Erven, Ph.D.—Ohio State University
3:00 pm – 4:30 pm Thriving, Not Surviving, in Business. George Koziarz—George Koziarz &
Associates, Inc.

Landscape Design Track

8:30 am – 12 noon 50 High-Impact, Low-Care Garden Plants. Tracy DiSabato-Aust
12 noon – 1:00 pm Lunch
1:15 pm – 3:00 pm Construction Details. Guy Williams, ASLA—DCA Landscape Architects, Inc.
3:15 pm – 4:15 pm Ecological and Sustainable Design. Michael Talbot—Michael Talbot &

Wednesday, January 28

Installation Track

8:30 am – 9:30 am The Importance of Provenance to the Landscape Industry. Larry Kuhns, Ph.D.—Penn State University
9:45 am – 10:30 am How Nursery Production Practices Affect Survival and Performance in the Landscape. Larry Kuhns, Ph.D.—Penn State University
10:45 am – 11:45 am Get Your Ash & Maple Out of Here—Staying Out of the Way of
the Emerald Ash Borer & Asian Longhorned Borer. Stanton Gill—University of Maryland
Cooperative Extension
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Design and Construction of Permeable Concrete Paver Systems—A Contractor’s View. Chuck Taylor—Advanced Pavement Technology

Maintenance Track

8:30 am – 9:30 am Exotic Threats to the Urban Forest. Michael Raupp, Ph.D.—University of
Maryland, Department of Entomology
9:45 am – 10:30 am Pruning. Peter Deahl—Peter Deahl Fine Pruning, LLC
10:45 am – 11:45 am Spots & Rots: Diseases of Annuals and Perennials in the Landscape.
Karen K. Rane, Ph.D.—University of Maryland, Department of Entomology
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Annuals & Perennials: Insects & How to Treat Them. Stanton Gill—University of Maryland Cooperative Extension
2:15 pm – 4:15 pm The 20 Questions of Plant Diagnostics. Erik Draper—Ohio State University

Thursday, January 29

Spanish Track

8:00 am – 10:00 am Seguridad (Safety). Robert Ruiz—Chesapeake Region Safety Council
10:15 am – 12:15 pm Mathmaticas para Paisajismo (Landscape Math). Pedro Perdomo—Cleary Chemical
1:15 pm– 2:00 pm Pestes del Paisajismo: Identificacion y Control (Landscape Pests: Identification and Control). Jose A. Jarvio, CLT—McHale Landscape Design, Inc.
2:15 pm – 4:15 pm Administracion de Césped. (Turf Management). Pedro Perdomo—Cleary Chemical

Visit Delaware Garden Centers and Farm Christmas Shops - There is Still Time Before Christmas

Take time to support our local garden centers and farm Christmas businesses this year. There is still time to buy some plants, trees, gifts, and decorations. It is critical in the economic downtime to support your neighbors who work hard as small business owners to make a living. Local buying supports the local community. The following are some pictures of some of these businesses in Kent County.





Photos by Jean Thomas, Extension Program Assistant, UD, Kent County.

Turf - Eastern PA Turf Conference

The following is information on the 2009 Eastern Pennsylvania Turf Conference and Trade Show.

2009 Eastern Pennsylvania Turf Conference and Trade Show

Dates: January 6 - 8, 2009
Location: Valley Forge Convention Center, King of Prussia, PA
Registration: Download the registration brochure at http://www.paturf.org/events/09/etcts/Registration_Brochure.pdf

Program:

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE: TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2009

12:30 Biological Insect Control. Dr. Albrecht Koppenhoffer, Rutgers University
1:00 Herbicide Research Update. Mr. Jeff Borger, Penn State University
1:45 Waitea Patch: History, Identification, and Control. Mr. Steve McDonald, Turfgrass Disease Solutions, LLC
2:15 Eradicative Pruning Techniques. Mr. Vinnie Controne, PA Cooperative Extension

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE: WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2009

MANAGING AQUATIC RESOURCES WORKSHOP
9:00 Nuisance Algae and Macrophyte Control Options. Dr. Stephen Sousa, PrincetonHydro, LLC
10:00 Aquascape to Control Waterflow, Erosion, and Pollutants. Dr. Stephen Sousa, PrincetonHydro, LLC

SPREADER CALIBRATION WORKSHOP
(Limited to 30 participants)
9:00 Spreader Calibration Workshop. Dr. Max Schlossberg, Penn State University

GOLF COURSE SESSION
9:00 Annual Bluegrass Weevil: Mid-atlantic Update. Mr. Steve McDonald, Turfgrass Disease Solutions, LLC
9:30 Preventative Use of Wetting Agents. Dr. Erik Ervin, Virginia Tech University
10:00 2008 Year In Review. Mr. Darin Brevard. United State Golf Association

LAWN CARE SESSION
1:30 White Grubs: Comprehensive Control Approaches. Dr. Albrecht Koppenhoffer, Rutgers University
2:00 Compost Amendment for Enhanced Qulaity. Dr. Peter Landschoot, Penn State University
2:30 Turfgrass and Shade Management. Dr. John Sorochan, University of Tennessee

LANDSCAPE & ORNAMENTAL CARE SESSION
1:30 Diagnosing Landscape Problems. Mr. Scott Guiser, Pennsylvania Cooperative Extension
2:00 Mite Management in Landscape Ornamentals. Mr. Casey Sclar, Longwood Gardens
2:30 Weed Control in Planting Beds. Mr. Scott Guiser, Pennsylvania Cooperative Extension

GOLF COURSE SESSION
1:30 Rolling for Dollars. Dr. John Sorochan, University of Tennesee
2:00 Express Putting Green Resurfacing. Mr. Quent Baria, CGCS, Valent USA Corp.
2:30 Natural Organic Fertilizers. Dr. Erik Ervin, Virginia Tech University

SPRAYER CALIBRATION WORKSHOP
(Limited to 30 participants)
1:00 Sprayer Calibration Workshop. Dr. Max Schlossberg & Mr. Zach Larson, Penn
State University

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE: THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2009

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION & WORKER SAFETY SESSION
9:30 Reducing Pesticide Exposure. Mr. John Fowler, Penn State Cooperative Extension
10:00 Nitrogen & Phosphorus Credits: When & How...? Ms. Tracey Olexa, Herbert, Rowland, & Grubic
10:30 Nutirent Management Strategies. Dr. Max Schlossberg, Penn State University
11:00 Spill Containment: Preparation & Action. Dr. Kerry Richards, Penn State University
Pesticide Credits: 1 Cat. 7, 18, or 23; 2 Core

ATHLECTIC SPORTS TURF SESSION
9:30 Bermudagrass Selection & Mangement for the Mid-Atlantic. Dr. Erik Ervin, Virginia Tech Univerity
10:00 Athletic Field Wear Management. Dr. John Sorochan, University of Tennessee
10:30 Seven Habits of Highly Defective Sports Turf Managers. Mr. John Fowler, Penn State Cooperative Extension
11:15 Management Forum. Dr. Andy McNitt, Penn State University

MECHANICS WORKSHOP
(Limited to 30 participants)
9:30 Biofuels & Outdoor Power Equipment. Dr. Aaron Yoder & Mr. D. Schaufler, Penn State
University
10:10 Electrical System Troubleshooting. Dr. Aaron Yoder & Mr. D. Schaufler, Penn State
University
10:50 Hydraulic Systems: Basic & Troubleshooting. Dr. Aaron Yoder & Mr. D. Schaufler, Penn State University

GOLF COURSE SESSION
1:30 Herbicide & Fungicide Refresher. Dr. Peter Landschoot, Penn State University
2:00 Biofuels & Outdoor Power Equipment. Dr. Aaron Yoder, Penn State University
2:30 Penn A4: N, Fe, and Growth Regulator Programs. Dr. Max Schlossberg, Penn State University

ATHLETIC SPORTS TURF SESSION
1:30 Rootzone Amendment Selection & Water Repellency. Dr. Max Schlossberg, Penn State University
2:00 Football Field Renovation: Maryland Style. Mr. Jeremy Menna, University of Maryland
2:30 Comprehensive Weed Control. Mr. Tom Serensits, Penn State University

LANDSCAPE & GROUND MAINTENANCE SESSION
1:30 2008 Turfgrass Fungicide Update. Dr. Wakar Uddin, Penn State University
2:00 Internet Marketing. Mr. Chris Brown, Teed & Brown, LLC
2:30 Herbicide & Fungicide Refresher. Dr. Peter Landschoot, Penn State University

Landscape - Delmarva Forestry Seminar

Many Delaware landowners have wooded or forested areas. There are income opportunities for landscapers in working with landowners to manage woodland areas. This could be a natural extension of services that you offer (removing undesirable trees, planting desired species, clearing undergrowth, planting wildlife habitat, etc.). Each year the University of Delaware and University of Maryland hold the Delmarva Forestry Seminar and this year it is in Dover, DE. You can learn about getting the most from woods on properties at this year's seminar. The following is information on this years program. Note that you need to pre-register for the seminar.

21ST DELMARVA FORESTRY SEMINAR - YIELDING THE MOST FROM YOUR WOODS

Date: Saturday, January 10, 2009
Location: Modern Maturity Center, Dover, DE
Registration: Please Pre-Register. A $35 registration fee covers all materials provided at the seminar, including a continental breakfast and buffet lunch. If you are interested in the afternoon field tour, there will be an additional $10 fee. Registration deadline for both seminar events is Jan. 6. For more information or to preregister, contact Nevin Dawson, University of Maryland Cooperative Extension at (410) 827-8056 or Dot Abbott, University of Delaware Cooperative Extension at (302) 730-4000.

Schedule:

7:45 a.m.—8:15 a.m. Registration, Continental Breakfast & Exhibit Viewing

8:15 a.m.—8:45 a.m. Welcome

8:45 a.m.—10:00 a.m. Concurrent Sessions I

Woodland Management-Insects & Diseases in your Woodlot. Glenn Gladders, Forest Health Specialist, Delaware Forest Service

Woodland Products-Marketing A—Z Sam Topper, Utilization & Marketing Forester, Delaware Forest Service

10:00 a.m. BREAK

10:15 a.m.—11:30 a.m. Concurrent Sessions II

Woodland Management-Wildlife: Bobwhite Quail

Woodland Products-Agroforestry

11:30 a.m.—12:45 p.m. Concurrent Session III

Financial Management-Forest Taxes. Lloyd Casey, Consultant Forester (retired), USDA-Forest Service

Woodland Management-Tree ID

12:45 p.m. BUFFET LUNCH/SPEAKER Carbon Sequestration/Trading. Will Price, Program Director, Pinchot Institute for Conservation

2:00 p.m. Forestry Field Tour. Buses depart from back parking lot

Landscape - Shade Tree Symposium

Arborists and landscape maintenance personnel interested in tree care will be interested in the upcoming shade tree symposium in Lancaster, PA. The following is the announcement.

The Pennsylvania-Delaware Chapter of the I.S.A presents the 44th Annual Shade Tree Symposium.

Tree Care for Modern Communities: People and Tree Interactions

• Rigging Demonstration Tree and Trade Show in the Expo Center
• Certified Arborist Tests
• CPR and First Aid Certification Class
• Business, Plant Health Care, Utility, Municipal and Tree Worker Breakout Sessions
• CTSP training Workshop following the Symposium

Date: January 25-27, 2009
Location: Lancaster Host Resort, Lancaster, PA
Registration: A registration brochure can be printed off at http://www.penndelisa.org/downloads/2009_Brochure_Penn_Del_ISA_PRINT_FORMAT.PDF
You can also register on-line at: http://www.penndelisa.org/shade_tree.html

Some example talks:

Diagnosis and Management of Arthropod Pests of Trees & Shrubs: Review of 2008, Preview of 2009. Greg Hoover, Penn State.

Identifying & Managing the Top Tree Diseases in the Northeast. Michael Masiuk, Sandy Feather, Penn State.

New Herbicides for Arborists. Joe Lentz, Arborchem

Our Changing Urban Forest: Benefits, Challenges, and the Arborists’ Role. David Nowak, USDA Forest Service

Finding Quality Nursery Stock: What To Look For. Bill Graham, Graham Tree Consulting; Jason Lubar, Morris Arboretum; Peter Kyne, Eisler Landscapes

Go to http://www.penndelisa.org/shade_tree.html for more information

Governor-Elect Markell to Speak at January Friends of Agriculture Breakfast

Delaware will have a new governor soon and policies that are put in place by the new administration will have many effects on the horticultural industry in the state. The following is the announcement for the January 9, 2009 Friends of Agriculture Breakfast to be held during Delaware Agriculture Week at the Harrington Fire Hall. This is an opportunity to get a feel for the new administration prior to taking office.

I am pleased to tell you that Governor-elect Jack Markell will be our speaker at the Friday, January 9th Friends of Agriculture Breakfast to be held at the Harrington Fire Hall in Harrington, DE. (This is the Friends of Agriculture connected to Delaware Agriculture Week).

Please reserve this date on your calendar and make your reservations for this important Friends of Agriculture as soon as possible. This is a very busy time for the Governor-elect but he views this as an important opportunity to connect with the Agricultural Community (this includes the Green Industry).

Date: Friday, January 9, 2009
Time: 7:15 a.m.
Location: Harrington Fire Hall, Harrington, DE
Cost: $20 for full breakfast and presentation
To register: contact Alice Moore at ammoore@udel.edu or 302-831-2504. Or go to
http://ag.udel.edu/agfriends/ to print a faxable form.

Hope to see you all in Harrington on Friday, January 9th.

Janice A. Seitz, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Extension and Outreach, Director of Extension, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Business - Holiday Lighting

Landscapers have been adding many additional enterprises to their businesses in recent years from irrigation to parking lot sweeping. Landscape lighting has been a good addition to many landscape firms. With the holiday season in hand, one additional enterprise you might consider for the future is holiday lighting. The following are some thoughts on the subject:

• While most families do their own holiday lighting, there is a growing number of people that would pay for someone to put up holiday lights for them. This is due to families having limited time with busy schedules, the aging baby boomer population that will pay for the service, and larger houses that are harder for a do-it-yourselfer to light well.
• This is a natural business extension for those landscape firms that already do landscape lighting.
• The major opportunity is at Christmas time. However, there are opportunities for Halloween too.
• This concept can also be extended to the dark winter period to provide additional accents to the landscapes at night. Consider it landscaping with light. Consider the opportunities to add changing light features to the landscape you installed that vary throughout the late fall, winter, and early spring.
• The opportunities for profit include providing the materials (material markup), installation charges, and design charges.
• Please, no more giant plastic lighted Santa's

Gordon Johnson, Extension Horticulture Agent, UD, Kent County.

Landscape - Horticultural Ecosystems VII

This is a continuation of the series on viewing the landscape as a horticultural ecosystem. Slides are from a presentation that I give on the subject.

As you add plants to a landscape you will alter the horticultural ecosystem. Light conditions will change over time with trees and large shrubs. These larger plants will also modify exposures to wind and reduce heat loads. Microclimates around plants are determined by the plants selected and their growth patterns. Plants will also provide food for the microbial community and for wildlife. In the end, the horticultural ecosystem will develop specific complimentary microbial communities in the soil and canopy and certain complimentary animal components from earthworms in the soil to birds in the landscape.

Horticultural ecosystems will be impacted by changes in terrain, changes in light, soil disturbance, soil modification, exposures (wind and temperature), movement of water (drainage), microclimate effects (humidity for example), and interactions with microbes and animals.

On the slide above, take time to consider what the effect will be by the actions listed. For example, the addition of compost to a soil will modify the soil conditions greatly and will positively impact plant growth. In contrast, adding a paved driveway will raise temperatures nearby and negatively impact plant growth.

I will continue with this series in future posts.

Gordon Johnson, Extension Horticulture Agent, UD, Kent County

Business - Great Blog to Visit on Green Industry Business and Economics: Dr. Charlie Hall

I just heard a talk by Dr. Charlie Hall from Texas A&M University. He has a wealth of information on the business and economics of the green industry. He writes a blog that definitely is worth visiting on a regular basis. The following is more information:

Dr. Charlie Hall's Blog

Making Cents of Green Industry Economics

About the Blog:

Why "Making Cents"? Because as margins get tighter and tighter in the Green Industry due to market conditions becoming increasingly competitive, a few cents per pot/plant can make a world of difference! Stay tuned to this site for up-to-the-minute information regarding economic factors affecting your business and strategic responses to enhance profitability!

Information on Dr. Hall

Dr. Charlie Hall, Ellison Chair in International Floriculture, Texas A&M University
charliehall@tamu.edu

Dr. Hall’s expertise in marketing is nationally recognized in academia and among the Green Industry clientele he serves. His major areas of specialization include strategic management, market situation & outlook, and managerial economics. He is an invited speaker at numerous regional, national, and international meetings and is particularly known for the enthusiasm, passion, and intensity he exhibits when speaking.

A sample excerpt from his blog post on "from Conspicuous to Conscious Consumption" an interview with Dan Stanek, Executive Vice President, TNS Retail Forward.

"What advice do you have for retailers who are (re)developing their marketing strategies?

The most important thing for retailers is to tie value and values together. When you can make a statement to offer lower price or great value and also that you are doing things “right” (such as making a donation with each purchase or using environmentally friendly materials), it will help justify the purchase for shoppers. You need to provide a reason for consumers to prioritize your purchase in their life above other things they need to spend money on."

You can view Dr. Charlie Hall's blog at http://ellisonchair.blogspot.com/

Business - Green Industry Risk Management (Business Management) Guide

When you hear the term risk management, most business persons think about insurance. However, the term risk management has been broadened over the years from an educational perspective to encompass most of the areas we used to call just plain business management. It includes aspects of production, marketing, financial management, human resources management (labor, management), legal issues, and environmental concerns along with traditional risk management with insurance. There is a great guide on business/risk management for the green industry aimed at greenhouse and nursery businesses but with sections that could easily apply to other green industry professionals. It is available for download from the National Crop Insurance Services. The following is more information.

Green Industry Risk Management Guide
PUBLICATION OF NATIONAL CROP INSURANCE SERVICES

Contents:

Size and Structure of the Green Industry

2 U.S. Green Industry’s Economic Contributions
7 Mega Trends in the Green Industry

Overview of Risk Management Principles

10 Risk Overview
14 Risk Attitudes of Nursery Growers and Allied Professionals
17 Risk Management for Greenhouse and Nursery Growers
20 Record-Keeping: Essential to Risk Management
22 Business Planning for Nursery Managers: Charting a Course Toward Profitability

Production Risks and Responses

28 Production Risk
31 The Pros and Cons of Diversifying the Nursery Business
34 Pot-in-Pot Nursery Production: In-Ground and Above-Ground Systems

Risk Management Through Crop Insurance

36 Why Should I Buy Crop Insurance?
38 Nursery Insurance
41 Adjusted Gross Revenue Lite Insurance (AGR-Lite)
44 Selecting the Right Crop Insurance Agent

Marketing Risks and Responses

46 Marketing Risk
49 New Conditions of Sale Add to Nursery Growers’ Risk Profile
51 Eco-Friendly Diversification Strategies
54 The Basics of Pricing for Nursery and Greenhouse Firms
58 So What is the Best Retail Price?
61 Retaining Customers for Greater Sales and Profits

Financial Risks and Responses

63 Financial Risk
66 Analyzing Financial Statements for Better Management in Horticultural Businesses
69 Benchmarking Your Way to Success!
71 Handling Risk with Enterprise Budgets for Ornamental Plants

Human Resource Risks and Responses

74 Human Resource Risk
77 Labor Risk Management: How to Find and Retain Farm Labor?
78 Complying with Equal Employment Legislation
82 Selecting and Managing Agricultural Labor

Legal and Environmental Risks and Responses

85 Legal Risk
87 Legal Issues for Greenhouse Growers
90 Managing Legal Risks in Agriculture Production: Immigration and Migrant Labor Issues
93 Optimizing Pesticide Performance in Nursery Production

Authors include noted University experts who work with the green industry.

This guide can be downloaded at: http://www.ag-risk.org/NCISPUBS/Training/NCIS08GreenGuide.pdf

The guide can also be downloaded at: http://ellisonchair.tamu.edu/media/risk_guide.pdf
Be forewarned that it takes a long time to download, even with high speed Internet access.

Some Holiday Horticultural Pictures from Kent County

The following are some holiday photos from horticultural businesses in Kent County, DE.


There are many Christmas tree farms to choose a tree from in Kent County.

We have a number of greenhouses that grow their own poinsettias in the county.

Photos by Jean Thomas, Program Assistant, Unviversity of Delaware Cooperative Extension, Kent County

Ornamental Short Courses - You Will be Receiving a Mailing Soon

Watch in the mail for information on our Ornamentals Short Course Series in 2009.

Holiday Greetings from Delaware Cooperative Extension!

The 2009 Delaware Cooperative Extension Ornamentals Short Course schedule will be mailed to you in the coming week. This year, our workshops begin in January and continue into the summer with two evening plant walks. We are offering workshops in each county that address a variety of horticultural subjects, and offer nutrient management and pesticide credits to help you maintain your certifications. This year’s schedule includes a shrub and evergreen series, an introductory greenhouse series, workshops to address sustainable landscaping, business survival, nutrient management for turf, integrated pest management, fertilizers and organic nutrient sources and more. Each workshop is reasonably priced to accommodate your needs and is offered throughout the week at various times of the day, depending on the course and also the season in which it is offered. Additionally, some workshops offer a light dinner. Registration will be accepted through the county offices; simply call your county office and add your name to the class list, and then pay at the door.

We continue to work with the Delaware Nursery and Landscape Association (DNLA) to offer annual expos and conferences to address important and timely subjects. The next conference is: Delaware Horticulture Industry Expo and Pesticide Conference, January 14 &15, Modern Maturity Center in Dover, Delaware

Delaware Cooperative Extension has many services to offer you throughout the year in New Castle, Kent and Sussex counties. You can drop off plant specimens, request assistance in identifying plants and their problems, pick up soil tests, informational pieces such as plant, insect, and disease fact sheets, our Plants for a Livable Delaware series, and registration forms for our Ornamentals Hotline publication (designed to fit our industry’s needs during the height of the season).

Finally, visit our website for additional up-to-date information http://ag.udel.edu/extension/horticulture/ . If you haven’t already, follow the link for Gordon Johnson’s commercial horticulture blog (http://www.kentcoopextension.blogspot.com/). This blog provides important and timely Extension information from the University of Delaware, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Helpful information, photographs, resources, and a list of current events for our region can be found here.

We look forward to working with you in the future. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to call or e-mail.

Sincerely,

Your horticultural Extension Agents in New Castle, Kent, and Sussex Counties

Tracy Wooten, Sussex, (302) 856-7303 wootten@udel.edu
Gordon Johnson, Kent, (302) 730-4000 gcjohn@udel.edu
Carrie Murphy, New Castle (302) 831-2506 cjmurphy@udel.edu

Click on tables for a larger image.

Greenhouse and Nursery - Fuel Cost Comparisons

Many greenhouse and nursery growers are looking into alternative energy sources. In order to compare alternative fuel sources for heating, greenhouse and nursery growers need to calculate a price per Btu. The following are formulas used to compare Btu's generated by different fuel sources. Information is from the University of Connecticut.

Click on Tables for a Larger Image

Landscape - Horticultural Ecosystems VI

This is the sixth in a series on viewing the landscape as a horticultural ecosystem as a part of a sustainable approach to landscaping. Slides are from a presentation that I give on the topic.

Once you have your landscape in place, the landscape maintenance company will manage the horticultural ecosystem. You can introduce new species and replace current plants. Interplant competition is a major factor that needs to be managed to favor one plant over another or to allow plants in close proximity to coexist. Growth modification will alter the horticultural ecosystem so pruning and thinning must be done with that in mind. Remember that the plants themselves will modify the landscape environment. You must also manage spread of plants and control invasives. Another point to consider is that natural succession is a strong force and plants from surrounding natural areas may come into a landscape without your assistance.

When you introduce or remove a species consider the effects on the horticultural ecosystem. Is the new plant compatible with the system? How will the removal of a plant alter the landscape?

Invasive species can be a challenge in some landscapes. Take time to understand why these species are invading your horticultural ecosystem and use appropriate control measures that do not harm the landscape.

I will have more on these topics in future posts.

Gordon Johnson, Extension Horticulture Agent, UD, Kent County

Greenhouse - Beginners Greenhouse Short Course to be Offered Starting in January

Each year we get many requests at the county extension offices for information in starting a greenhouse business. We will be offering a beginners greenhouse short course this year in New Castle County starting in January. All those interested in learning more about greenhouse production from a commercial standpoint should consider attending. This is a part of our University of Delaware Cooperative Extension Ornamental Short Course program.

Ornamental Short Course

Starting a Greenhouse Business

Dates: Saturday mornings, January 17, 24, 31, and February 7.
Time: 9 a.m. - 12 noon
Location: Fisher Greenhouse, University of Delaware, Newark DE
Cost: Cost $35 for series or $10/session. Pay at the door.
Registration: Register by calling the UD New Castle Co. Extension Office at (302) 831-2506.

Learn the basics for starting, operating, and managing a greenhouse business.

Session 1 Production opportunities, markets, business basics and economics

Session 2 Facilities and Equipment - structures, covers, heating, cooling, lighting, etc.

Session 3 Production Basics: media, containers, propagation, temperature, watering, fertilization, growth control and specific growing requirements for common greenhouse crops.

Session 4 Pest Management - IPM (integrated pest management) techniques and common insect and diseases for greenhouse production ­

Instructors: Gordon Johnson, Carrie Murphy (extension horticulture agents) and Brian Kunkel (extension integrated pest management specialist).

For more information, call 302-831-2506 and ask for Carrie Murphy or email Carrie at cjmurphy@udel.edu.

Landscape - Horticultural Ecosystems V

I often recommend that the landscape should be viewed as a horticultural ecosystem where the landscaper's influence is critical and the decisions they make can affect the balance. By understanding the horticultural ecosystem, landscapers can often make better decisions. The goal is to create a sustainable landscape system. This is the fifth in a series of slides on the subject from a presentation I give.


Diversity should be a major goal of any landscape. The diversity in a horticultural ecosystem is selected by you as the landscaper or landscape designer. Large expanses of lawn are not diverse systems. Neither are single species screens or windbreaks. Most of our landscapes have limited diversity with only a handful of mainly non-native species. This can lead to many problems such as increased pest problems, reduced habitat for desired wildlife such as birds, high maintenance requirements, and reduced longevity of plantings.

A common suburban landscape. Diversity is limited to a monoculture of grasses, a few shade trees, and a few foundation plants.

In horticultural ecosystems with limited plant diversity, the diversity of other organisms is also limited from soil microbes to desired wildlife. Food sources for native animals are limited thus limiting their numbers in communities that have low diversity of plants and many non-native plants. Pests are often more of a problem and reduced plant vigor often results. There is a reduction in the benefits from plant synergism. Landscapes can also be very monotonous and of low aesthetic value in these low diversity systems.

Create more horticultural ecosystem diversity by selecting a wide range of plants from many different plant families and using a majority of native plants. You can add diversity to any landscape by replacing existing plants with different species and by converting parts of lawn areas to landscaped areas. When adding plants or designing systems, consider how plants are placed and what effects they will have on each other. Design for complimentary effects. Alter soils to favor the species that you install. Eliminate those plants that have high maintenance requirements from a pest management perspective or that are pest prone.

I will continue these thoughts in additional posts.

Gordon Johnson, Extension Horticulture Agent, UD, Kent County.

Greenhouse - Energy Cost Reduction Website

Michigan State University has been one of the leaders in education and resarch on reducing energy needs in greenhouses. The following is information on their website specifically devoted to saving energy in greenhouses.

Greenhouse Energy Cost Reduction Strategies Website, Michigan State University

In an industry with declining profit margins, and with the surge in fuel prices, there is increasing need to grow greenhouse crops in an energy-efficient manner. The best approach is to attack this industry threat using a variety of strategies. In collaboration with horticulturists, agricultural economists, and agricultural engineers, we have developed this web site to provide summary information on production strategies and technologies that greenhouse growers can use to consume less energy and improve production efficiency.

The information on this website was compiled and organized by Matthew Blanchard (Ph.D. candidate) and Erik Runkle (associate professor), Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University. We are continually updating this website as new information becomes available.

The site contains links to information on reducing greenhouse energy use from around the country.

Link to the Michigan State University website on Greenhouse Energy Cost Reduction Strategies:
http://www.hrt.msu.edu/Energy/Notebook.htm

Landscape - Horticultural Ecosystems IV

This post is a continuation of the series on understanding horticultural ecosystems as a part of sustainable landscaping practices. Slides are from a presentation that I give on the subject.

After a site is disturbed, a new ecosystem must be established. The function of this new horticultural ecosystem is dependent upon the choices you make as a landscaper. It is important to consider plant interactions with the specific environment. Planning should take into consideration ecological factors, what is the desired ecosystem, what do you need to take into account in the site environment to arrive at the desired horticultural ecosystem, expected interactions in the new landscape, how the landscape will be used, and of course aesthetics. Consider more naturalized areas if possible and use native plants as much as possible.

This landscape has achieved a balance between having areas that function for the needs of the homeowner (a lawn area for children to play) and landscaped areas that build a sustainable horticultural ecosystem. One negative would be that not enough native plants are used.

One way to view the initial stage of landscaping is as a healing process. You need to understand the soil changes that need to take place to quickly develop the new horticultural ecosystem and add amendments to help that process along. As plants root into the new landscape, a new ecological community starts to develop.

Over time, as the landscape matures, changes take place and the ecosystem evolves. Understanding this process is key to landscape maintenance needs.

Landscaping is in essence a controlled succession of species. Young landscapes will favor certain species and more mature landscapes will favor other species. Trying to force species to grow in this succession out of their natural adaptation will result in failures or excessive maintenance needs.

In your landscape design, one of the most important set of decisions that you have in establishing a new horticultural ecosystem is species selection. Once the selections you make are installed, natural processes will act upon those species. As the horticultural ecosystem evolves, other selections are made naturally including plant invaders (weeds, invasive plants), animal selections (both pests and beneficial animals, for example you can have insect pests and beneficial insects), and microbial selections (again both beneficial such as mycorrhizal associations with roots and detrimental such as plant pathogens).

Your species selection is very critical for the new horticultural ecosystem. Diversity should be sought. Think of short term and long term effects of your selections. Native species offer significant advantages in adaptability and in support of desired wildlife (habitat). Poor selection can result in problems such as invasive plants and pest buildup.

I will have more on this subject in future posts.

Gordon Johnson, Extension Horticulture Agent, UD, Kent County.

General - Business and Horticulture Topics at the Women in Agriculture Conference

Many women own, operate, work in, or manage horticultural businesses. The Women in Agriculture Regional Conference to be held this January in Dover addresses many topics that will be of interest to women in horticulture. The following is more information:

The University of Delaware Cooperative Extension in collaboration with the Cooperative Extension Services of: Delaware State University, University of Maryland, and Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey Presents the 8th Annual Women in Agriculture Conference.

8th Annual Women in Agriculture Conference

Dates: January 22 - 23, 2009
Location: Dover Downs Hotel Dover, Delaware
Registration: Preregistration is required. Download the registration form at http://ag.udel.edu/extension/kent/womeninag.htm

Featured Speakers:

Odonna Matthews, President of Odonna Matthews Consulting, Inc. A specialist in consumer communications, media and presentation skills training. She will be speaking on "Consumer Trends"

Troy & Stacy Hadrick, Advocates for Agriculture , they will be speaking on "Discovering Your Influential Power" And "Flexing Your Influential Muscle"

Workshop Sessions

I have listed those sessions that may be of interest of women in the horticultural industry.

Workshop Session #1 10:15 - 11:30 AM Thursday, January 22

>High Tunnels
>Learning Journeys: Exploring Interests Through Reading and Journaling

Workshop Session #2 1:00 - 2:15 PM Thursday, January 22

>Immigration Law

Workshop Session #3 2:45 - 4:00 PM Thursday, January 22

>Interviewing, Hiring and Employee Leave Laws You Need to Know
>Farm Service Agency: Helping Women Farm
>Six Steps to An Effective Estate Plan

Workshop Session #4 8:30 - 9:45 AM Friday, January 23

>Establishing a Winery
>Selling Direct: A strategy for Hard Times
>Hiring Teenagers

Workshop Session #5 10:00 - 11:15 AM Friday, January 23

>Agritourism: Growing Farm Revenues
>Business Planning

Landscape - Horticultural Ecosystems III

This is the third in a series on horticultural ecosystems, a sustainable way of looking at landscapes and landscaping. Slides are from a presentation that I give on the subject.

As a landscape site is developed, you must assess those natural forces that will work upon the landscape. How will biotic factors (living things) act upon the landscape, how have site modifications affected the ability of plants and other organisms to live and thrive, how has water and the hydrologic characteristics of the landscape been affected, how have exposures to wind and sun been altered?

An extremely exposed site prior to landscaping. Plants will be affected by wind and full sun conditions. Water may runoff or may be lost to excessive evaporation. Soil disturbance and compaction will affect rooting conditions.

Clearing woods for a parking area. Surrounding vegetation is severely impacted by increased exposures and root damage.

Making a road through a formerly wooded area. Land disturbance has increased exposures, affected soil conditions, opened up the potential for erosion, and altered the existing ecosystem. You must assess the effects of all these actions before considering how to install the new horticultural ecosystem with landscaping

I will continue on this topic in future postings.

Gordon Johnson, Extension Horticulture Agent, UD, Kent County

Landscape - Horticultural Ecosystems II

This is the second in a series on viewing the landscape as a horticultural ecosystem. This is a sustainable approach to landscaping. Slides are from a presentation that I give on the subject.

Disturbance plays a key role in horticultural ecosystems. How the landscape is designed, installed, and managed after this initial disturbance will determine how well it will function as a horticultural ecosystem.

This is a an example of what a landscaper has to work with on a newly developed property in DE. It is challenging to get the landscape to establish and even more challenging to develop a healthy horticultural ecosystem.

When the land is disturbed during development, there are many changes that take place that will affect the subsequent success of the landscape. The natural ecosystem is destroyed and it is up to you to help create the new horticultural ecosystem.

Woods clearing alters the ecosystem drastically. The environment is exposed to greater extremes in temperature. Wind now becomes a factor. Soil characteristics change because of the clearing.

Soil movement can destroy soil structure, result in compaction, and expose subsoil with poor chemical characteristics for plant growth.

Topsoil movement off and back onto a site has large impacts on the root environment.

Construction activities can leave a challenging soil environment that needs to be modified before establishing the new landscape.

Gordon Johnson, Extension Horticulture Agent, UD, Kent County.

Nursery, Greenhouse, and Landscape - New Fungicide Available

The following is information on a new fungicide available for the green industry from Bob Mulrooney, Extension Plant Pathologist, UD.

A new fungicide has been labeled for use on turf and ornamentals in greenhouses, shade houses, container nurseries, retail, conifer and forest nurseries, commercial and residential landscapes, and interiorscapes. It is called Pageant. Pageant from BASF is a combination product of pyraclostrobin (Insignia) and boscalid (Emerald). Those of you that know the vegetable and fruit fungicides will recognize Pristine which is the equivalent combination in Pageant.

I have tested it for powdery mildew and black spot control on hybrid tea rose and found it to be pretty effective at the high rates for black spot but not very effective on powdery mildew.
Trial results are below.

It has a wide label and could be very effective for the diseases on the label. You beed to check the labels for plants with sensitivity such as some grape cultivars, ninebark and Wintercreeper , Euonymus vegetus.

The label can be found at http://www.cdms.net/LDat/ld8JM000.pdf

Click on table for larger version in a new window.

Information from Bob Mulrooney, Extension Plant Pathologist, UD

Horticulture - What is Sustainable

Sustainability is a term that is used extensively. We hear the term sustainable being applied to everything from communities to agriculture to the environment. The horticulture industry has an important role to play in sustainability. However, the term is often not well understood. The following are my thoughts on the subject.

• Sustainable refers to systems that are long lasting and do not cause harm to the environment. Sustainability has environmental, societal, and economic components
• Sustainability requires that resources are used wisely, that non-renewable resources are limited, and that there is a focus on the use of renewable resources.
• To be sustainable, environmental considerations must come to the forefront.
• Growth and sustainability are often at odds. For true sustainability, growth (i.e. development) needs to be limited and managed.
• On the flip side, sustainable systems must maintain an appropriate standard of living for those in the system.
• The green industry has a large part to play in sustainability as plants are critical as renewable resources (photosynthesis as the factory) and are critical in maintaining a healthy environment.
• Recycling, reusing, and returning are all critical terms in sustainable systems.

I will be writing more on this subject in future posts.

Gordon Johnson, Extension Horticulture Agent, UD, Kent County

Landscape - Horticultural Ecosystems I

I often like to teach horticulture from an ecological perspective. By Viewing the landscape as a horticultural ecosystem where your influence as a landscaper is critical and the decisions you make can affect the balance, you can often make better decisions. The goal is to create a sustainable landscape system. This is the first in a series of slides on the subject from a presentation I give.

In a horticultural ecosystem, all the above actions are determined by you as the landscaper or landscape maintenance person. Your decisions will affect the success of the landscape.

In natural landscapes, there is a succession of plants to a climax vegetation that dominates. This does not change until something disturbs the balance such as fire caused by lightning.

The above pictures are examples of a "naturalized" landscape using native plants. Man's actions are still critical here as this meadow environment is not the climax vegetation in our area. Weedy annual and perennial plants can invade. Woody shrubs followed by trees will then come into the area without intervention.

This is a landscape that uses native plants but is more highly managed. The land is disturbed and a new landscape is established. Species are predetermined, planting patterns established, and maintenance practices such as mulching are put into place.

I will continue on this topic in future posts.

Gordon Johnson, Extension Horticulture Agent, UD, Kent County.

Landscape - What Makes a Good Mulch

Mulching is a common landscape practice that can reduce weed competition, conserve moisture, improve soils over time, and improve the appearance of landscapes. What makes a good mulch? Here are some of my thoughts on the subject.

• Organic mulches like bark are much more beneficial than inorganic mulches such as stone even though they require maintenance and additions on a regular basis. That is because they add organic matter to the soil over time and improve soil conditions.
• Organic materials that are high in lignin versus cellulose are preferred because they break down more slowly and do not immobilize nitrogen as readily. High lignin materials include bark, pine needles, ground root mulches, straw, salt marsh hay, and some leaves
• High cellulose materials will cause nitrogen deficiencies in plants by using N from the soil in decomposition. These materials need to be aged or partially composted before use as mulches. This includes wood chips, sawdust, some ground yard waste (depends on source material), and paper waste.
• Mulches should contain large particles and limited amounts of fines. This allows for water and air penetration and for quick drying out. For mulches to work, they must be able to dry out quickly after rainfall or watering. Otherwise, they start acting like soils and will allow weed seeds to grow.
• Mulches should not easily crust over. Again, the best way to avoid crusting is to limit fines in the mulch.
• Mulches should not have dramatic effects on soil chemistry or contain toxic substances. Some plant materials have natural resins or chemical compounds that can harm plants around them. Others may reduce or increase soil pH quickly which can lead to plant performance problems.
• How mulch is stored and handled also is a concern. Mulches stored in large piles that is not turned regularly to aerate it can develop anaerobic spots in the middle that start to ferment and produce acids. When this acid mulch is put around plants, it can damage or kill them.

Gordon Johnson, Extension Horticulture Agent, UD, Kent County.

Turf - Mulching Leaves Recycles Nutrients and Does Not Impact Turf

Lawn maintenance companies often spend many hours collecting and disposing of leaves at sites. This is not necessary in many cases as a mulching lawnmower can be used to keep leaves in the lawn and recycle nutrients. The following are some points to consider:

• Consider mulching leaves into the turfgrass canopy using a mulching mower. This could be part of a "green" or "ecofriendly" lawn care practice and can be sold as a specific service as an alternative to leaf removal and disposal.
• A Purdue University research report entitled “Leaf Mulching Effects on Turf Performance” showed that up to 4000 lbs of maple leaves per acre could be mulched with no negative effects on turf quality, color, thatch accumulation, soil pH change, weed populations or disease. However, mulching leaves did not substitute for proper fertilization practices.
• Unfortunately, mulching is not effective on pine needles because of their size, shape, and
  composition. Pine needles are highly resistant to microbial breakdown, lending to its popularity as a landscape mulch.
• Mulching leaves directly into the turf canopy has proven to be a cost (and time) effective means of leaf disposal with little to no impact on turf performance. Most importantly of all, it keeps leaves out of the landfills and is a sustainable or ecofriendly lawn care practice.

So, as part of a ecofriendly or sustainable lawn care program, consider adding leaf mulching as a service.

Information taken in part from "Lawn Leaf Management: “Leave” Them Alone" by Mike Goatley, Extension Turfgrass Specialist, Virginia Tech

Turf - Maryland Turfgrass Conference and Trade Show, January 21-23

The following is information on the Maryland Turfgrass Conference and Trade Show to be held January 21-23, 2009 in College Park.

Maryland Turfgrass Conference and Trade Show 2009

Dates: January 21-23, 2009
Location: University of Maryland, Stamp Student Union, College Park, MD
Registration: Registration form can be downloaded at http://www.mdturfcouncil.org/conf/pdfs/09flyer.pdf

Program

Wednesday, January 21, 2009 Morning

- Irrigation Workshop

For the first time ever, the Maryland Turfgrass Council is teaming up with the Irrigation Association to offer a workshop on turf and landscape irrigation system electrical troubleshooting. Topics that will be covered in this half day workshop include: diagnosing field wiring problems without leaving the controller, proper use of volt-ohm meters, diagnosing wiring problems based on readings, and steps to sort out confusing electrical problems so you’ll rarely
need to run new wire. This workshop is ideally suited for beginning golf course irrigation technicians and landscape irrigation specialists

- Professional Turfgrass Management Seminar

The Maryland Turfgrass Council, in cooperation with the Mid Atlantic Association of Golf Course Superintendents is pleased to offer its first ever half day professional turf management seminar. In this seminar Virginia Tech’s Dr. Eric Ervin will cover the use of weather station data, ET estimates and soil moisture sensors to properly schedule irrigation. He will also review current research on the use of wetting agents to minimize localized dry spots, conserve water and improve summer putting green performance. In the final section of the seminar, Dr. Ervin will review current research data that indicates seasonal use of two common biostimulant ingredients, seaweed extract and humic acid, can improve the heat and drought resistance of creeping bentgrass.

Thursday, January 22, 2009 Morning

- Zoysiagrass Symposium
- Turfgrass Fertilizer Workshop
- Online Access to Equipment Manufacturers

Thursday, January 22, 2009 Afternoon

- Breakout sessions in Golf Course Management, Sports Turf Management, and Turfgrass Management

Friday, January 23, 2009— Pesticide Recertification Day

Morning Session-9:00-11:30 AM

- Breakout sessions in Landscape, Turfgrass Management, and Golf Course Management

Afternoon Session 1:00-3:30 PM

- General Pesticide Recertification Session

For the full program details go to http://www.mdturfcouncil.org/conf/pdfs/09flyer.pdf

Turf - Virginia Turfgrass Conference and Trade Show

The following is information on the Virginia Turfgrass Conference and Trade Show coming up in January.

Virginia Turfgrass Conference and Trade Show

Dates: Conference Jan 12-15 (Monday - Thursday), Trade Show Jan 13-14 (Tuesday - Wednesday)
Location: Fredericksburg Conference & Expo Center, Fredericksburg, VA
Registration: Printable registration form can be downloaded at: http://vaturf.ipower.com//EventDocuments/2009RegistrationFormFINAL.pdf
Registration may also be done on-line at: http://vaturf.ipower.com//2009ConferenceRegistratonOnLine.htm

Schedule:

MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2009

7:30 a.m. Conference Registration
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m Water Use Symposium for Golf Courses
Sponsored by the Old Dominion GCSA
8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Landscape Leadership (Day One of Two)
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Certified Irrigation Contractor Class
(Day One of Two)
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Environmental Landscaping Symposium
Afternoon Move-In of Large Tradeshow Equipment

TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2009

7:00 a.m. Conference Registration
8:00 a.m. Morning Seminars (until 12:15 p.m.)
• Diseases/Cultural Mgmt.
• Landscape Leadership (Day Two of Two)
• Weed Management
• Tough Issues/Tough Times
• What’s New
8:00 a.m. Certified Irrigation Contractor Class (Day Two of Two)
(until 5:00 p.m.)
2:00 p.m. Tradeshow Opens (until 6:00 p.m.)
6:00 p.m. VTC Member Social and VT Student Awards
(until 7:00 p.m.)

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2009

7:00 a.m. Conference Registration
8:00 a.m. Tradeshow Opens (until 12:00 p.m.)
8:00 a.m. Certified Irrigation Contractor Examination
(until 12:00 p.m.)
12:30 p.m. VTC Annual Meeting (until 12:50 p.m.)
12:50 p.m. Special Presentation by Dr. Stephen Hodges
1:15 p.m. Reports from Virginia Tech
2:30 p.m. Concurrent Educational Tracks for Golf, Sports Turf,
Sod and Lawn/Landscape (until 5:15 p.m.)

THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2009

7:00 a.m. Conference Registration
8:00 a.m. Pesticide Certification Training & Exam
8:00 a.m. Pesticide Recertification Class
3:00 p.m. Conference Ends

The full program can be downloaded at http://vaturf.ipower.com//EventDocuments/ProgramANDRegistrationForm.pdf

Nursery, Greenhouse, and Landscape - What to do About Plastics

Plastics have helped to improve the economy of greenhouse and nursery production (from greenhouse and nursery films to plastic pots) and to expand the industry. Plastic pot production expanded the planting window for nursery plants and as such markets. However, plastic waste has become a major problem and the green industry is searching for ways to deal with the problem. The following are some thoughts on the subject.

• Coordinated and comprehensive plastics recycling programs have been successful. For success, the industry must play a large roll in the process by getting customers to recycle. Landscapers as end-users can be an important part of the process.
• Pots made from organic materials are not new to the industry. Peat pots and paper based pots have been available for years. Coir (coconut fiber) pots are also available. However, costs are higher for all these types of pots. Another issue is that peat is not really a renewable resource (is formed very slowly in nature).
• Pots made from other organic waste sources from chicken feathers to manure solids look promising and may be available very soon. The key again will be cost. Also, the materials must be truely biodegradable (should break down in the soil or in a compost process).
• A major question that needs to be answered is "if the cost remains higher for ecofriendly containers than plastic, will consumers pay more for plant products in these biodegradable containers". Research is underway to answer this question.
• Longevity is a real issue for nurseries. Pot breakdown ahead of the needed pot life will doom many products. The balance between biodegradability vs needed longevity is a difficult one to achieve due to environmental variability influencing breakdown..
• Potless systems may be an answer is some cases where plants are grown in cells until sufficiently root bound and then are pulled and shipped without any container. These systems are probably limited to use in the wholesale trade to landscapers and not to the consumer.
• Ball and burlap production will still have a place with the reduced need for plastics being a good selling point.

Gordon Johnson, Extension Horticulture Agent, UD, Kent County.

Greenhouse and Nursery - Heating Oil and Propane Futures

One way in which greenhouse and nursery growers can monitor where fuel prices are going is by watching the futures markets. Propane and heating oil are traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX). The following are some links and current futures prices. Futures are traded in units of 42,000 (or 21,000 gallons for the smaller fuel oil contract) so it is not a tool for controlling your price except for very large operations. However, it could be used by a cooperative of growers.

NYMEX Futures Prices for Heating Oil and Propane

Heating Oil (Dollars per Gallon)

January 2009 $1.42
March 2009 $1.48
November 2009 $1.69

Heating oil is now at same price as January, 2007. It topped out on the futures markets at over $4.00 per gallon in July. In January of 2008 it was twice the price it is now.

Propane (Dollars per Gallon)

January 2009 $0.55
March 2009 $0.56
November 2009 $0.61

Propane has not traded this low since the winter of 2005. It topped out on the futures markets at over $1.90 per gallon in July. In the January of 2008 it was three times the price it is now.

These futures prices can be found at:
http://www.nymex.com/ho_fut_cso.aspx for heating oil
http://www.nymex.com/pro_fut_cso.aspx for propane

Gordon Johnson, Extension Horticulture Agent, UD, Kent County

Nursery, Greenhouse and Landscape: Plastic Pots - Are They on the Way Out?

Plastic pots and containers are used extensively in the nursery and greenhouse industry. Landscape companies often accumulate large numbers of pots. The disposal of plastic pots has become a concern all over the US and alternatives are being sought. Pot recycling is mandated in some areas. The following is some information on this subject from a talk desciption by Marc Teffeau coming up at the ANLA Management Clinic in February.

Over the past two years sustainability has gained visibility as both a consumer, and increasingly, a regulatory issue. While we may be "the original green industry," it has not gone unnoticed that we produce a huge waste stream of plastic pots. We have seen a range of targeted efforts from local recycling programs to bioplastic alternatives and a call for standardization. There is not, however a silver bullet solution to this problem. Marc Teffeau, ANLA's Director of Research and Regulatory Affairs will discuss an integrated approach incorporating recycling, reuse and re-engineering, that is necessary to address this growing concern. Learn about efforts ranging from the Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association to the EPA to recycle pots locally and nationally through collection and curb-side efforts. Marc will also address the current efforts to identify substitutes for petroleum based resins, including the HRI "chicken feather pot." He will also share insights gained from conversations with a former president of Dupont Plastics.

For information on this session of the ANLA Managment Clinic go to: http://www.managementclinic.org/index2.cfm?page=Schedule&view=Grid&DayFilter=02%2F08%2F2009&TimeSlot=13%3A00&SessionID=316&CFID=134791&CFTOKEN=67695515

For information on the ANLA Management Clinic in general go to: http://www.managementclinic.org/

2009 Mid-Atlantic Horticulture Short Course

The following is information on the 2009 Mid-Atlantic Horticulture Short Course.

2009 Mid-Atlantic Horticulture Short Course
Date: January 25–30, 2009
Location: The Founders Inn and Spa, Virginia Beach, VA
Program Information: Can be downloaded at http://www.mahsc.org/sub/registration/PDFs/MAHSC2009Program.pdf
General information: Can be found at: http://www.mahsc.org/

2009 Tracks

Arboriculture: Current arboriculture and urban forestry research, new product highlights and industry tips are among the topics presented in this track. Sessions are for all experience levels.

Arboriculture: Basic: Staff in tree care companies and students of arboriculture and forestry learn individual tree care from experienced professionals in this track.

Arboriculture: Advanced: Designed for veterans of tree care and urban forestry, this track includes timely research from leading university and industry educators.

Business and Management: Business planning, growing a customer base and avoiding computer crashes can make green businesses’ bottom line even greener. This track is for both owners and staff interested in learning current marketing strategies, daily office upkeep and planning for future growth.

Horticulture Skills: Basic: Beyond “Green Side Up.” This track explains why a lot of the things you’ve been doing over the years are done the way they are. Learn horticulture from the old hands. Dirty fingernails are a prerequisite.

Horticulture Skills: Advanced: Have you grown millions of pansies and still don’t understand what causes chlorosis or etiolation? Learn more about the science of horticulture with sessions in advanced topics.

Landscape Architecture/Landscape Design: This track, presented by established designers, environmental scientists and ASLA professionals, teaches you how to create gorgeous, ecological landscapes in the Mid-Atlantic region. Be inspired by their plant and material palettes.

Landscape Crew Manager: Become the respected supervisor for your former crew-mates and keep client landscapes looking great. Increase your skills in worker and equipment safety, learn the correct use of chemicals and application equipment and earn your stripes as the new Landscape Crew Manager. Horticulture Skills tracks or equivalent knowledge is a prerequisite. To become a certified Landscape Crew Manager, you must receive a passing score on a Virginia Horticulture Foundation written exam that is given on Friday, Jan. 30.

Landscape Crew Manager: Advanced: This certification program is designed for the Landscape Crew Manager ready to move into management. Help staff realize their potential while embracing the company mission, truly understand environmental regulations, and start generating estimates and bids for fresh contracts while working your way into the manager’s seat. Certified Landscape Crew Managers in good standing are eligible.

Landscape Management: Keep your mind and your tools sharp! Learn the latest research and application methods for dealing with turf, ornamental and aquatic landscape problems from business leaders and university researchers. Innovative products and programs will be highlighted.

Landscape Management: Advanced Topics: Intense sessions with a daily theme for management and owners. Themes for 2009 are: Management Monday, Turfgrass Tuesday and Water Wednesday (addresses irrigation and water issues).

Pesticide Recertification (most Mid-Atlantic States): This day of pesticide safety, chemistry and proper application topics provides enough recertification credits for applicators to keep their pesticide certificates current. Virginia categories 90, 91,3a, 3b, 5a, 6, 10, 60 and DC, DE, KY, MD, NC, NJ, PA, SC, TN, WV

Plants and Production: Wondering what’s new in the plant world and how to get those crops into markets and gardens? Discover production techniques, industry trends and where to focus your growing energies for 2009 and beyond.

Spanish Language and Culture for Green Industry Professionals: Communication is key! Learn and practice effective communication for specific work tasks on the job while better understanding the lives of your Spanish-speaking coworkers. Concentrated small group sessions are tailored for many aspects of horticulture: production, landscape management, golf course management and tree care. Teachers fluent in English and their native tongue will conduct and divide classes into beginner and intermediate levels on site.

Business - Program on Preserving Your Company's Future During Tough Economic Times

The following is additional information on a program for the Green Industry on survival during tough economic times coming up in Maryland.

Beating the Odds...Preserving Your Company’s Future During Tough Economic Times

Date: Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Time: 9:00 am - 3:30 pm
Location: Davidsonville Ruritan Club3358 Davidsonville RoadDavidsonville, Maryland 21035 Map and Directions
Registration: Registration form can be downloaded at http://mnlaonline.org/files/FinalChesGrn_EconomicConfBroch.pdf or you can register on-line at: http://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?eventid=679249

This could be the most important conference you attend this year, at Beating the Odds…
You’ll gain insight on why customers really do know best, getting your business moving in the right direction, what you need to do and how to prepare for a visit to your lender, tools for creating best practice skills, and learning how to set benchmarks

Schedule:

8:30 a.m. Registration
9:00 – 9:15 a.m. Opening-Meeting Agenda and Pulse of the Industry

9:15 – 10:15 a.m. Chicken Little Doesn’t Work Here - Robert Hendrickson, The Garden Center Group.

In spite of what you’ve read or heard or even be experiencing, there’s a group of customers out there that view our products and services as essential components in their lives. The reasons why remain constant and cross all generations, income levels and lifestyles. From a customer’s perspective, the secret to business success is pretty clear… this isn’t about us… it’s all about them. Learn why customers really do know best; Discover why most marketing efforts never seem to reach their intended goals; Uncover the reasons why horticulture products and services are more important to people than ever before

10:15 – 10:30 a.m. Break

10:30 – 11:30 Economic Forecast… Practical Actions For Surviving Through a Down Economy. Dr. Charles Hall, Texas A & M University

As business owners, we are all questioning what actions to take, what plans to invoke NOW to ensure the sustainability of our businesses through tomorrow. Dr. Hall will give his projection for the 2009 economic outlook and then offer practical, real-time solutions including strategic business forecasting (realistically restating your former plan) and other techniques and tactics you can put into place TODAY that are sure to help you tighten your belt and generate sales, feel better about the future, and get your business moving in the right direction.

11:30 a.m.– 12:00 p.m. Approaching your Lender, Bill Borsa, MidAtlantic Farm Credit

A close working relationship with your lender is critical during times of economic strife. Bill Borsa, loan officer with MidAtlantic Farm Credit, will present the nuts and bolts of what you need to do, and how to prepare and present yourself for a visit to your lender.

12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Working lunch with table topic discussions

Lunch Topics:
What cost-reducing business practices have you implemented successfully this year?
Which marketing strategies have worked best in keeping connected with your best customers?
What has been the biggest mistake you made but learned from this year?
What have your customers responded to best this year?
What have you done to keep employees motivated and focused?

1:10 – 2:30 p.m. Breakout Session - Garden Centers and Suppliers

Thrive or Survive… Retail Skills for the New Economy. Robert Hendrickson, The Garden Center Group

It should be obvious to anyone in retail that business is no longer being conducted “as usual”. Economic issues, competition and the increasing cost of doing business have created the necessity for garden centers to be in a perpetual state of re-invention. This is the perfect time for reviewing the challenges and successes of 2008 while considering changes taking place in every market… at every consumer level… that are having serious implications on how business gets done. This session will cover 1) Tools for creating best practice skills 2) Real-life examples of garden centers of all sizes still thriving regardless of the economy, and 3)Connecting the links between supplier, retailer and consumer

Breakout Session – Landscapers, Growers, Arborists and Others

Different Isn’t Always Better But Better Is Always Different… Measuring What You Manage. Dr. Charles Hall, Texas A & M University

How many growers, landscape service providers, and arborists really know the financial status of their business? The prolonged economic downturn (and resulting bankruptcies) is bringing the reality home that green industry firms must be financially prepared for times when cash flows slow down or even stops flowing. Which financial benchmarks are worth your time tracking and how much deviation from these benchmarks is acceptable before corrective actions should be taken? In this session, growers and service providers will learn how to set their own benchmarks and gauge whether or not they really are doing as well as they think they are!

2:30 – 2:40 p.m. Break

2:40 – 3:30 p.m. Wrap Up and Q&A. Sharing of Lunchtime Roundtables. Action List Development

See the brochure here
Register Now

Contact Information
Phone: 410-823-8684, Email: mnacma@aol.com
Send Email

Event sponsors:
Maryland Arborist Association
Maryland Greenhouse Growers’ Association
Maryland Nursery and Landscape Association
Maryland Department of Agriculture
University of Maryland Cooperative Extension

Turf and Landscape - Pick up Nutrient Management Credits at These Sessions

The following are some January educational programs where green industry professionals can pick up nutrient management credits.

Ornamentals Short Courses - Fertilizer and Organic Nutrient Sources

Date: January 20, 2009
Time: 9 a.m. - 12 noon
Location: UD New Castle County Extension Office, Newark, DE
Registration: Call 302-831-2506 to register. Cost is $10 payable at the door.

Date: January 27, 2009
Time: 9 a.m.—12 noon
Location: Sussex County Extension Office, UD Carvel Research and Education Center, Georgetown.
Registration: Call 302-856-7303 to register. Cost is $10 payable at the door.

Sources of mineral nutrient for fertilizing turf and landscape plants as well as sources for greenhouses and nurseries will be presented. Topics include: fertilizer basics, liming materials, inorganic fertilizers as well as organic sources: composts, manure, and biosolids. Specifics on slow release fertilizers, nutrient release patterns, application methods and timing, application equipment and calibration and matching nutrient sources with soil test recommendations will be discussed.

Instructor: Gordon Johnson, Extension Horticulture Agent, UD, Kent County

Business - Being an Entrepreneur V

This is the fifth in a series of being an entrepreneur. It is more important than ever for green industry businesses to think and act entrepreneurially. Idea generation for new business opportunities or improving current business enterprises is something that should be done on a regular basis. The following are some additional slides on the subject from materials I use when teaching entrepreneurship.









Gordon Johnson, Extension Horticulture Agent, UD, Kent County

Delaware Horticulture Industry Expo - Featured Speaker 3

The following is the third in a series on featured speakers at the Delaware Horticultural Industry Expo on January 14-15, 2009. This post is on Dan Benarcik from Chanticleer.

Dan Benarcik, horticulturalist at Chanticleer garden will be speaking twice on Thursday, January 15, 2009 as shown below.

9:00–10:00 25 Plants I Can’t Live Without (In My Zone 7 Garden). Dan Benarcik, Chanticleer. Everyone has their own list of their favorite plants, this one is Dan’s. He will cover trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants. He’ll also cover some tropical plants and tender perennials to spice things up.

1:10–2:00 Containers, Pots with a Purpose. Dan will discuss the pros and cons of different types of containers, their size, scale and siting once completed. He will also discuss pot culture, planting mediums, fertilization and watering as well as tips, tricks & other ways that containers can make our lives, and our customer’s lives more enjoyable.

DAN BENARCIK

Dan Benarcik is a horticulturist at Chanticleer, an innovative garden in Wayne, PA. He is a graduate of The University of Delaware where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Plant Science. Dan has articles that have appeared in Fine Gardening, Horticulture, Martha Stewart Living and Rodale’s gardening books. He is currently an on air personality on QVC for Cottage Farms nursery. Dan is also an instructor at Longwood Gardens.

For the Delaware Horticulture Industry Expo, a brochure with a mailable registration form can be downloaded from http://www.dnlaonline.org/pdf/2009_DHIERegisBrochure.pdf

Business - Being an Entrepreneur IV

This is the fourth in a series of being an entrepreneur. It is more important than ever for green industry businesses to think and act entrepreneurially. Idea generation for new business opportunities or improving current business enterprises is something that should be done on a regular basis. The following are some slides on the subject from materials I use when teaching entrepreneurship.






Gordon Johnson, Extension Horticulture Agent, UD, Kent County

Delaware Horticulture Industry Expo - Featured Speaker 2

The following is the second in a series on featured speakers at the Delaware Horticultural Industry Expo on January 14-15, 2009. This post is on Penelope O'Sullivan who is a noted author and has her own garden design business.

Penelope O'Sullivan will be speaking at 1:00- 2:00 on January 14 on the topic of "Fabulous Foliage: Year-Round Color with Trees & Shrubs". Talk Description: New varieties of evergreen and deciduous woodies appear all the time, increasing the possibilities for striking plant combinations in the garden. But color and texture are potent design tools, and it takes some thought to use them well. Explore strategies for adding trees and shrubs of many hues for interest throughout the year.

PENELOPE O’SULLIVAN Penny is the author of “The Homeowner’s Complete Tree & Shrub Handbook: The Essential Guide to Choosing, Planting, and Maintaining Perfect Landscape Plants” (Storey Publishing, 2007) and 11 more books on trees, shrubs, hedges, flowers, herbs, and garden design. She also writes numerous articles for magazines, including Organic Gardening and Better Homes and Gardens, for which she is also a field editor. She lives in New
Hampshire, where she owns a garden design business.

For the Delaware Horticulture Industry Expo, a brochure with a mailable registration form can be downloaded from http://www.dnlaonline.org/pdf/2009_DHIERegisBrochure.pdf

Nursery and Greenhouse - Overwintering Perennials

The following is information on overwintering perennials from the New England Greenhouse Update and a factsheet from the University of Massachusetts.

It is time to prepare perennial plants for overwintering. Top growth has died back on many perennials while on others, it will remain over the winter. Prepare plants for overwintering by cutting back dead growth and removing dying debris to prevent Botrytis infection.

Next, irrigate if needed, but allow any foliage to dry prior to covering to prevent Botrytis. Check soil moisture periodically and water if needed, but avoid over-watering plants throughout the winter. If plants are kept too wet, root rot diseases will occur.

The final step prior to covering plants is to provide some type of rodent control. Many growers use commercially available baits while others have reported that human hair or cut up deodorant soap works.

Soil temperatures should be in a range of 30 to 34º F for most perennials. Soil temperatures that are cooler than 30º F may kill some sensitive species. Use a soil thermometer to verify that growing media are in this range.

The key to overwintering containerized perennials is to avoid wide fluctuations in temperature. When plants are allowed to freeze and then thaw, there is a greater risk for plant loss.
Heated greenhouses with roll-up sides are one option that works well for many growers. To use this method, perennial houses are heated to 50°F until all of the plants are well rooted, then the temperature is slowly decreased to 35°F so the plants will vernalize and flower in the spring. The roll-up sides are useful in the spring to regulate temperature and prevent plants from growing too quickly.

One of the simplest techniques growers have been using to keep plants at a constant temperature is placing a sheet of insulating material over containerized plants during the coldest months of winter. Commonly used thermo blanket materials include Microfoam (¼" flexible, polypropylene foam), The Winter Blanket (polyethylene foam, laminated with 3-mil UV resistant P/E) and Guilbond (1/4" closed cell polyethylene foam laminated to white UV treated polyethylene film).There are also fleece materials available that work. Containerized herbaceous perennials that are ready for storage can be placed pot to pot in an upright position on the ground in the production yard and simply covered with a material having insulating qualities. Tall plants can be leaned over just like laying shingles, exposing as much foliage as possible to light. Coverings are usually secured by tucking the edges underneath the containers or by weighing down the edges with heavy objects such as crushed stone or rocks. The thermal blanket sheets should be oriented in a north-south direction. With some thermal blankets, sheets of 4 mil white polyethylene plastic are placed over the blanket; other types do not need this extra layer of plastic. Follow the manufacturer's recommendation. At the end of the winter season, store thermal blankets in a dark area so they will last two or more years.

Another common way growers overwinter plants below freezing is by using unheated quonset polyhouses. These structures are usually constructed with wooden frames to which uniformly bent galvanized pipe are attached. The pipe provides the basic structure that supports one or two (air-inflated) layers of white (not clear) polyethylene that are secured to the wooden baseboards to which the bows are also secured. Under average conditions, temperatures within these structures do not reach levels that result in injury to plants that are stored inside. However, during extended periods of extreme cold (more than two consecutive nights when ambient temperatures go below 0º F), plant injury may occur.

Quonset style polyethylene structures are a rather expensive alternative if one considers only the initial construction costs. However, well-constructed frames and bows will last ten or more years before any major renovations are needed. In addition, thousands of plants can be covered with plastic in a matter of hours. For large operations, this offers considerable efficiency as compared to other methods of overwintering. Finally, these structures allow the grower to inspect plants and to remedy any problems that may be noted.

Plants which are considered marginally hardy when grown in containers should get additional protection with thermal blankets or a heater inside the structure. An entirely different technique such as the plastic-straw-plastic cover is described later in this article. For structures with two layers of covering, growers use white polyethylene for the outer layer and clear or white for the inner layer. This will help control the amount of light and heat in the structure. Even so, plants in houses covered with white plastic can begin to grow too early during periods of unusually warm weather. To avoid premature budbreak, orient the polyhouse in a north-south direction. North-south oriented polyhouses tend to be cooler than east-west oriented structures. If more than one type of plant is to be overwintered in the same structure, place the most cold-hardy types near the walls. This is the coldest part of the polyhouse. Plants should be spaced pot to pot for the best insulation.

Information from Tina M. Smith, Extension Specialist, UMass Extension, Amherst, MA

Delaware Horticulture Industry Expo - Featured Speaker 1

The following is the first in a series on featured speakers at the Delaware Horticultural Industry Expo on January 14-15, 2009. This post is on Gary Smith of Gary Smith designs.

Gary Smith will be speaking on Wednesday, January 14 at 10:30 and the topic is "Designing Gardens, Working Like an Artist"

Art inspires us and expresses our innermost spirit – and nature’s patterns are a limitless source of inspiration for art and design. This presentation will illustrate creative tools and techniques for combining art and ecology, to design gardens that evoke natural process and local sense of place.

GARY SMITH For more than fifteen years, Gary has specialized in master planning and design for botanical gardens and arboreta. He also enjoys creating public art installations and private gardens. Gary’s projects include: Peirce’s Woods, Longwood Gardens; Enchanted Woods, Winterthur; Garden’s Master Plan, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, TX; Tropical Mosaic Garden, Naples Botantical Garden, Naples, FL. Formerly an Associate Professor of Landscape Design and Construction at the University of Delaware, he most recently has been a Senior Lecturer in the Master of Landscape Architecture program in the School of Architecture at the University of Texas at Austin.

Turf - Delaware Agriculture Week Turf Nutrient Management Session

There will be several opportunities in January for those in the turf industry to get nutrient management credits. The first will be at Delaware Agriculture Week on Monday, January 5, 2009. The following is more information.

Delaware Agriculture Week Turf Workshop

Date: Monday, January 5, 2009
Time: 1:30p.m. – 3:55 p.m.
Location: ACE Building, Delaware State Fairgrounds, Harrington, DE

Program Details

1:30 p.m.—2:10 p.m. Composting and Using Compost on Turf. Dot Abbott, Renewable Resources Extension Agent, University of Delaware

2:10 p.m. BREAK

2:20 p.m.—3:10 p.m. To Amend or Not To Amend: That is the Question. Dr. Frank Gouin, Professor Emeritus of Horticulture, University of Maryland

3:10 p.m. BREAK

3:20 p.m.—3:55 p.m. Soil Fertility: Back to Basics. Dr. David Hansen, Nutrient Management Specialist, University of Delaware

3:55 p.m. ADJOURN

Session Credit Summary:
DE Nutrient Management Credits: 2.5
MD Nutrient Management Credits: 2.5
Certified Crop Consultant Credits: 1.5

Business - Being an Entrepreneur III

Now more than ever it is important for green industry businesses to think and act like entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurship is recoginizing business opportunities and acting on those opportnities to create successful enterprises. The following is the third in a series on being an entrepreneur from a presentation I have given.

How well do you understand your customers, their needs, wants, and desires?

The gardening public has many wants and desires. How well do you understand them? If you are a wholesaler, what are the values of your wholesale customers?

There is more and more emphasis on going green and on being sustainable. Are you incorporating these values into your products and services?

What are your customers yearning for?

What are your customers nostalgic about?

Plant collectors are the green industry version of the connoisseur.

Greenhouses, nurseries and gardens are great places to attract customers. Plan activities for your customers to keep them longer - and buy more.

Gordon Johnson, Extension Horticulture Agent, UD, Kent County