Tennessee Greentimes - Summer 2009

VOL. 10/ NO. 2

Summer 2009

New Techniques for Nursery Growers from TennOvations

News from the UT Gardens

Tennessee

GREENTIMES The Official Publication of The Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association

Table of Contents

DISEASE SPOTLIGH T Best Management Practices for Managing Root Rot and Damping Off Diseases

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VOL. 10/ NO. 2

SUMMER 2009

IN THE Nursery Several New Techniques for Nursery Growers from TennOvations

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departments TNLA New Members ...................................................................................................... 5 From the President, Marshall Allen .............................................................................. 6 Green Gatherings — Upcoming Events ......................................................................8 News from TNLA................................................................................................................8 Industry News ......................................................................................................................9 Calendar of Events .......................................................................................................... 18 Index of Advertisers ........................................................................................................ 18

News from UT Gardens The UT Gardens Announces New Recognitions and Program Participation

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The Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association serves its members in the industry through education, promotion and representation.

The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the association, its staff, or its board of directors, Tennessee Green Times, or its editors.

Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or their identification as Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in this, past or subsequent issues of this quarterly publication.

Copyright Š2009 by the Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association. Tennessee Green Times is published quarterly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of the Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association.

POSTMASTER: Send change of address notification to Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association, 115 Lyon Street, McMinnville, TN 37110. Postage guaranteed.

Third-class postage is paid at McMinnville, TN. Printed in the U.S.A. Reprints and Submissions: Tennessee Green Times allows reprinting of material. Permission requests should be directed to the Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association. We are not responsible for unsolicited freelance manuscripts and photographs. Contact the managing editor for contribution information.

Advertising: For display and classified advertising rates and insertions, please contact Leading Edge Communications, LLC, 206 Bridge Street, Franklin, TN 37064, (615) 7903718, Fax (615) 794-4524.

New TNLA Members

Welcome, TNLA New Members!

ACTIVE MEMBERS A & W Southern Sod Farms, LLC William Head 5651 Fred Perry Road Springfield, TN 37172 Campagna Landscape Design (reinstated) Linda St. John 1339 Pocahontas Road Morrison, TN 37357 Landscape Outfitters Jeremy Fuson 7622 Cool Breeze Road Knoxville, TN 37938

f rom t h e p r e s i d e n t Marshall Allen

Value in Membership

For MARK YOUR CALENDAR! —

Mid-States Horticultural Expo —

January 12-13, 2010 Kentucky Expo Center, North Wing Louisville, KY

those of us in the “green industry,” spring always seems to be the same — in a word, hectic. Even in a down economy, there just are not enough hours in the day to handle the seasonality of our industry. Most of us, it seems, are working harder and longer to compete and stay in the game. In many ways, we had become complacent with the wave of prosperity that we all shared, and now our outlook is much different. For consumers of our goods and services, uncertainty has crippled many businesses’ revenues and cash flow. As all of us are re-assessing our priorities and strategies for business success, we look for value in what we do. One thing I hope you will find valuable is your continued membership in this association.

Just recently, TNLA was invited to be a part of Ag Day, an event held once a year at the Legislative Plaza in Nashville. The event is interactive with legislators, committee members and press to promote agriculture and give an overview of different commodities. Did you know that nursery, sod and greenhouse producers, as a segment of agricultural commodities in our state, rank fourth in total agriculture revenues ($325 million, USDA 2007 Census)? Add garden centers, landscape contractors and other “green industry” producers, and the economic impact is $39 billion and over 50,000 jobs in our state. We were present at this event to let our legislators know the value of our industry and of your value as our member.

Representation through legislative alerts and networking with other organizations are additional benefits to our members. We will continue to be a member of ANLA’s Lighthouse program, which has provided pertinent information on several occasions this year already. TNLA was alerted about a bill through Lighthouse that was to be introduced in the state senate in March that would have impacted many of our members. The bill prohibited contractors from engaging in public work with the state, cities and towns without plans, specifications and estimates provided by a registered architect, engineer or landscape architect. Through the efforts of Bob Boles (our lobbyist) and others, that bill was not presented. We will continue to keep you informed and represented regarding issues such as this and others that are on the horizon, and we will continue to provide value for your membership.

Please plan on attending our Tennessee Green Industry Field Day on August 4 at the TSU Nursery Research Center in McMinnville. Dr. Nick Gawel does a great job of coordinating the educational presentations and activities that are a part of this event. We look forward to seeing you there.

Marshall Allen 2009 TNLA President

TNLA Would like to THANK the following companies for being Membership Sponsors

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Gold Membership Sponsors

Silver Membership Sponsors

Allen Landscape Management, LLC Barky Beaver Mulch & Soil Mix, Inc. Randall Walker Farms Shadow Nursery, Inc. Swafford Nursery, Inc.

Common Grounds Landscape Management, Inc. Immigration Law Offices of Sean Lewis, PLLC J.B. Donoho Nursery John Holmlund Nursery Little Green Garden, Inc. Reedy Landcaping, Inc. Tennessee 811 Tri Green Equipment, LLC Valent USA

SUMMER 2009

The Tennessee Greentimes is the official publication of The Tennessee Nursery & Landscape Association, Inc. 115 Lyon Street McMinnville, Tennessee 37110 (931) 473-3951 Fax (931) 473-5883 www.tnla.com Email: mail@tnla.com Published by Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street Franklin, Tennessee 37064 (615) 790-3718 Fax (615) 794-4524 Email: info@leadingedgecommunications.com Editors Bill Klingeman, Ph.D. Bob Trigiano, Ph.D. Associate Editors Dr. Donna Fare Dr. Nick Gawel Mr. Mark Halcomb Dr. Frank Hale Mr. Gray Haun Dr. Sandy Reed Dr. John Sorochan TNLA Officers President Marshall Allen Allen Landscape Management, LLC 1st Vice President Tim Gallagher Heather Farms Nursery, Inc. 2nd Vice President John Watson, CLP Common Grounds Landscape Mgmt.

3rd Vice President Michael Kassees Forest Nursery Co., Inc. Secretary-Treasurer Randall Walker Randall Walker Farms Associate Director Dwight Burch BWI Companies Ex-Officio Aaron Swafford Swafford Nursery, Inc. Executive Director Louree Walker Administrative Assistant Pam Stern

G r e e n G A t h e r i n g s : U p c om i n g E v e n t s

MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND SAVE THESE DATES!

n ews f rom T N L A

Congratulations to TNLA Award Winners!

August 3, 2009 TNLA/HRI Golf Tournament McMinnville Country Club McMinnville, TN Contact: 931-473-3951 Fax: 931-473-5883 Email: mail@tnla.com www.tnla.com

August 4, 2009 Tennessee Green Industry Field Day TSU Otis L. Floyd Nursery Research Center McMinnville, TN Contact: 931-473-3951 Fax: 931-473-5883 Email: mail@tnla.com www.tnla.com

TNLA Hall of Fame 2009 Inductee Jim McClain (unable to attend TNLA’s Awards Luncheon on February 2; shown above at his home in Florida)

2009 TNLA Memorial Scholarship Award Winner Sarah Elizabeth Ball University of Tennessee, Knoxville Majoring in Plant Sciences, Public Horticulture and Landscape Design

January 12–13, 2010 Mid-States Horticultural Expo (a partnership of TNLA and KNLA) Kentucky Exposition Center Louisville, KY For booth information, contact: Louree Walker, 931-473-3951 or louree@TNLA.com For advertising, contact: Betsie A. Taylor, 800-735-9791 or KNLA@mis.net; http://www.knla.org

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2009 TNLA Memorial 2009 TNLA Memorial Scholarship Scholarship Award Winner Award Winner Amy Nicole Dyer Middle Tennessee State University Majoring in Plant & Soil Science

Morgan Lynn Sharp University of Tennessee, Knoxville Majoring in Landscape Design and Construction

Industry News

2009 TAEP Applications

Due by July 1

The

Tennessee Department of Agriculture has released the 2009 application for the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program (TAEP). The program will begin accepting new applications June 1 and continue through July 1. Applications should not be postmarked prior to June 1.

TAEP is a state-funded program established by Governor Phil Bredesen and supported by the General Assembly to increase farm income in Tennessee by helping farmers invest in better farming practices and by encouraging diversification and innovation.

“Because of the economy, there may be fewer total dollars to go around, but the Ag Enhancement Program remains strong, and we expect to be able to put several million dollars on the ground to help farmers make strategic investments,” said state Agriculture Commissioner Ken Givens. “We encourage farmers to apply early, beginning June 1, as we expect another year of high demand for these cost-share opportunities.”

This year’s program offers the same menu of costshare opportunities as last year. This includes the livestock

equipment, cattle genetics, hay storage, feed storage, grain storage and producer-diversification opportunities. Nursery and greenhouse producers can apply under the producerdiversification section for a chance to get 35% reimbursed on the total costs of a project, up to $10,000 back to the producer.

Since the inception of the program in 2005, 190 projects have been approved, totaling $1,152,934 under the horticulture industry sector, making it one of the more popular programs. Projects have included greenhouses, irrigation systems, packing sheds, container production areas, production-line equipment, soil mixers, spray equipment, tree spades, potting wagons, tradeshow displays and website development.

Applications are available at most farm agencies and farm supply stores, including USDA Farm Service Agency, UT Extension, Farm Bureau and Tennessee Farmers Co-op locations. Producers can get important messages and updates on the program by calling 800-342-8206.

For questions about projects, contact Rob Beets at 615-837-5517 or robert.beets@tn.gov. For more information or to download an application, visit www.TN.gov/ agriculture/enhancement. C

New UT Extension Publication Now

Available Online

The

Plant Sciences Department at The University of Tennessee recently added a new online Extension publication on Flatheaded Appletree and other Metallic Wood Boring Beetles for Tennessee. Recent revisions of two very helpful UT Extension publications about pruning woody trees, shrubs, vines and groundcovers and planting ornamental plants are also now available in web-only pdf formats. In addition, these publications have been translated into Spanish-language versions.

Prácticas Gerenciales Óptimas para Podando Árboles, Arbustos y Cubresuelos del Paisaje (PB1619S) http://utextension.tennessee.edu/publications/pbfiles/ PB1619S.pdf Best Management Practices for Planting Ornamental Plants (PB1621) http://utextension.tennessee.edu/publications/pbfiles/ PB1621.pdf

Identifying the Flathead Appletree Borer (Chrysobothris femorata) and Other Buprestid Beetle Species in Tennessee http://utextension.tennessee.edu/publications/spfiles/ SP503-I.pdf

Prácticas Gerenciales Óptimas para la Plantación de Plantas Ornamentales (PB1621-S). http://utextension.tennessee.edu/publications/pbfiles/ PB1621-S.pdf

Best Management Practices for Pruning Landscape Trees, Shrubs and Ground Covers (PB1619) http://utextension.tennessee.edu/publications/pbfiles/ PB1619.pdf

No printed copies are available; these are web-only documents. For more information, contact Dr. Bill Klingeman in UT’s Plant Sciences Department at (865) 974-7324 or wklingem@utk.edu. C

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Disease Spotlight Spotlight

Paul Rhoad es

Photo 1. Ace r rubrum ‘A caused by Phytophth rmstrong’ with trunk co ora. (Photo UT Extensio

by Alan S. W llar rot n) indham,

Best Management Practices for

and

By Paul Rhoades, MS Graduate Student, with Alan S. Windham, Ph.D., Professor, Entomology and Plant Pathology, The University of Tennessee

Photo 2. ‘G um blight. (Pho po’ azalea with Rhiz o to by Alan S. Windham ctonia web , UT Extensi on)

N

ursery growers and retail outlets are often faced with challenges presented by root rot and dampingoff plant diseases. The most common causal agents of root rot in our geographic region include Rhizoctonia, Phytophthora, Pythium and Thielaviopsis. Depending on the pathogen, these fungal plant diseases cause problems such as seedling death, stem rot, root rot and collar rot of trunks (Photo 1). Also depending on the pathogen, disease problems may be localized or become widespread.

The more quickly the problem is diagnosed, the better growers are able to limit the spread and severity of these diseases. However, diagnosing diseases caused by root and stem rot pathogens is often difficult.

In part, this is because some of the same pathogens that cause root rots (such as Pythium and Rhizoctonia) also cause damping off, in which seeds afflicted by pre-emergence damping off turn from brown to black, become mushy and eventually disintegrate. Infected seedlings usually display water-soaked spots that enlarge and turn brown. Infected stem portions will shrink, eventually diminishing the stems’ supportive strength, causing seedlings to topple. Pathogens continue to invade remaining plant tissues, eventually resulting in complete seedling death. This later phase of the disease is termed post-emergence damping off.

The following descriptions detail signs, symptoms and treatment strategies for managing some common root rot and damping-off plant pathogens.

Rhizoctonia Rhizoctonia causes damping off, root rot and web blight. All ornamental plants are potential hosts. Web blight of foliage is most common in hot, humid weather. Fungal hyphae appear cobweb-like and tan to brown, and they may be seen stretched between the lower stems and the ground. Leaves drop from infected plants but can appear to still be attached if the fungus binds the leaves to the stems.

Generally, foliage in the interior of the canopy is first to be attacked.

Densely growing shrubs like azalea, juniper and holly are more likely to suffer from web blight (Photo 2).

On seedlings, stem discoloration attributed to Rhizoctonia is limited to soft cortical layers of the cotyledons, hypocotyls and roots. Infected

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Photo 3. Rh izo stems (Pho ctonia lesions on seed to from Cle ling mso USDA Coop erative Exten n University, courtesy of sion Slide S Bugwood.o eries; rg)

Photo 4a. P h ‘Sargent’ Ju ytophthora root rot on niper. (Pho tos by Alan Pinus bungeana and (P S. Windham h , UT Extensi oto 4b) on)

stems remain firm. Typical symptoms include localized brown to reddish-brown lesions that girdle the hypocotyl and lower stem (Photo 3). Cream- to brown-colored mycelium may also be visible around lesions on plants such as poinsettia. Roots do not usually develop the water-soaked appearance associated with Phytophthora and Pythium.

Rhizoctonia may also attack the subterranean parts of mature plants, causing roots to soften, turn brown and disintegrate (Photos 4a and 4b). Foliage will display symptoms of water stress or nutrient deficiency typical to diseased root systems (Photos 5a and 5b).

Unlike species of Pythium and Phytophthora fungi, Rhizoctonia grows well in light, well-drained soils, making potential infections more difficult to predict and control.

Phytophthora and Pythium Once thought to be fungi, Phytophthora and Pythium are now considered more similar to brown algae. One of the most notorious plant pathogens, Phytophthora can infect roots, stems and foliage of host plants. In fact, the Greek origin of its generic name means “plant destroyer.” Phytophthora infestans was the pathogen responsible for Ireland’s mid-19th century potato blight. Phytophthora ramorum is the causal agent of SOD (sudden oak death) and related foliar blighting on many woody ornamentals that is causing much concern in the nursery industry today. Additional Phytophthora species continue to cause significant crop loss.

Pythium is a commonly occurring fungus similar to Phytophthora. Both plant pathogens thrive in wet conditions; both form oospores; and both may be spread via water from infested irrigation sources or splash dispersal during rain or overhead irrigation. Pythium, however, is not associated with foliar disease and may be more likely to attack seedlings

and herbaceous ornamental plants.

Collectively, these organisms are known as “water molds,” and the title is well deserved. Whether in soil or on foliage or fruit, moisture is the single most-important environmental factor governing spread and sporulation of Phytophthora and Pythium. Good drainage is very important to keep the water molds from flourishing. Generally, the length of time that soil is saturated directly affects the severity of Phytophthora infection.

Heavy substrate mixes that hold a large amount of water increase the severity of the disease. To combat this, growers typically use a substrate high in pine bark for woody ornamentals and a substrate composed of ingredients such as peat moss, perlite or vermiculite for herbaceous ornamentals.

The idea is to increase porosity and reduce the duration of soil saturation in containers.

Phytophthora can persist for many years in soil in the form of thick-walled resting spores called oospores or chlamydospores. Once environmental conditions become favorable, oospores germinate to form sporangia, whereas chlamydospores (for example, of P. ramorum) may germinate to form hyphae to start a new colony or sporangia. When the soil becomes saturated, sporangia release small motile zoospores that infect plant tissues.

In the presence of free water, inocula of Phytophthora species can quickly increase from nearly undetectable to high levels in only a few days or weeks. In turn, when conditions are right, a single infected plant can quickly infect many others.

Yet, while zoospores have mobility, they cannot swim far on their own. Splash dispersal from overhead irrigation can

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Disease Spotlight

Photo 5a. Phytophthora root rot symptoms on ‘Autumn Debutante’ azalea and infected (left) versus healthy (right) rhododendrons (Photo 5b). (Photos by Alan S. Windham, UT Extension)

move the pathogen from soil to nearby foliage. Dispersal over greater distances usually results by movement of infested soil, infected plant tissue or water. Indeed, because zoospores produced by this genus have been recovered from irrigation catch ponds, disinfecting or filtering recycled water is a recommended Best Management Practice.

Symptoms of root infection by Phytophthora species vary by plant species and age. Younger plants experience rapid yellowing and wilting of foliage accompanied by soft rot and root collapse (Photo 6). Symptoms of infection in older plants include chlorotic foliage, stunted growth and branch dieback.

External surfaces of the root system may appear water-soaked and will be discolored. Inner tissues will look tan-brown.

Symptoms of foliar blight caused by Phytophthora species are varied. Frequently, the lower leaves are infected first.

Infection may result in dark greenish-black lesions on the leaf or stem that turn brown with time. Leaf lesions may become very thin and nearly transparent. Lesions may be pinhead sized to several inches across. The infection may spread down the petiole and to other leaves.

Photo 6.

Phytophthora foliar blight on Vinca. (Photo

by Alan S. Windham, UT Extension)

Photo 7.

Symptoms of black root rot (Thielaviopsis) mimic nutrient disorder on ‘Hoogendorn’ holly. (Photo

by Alan S. Windham, UT Extension)

Thielaviopsis (black root rot)

Photo 8. Black root rot (Thielaviopsis) on healthy (left) and infected (right) pansy roots. (Photo by Alan S. Windham, UT Extension)

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Thielaviopsis is a very common pathogen that attacks the roots of a broad range of host plants. Poinsettia, geranium, pansy, petunia and some species of holly are all extremely susceptible.

Aboveground symptoms of black root rot are similar to the diseases mentioned above and include yellowing, stunting and wilting (Photo 7). The roots themselves will, of course, be black (Photo 8), but they are often not as mushy as roots infected with other species of root rot.

Once introduced into a nursery, Thielaviopsis may be very difficult to eliminate. Durable resting spores can blow in the wind with dust and persist for years before germinating. Thielaviopsis may also spread and survive on plants that appear nearly symptomless, awaiting proper conditions for vigorous and destructive growth. Due to its nearly ubiquitous nature, sanitation is very important to prevent the spread of this disease.

Stress generally increases the severity of black root rot. Heat or cold stress, drought and over-fertilization all make plants more susceptible damaging root rot. Thielaviopsis favors basic soil, and using growing media with a pH above 6 is conducive to its development. Like Phytophthora and Pythium, Thielaviopsis thrives in water, so using well-drained growing

media along with careful irrigation are important in preventing a damaging bout of disease.

Managing root rot pathogens Best Management Practices for managing root rot diseases can be broadly applied across plant species. Begin with good cultural practices and sanitation. To avoid importing disease, examine roots of any new plants for unusual discoloration. Be diligent about disinfecting recycled pots and trays, as well as potting bench surfaces, to help limit pathogen spread. Recognize that any management actions that move soil can also move a pathogen.

Once plants are in your care, practice good water management and limit plant stresses. Good drainage is essential in substrates used for containers and in field plantings where susceptible plant species will be grown. Irrigation should be scheduled such that soil is fully saturated as briefly as possible. At locations where runoff from the nursery is captured and used to irrigate container crops, the water intake in the pond should be as far as practically possible from where water enters the pond.

Fungicides are widely used to prevent root rot epidemics. Because it is not practical to completely eradicate these pathogens and their spores, it is best to use a fungicide to prevent widespread infection during times of the year favorable for disease development. Drenching is a common method of treatment and works by briefly saturating soil with liquid fungicide. In a landscape or field setting, soil-drench treatments can be planned to precede an expected period of wet weather.

When working with particularly susceptible plant species, granular fungicides can be very effective at preventing infection when mixed into a soil-less substrate.

Be aware that pathogen resistance can occur after repeated use of the same fungicide class. Match the appropriate pesticide to the target pathogen, and be sure to rotate fungicides of different chemical classes to prevent resistance (Table 1). Also, be sure to read and understand the pesticide label before applying any fungicide.

The label of most pesticides may be viewed at http://www.cdms.net/ LabelsMsds/LMDefault.aspx. C

Adopt these Best Management Practices to help limit the occurrence and severity of root rot diseases.

• Ensure that newly imported plants are disease free.

• Keep tools, pots and flats clean and soil free.

• Containers should be placed on gravel, rather than on bare ground.

• Use well-drained and aerated medium.

• Store media, pots and flats on a concrete pad.

• Media should be fumigated before reuse.

• Group plants by container size and water requirements to aid in proper irrigation.

• Filter recycled water to remove spores of Pythium and Phytophthora.

• Do not irrigate excessively.

• Irrigate earlier in the day to help the growing medium dry faster.

• High soluble salts from overfertilizaton makes herbaceous plants more susceptible to Pythium root rot.

• When found, diseased plants should be removed and discarded away from production areas.

Table 1. Fungicides for managing root rot diseases.

ACTIVE INGREDIENT

CHEMICAL CLASS

PHYTOPHTHORA

PYTHIUM

RHIZOCTONIA

THEILAVIOPSIS

TRADE NAME (EXAMPLE)

fosetyl-Al

organophosphate

NA

NA

Aliette

propamocarb HCl

carbamate

NA

NA

Banol

iprodione

imide

NA

NA

NA

Chipco 26019

metalaxyl

phenylamide

NA

NA

Subdue 2E, 2G

pcnb (quintozene)

aromatic organic

NA

NA

NA

Terraclor, Defend

etridiazol

thiazole

NA

NA

Truban, Terrazole

thiophanate methyl

benzimidazole

NA

NA

, prev.

Fungo, Systec, Cleary's 3336

fludioxonil

phenylpyrrole

NA

NA

, prev.

Medallion, Maxim

mefenoxam

xylylalanine

NA

NA

Subdue MAXX

triflumizole

azole

NA

NA

, prev.

Terraguard

thiophanate methyl + etridiazol

benzimidazole + thiazol

, prev.

Banrot

= Effective against pathogen

NA = Not active against pathogen

prev. = preventive, not curative

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in the Nursery

T HE N EWEST T ENN O VATIONS

for Nursery Growers

Achieve Consistent Spacing between Plants in Nursery Field Rows

Photo 1. Odom Nursery has adapted this tubular steel slider bar and flexible hose rig that can be mounted onto a transplanter to quickly set uniform row spacing for field planting nursery liners.

(Photo courtesy of M. Halcomb, UT Extension, Warren Co.)

Quarantine Conundrums and Safe Handling Strategies A Kentucky Solution to Dip Tank Challenges Japanese beetle (JB) and imported fire ant (IFA) quarantine obligations present significant challenges to growers concerned with the safe and effective treatment of field-harvested root balls. Dipping, or submersion into a pesticide solution, is the best choice if growers want the longest certification duration and absolute assurance that they will not move fire ants or Japanese beetles out of the quarantine area (Photo 2).

Some growers rely on chain dipping to submerge one or more root balls at a time into a tank of pesticide solution.

Current quarantine regulations for IFA and JB require Photo 2. Field dug, balland-burlapped nursery trees are loaded onto welded steel pallets that can be moved by skid steer or tractor.

(Photo courtesy of Joe Collins, KY Dept. of Agriculture)

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Jack Odom at Odom Nursery recently shared his nursery’s technique for achieving precise and consistent plant spacing down the field row. To start, they bolt a piece of 1.25"-diameter tubular steel onto the tree transplanter very close and parallel to the row being planted. A second piece of 1"-diameter tubular steel is added to slide in and out at the back of the larger tube. The interior sliding tube can be secured at any length (tree center spacing point) with bolt heads welded in place.

The 1"-diameter steel tube has a pencil-sized rod welded perpendicular to the row on the end furthest from the tractor, so that a piece of flexible rubber hose (gas line) can be slipped over it, adding about 12" to 18" in length (Photo 1).

The system works by allowing two workers to operate the transplanter, with one handing liners to the other. The seated employee has his back to the tractor, facing the already-planted liners. The seated worker’s task is to place the liner into the trench opened by the transplanter at the correct depth and spacing. When the rubber hose strikes the most recently planted tree liner, the worker places the new tree liner.

The system is adjustable, such that the rubber hose can be extended out 4' to 8' from where the liner is released by the worker. The 1.25" steel tube may be up to 4' long, with the rear-most edge set near the press wheels. The 1" steel tube can add another five feet.

plants to be immersed until bubbling ceases, which generally requires at least two minutes. In addition to the two-minute dip time, an efficient field crew would likely require at least two to three minutes to chain and unchain root balls, as well as transport them between the dip tank. Therefore, chain dipping could require four to five minutes per dip event. If a two-person field crew worked an eight-hour day, dipping at a rate of five minutes per root ball, the crew would only be able to treat 96 root balls by this method.

A production nursery in Kentucky has developed a system to streamline this process. Their infield dipping station allows six 24" root balls to be racked and dipped at the same time (Photo 3). Assuming this system would allow a grower to dip six root balls in the same amount of time required to chain one root ball, a grower could now dip about 576 root balls a day using just one worker trained to load and offload the pallets with mechanical equipment (forks or ball spoons) (Photo 4). Depending on need, a grower could modify this system to hold more than six plants if the tractor is powerful enough to handle the weight of the additional soil and larger rack. Best of all, this system minimizes handler exposure because most of the steps are mechanized.

Photo 3. The dip tank holds several gallons of concentrated pesticide and allows the soil balls to be completely submerged (Photo courtesy of Joe Collins, KY Dept. of Agriculture)

Photo 4. After submersion for the prescribed duration, palletized trees are lifted clear and the pesticide solution is allowed to drip drain back into the holding tank. (Photo courtesy of Joe Collins, KY Dept. of Agriculture)

A Simple Swivel Saves Time and Protects Plants

Photo 5. Thin polyester or nylon straps are threaded through the wire basket (Photo courtesy of B. Klingeman, UT Plant Sciences Dept.)

Dr. Jim Delashmit, owner of Twin Creek Farms (Maryville, TN), has developed a strategy to help tree buyers and stock loaders with maneuvering heavy balled-and-burlapped trees onto trucks and trailers with minimal stress to the root balls and less injury to thin-barked trunks.

The simple strategy starts with two short lengths of polyester webbing that are threaded through the wire basket at about an 8" spread (Photo 5). The ends are individually tied off and, when joined, offer a union point to loop through a heaviergauge seatbelt strap (Photo 6). Next, a fork on a hydraulic arm can lift the ball, either from its prepared holding spot in the field (Photo 7) or in the loading lot. The ball pivots freely around the looped web unions, helping the loader optimally position the ball in relation to the rest of the load in the trailer.

Photo 6. A second loop of seat belt webbing is threaded through the strapping and forms a pivot point for manipulating the heavy 24-inch or 32-inch root balls (Photo courtesy of B. Klingeman, UT Plant Sciences Dept.)

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in the Nursery

A father and daughter landscape team, Mark and Morgan Sharp, of My Personal Gardener (Maryville, TN) were on site when the strategy was recently demonstrated. “I’ve loaded trees in a lot of different sales yards, and none of them used this system,” says Mark.

“Because I carry my own [second loop of] webbing, it’s pretty easy for me to unload the tree the same way at the job site, then move the root ball around other obstructions. It’s a great idea that saves the root ball and bark and keeps tree branches from being broken on machinery or other plants in a client’s landscape.”

For more images and/or information about these systems, contact Mark Halcomb at mhalcomb@utk.edu or Bill Klingeman at wklingem@utk.edu. C

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Photo 7. Heavier seat belt straps are used for 32" and larger diameter root balls that are pre-dug and held in the field until the order can be loaded.

(Photo courtesy of B. Klingeman, UT Plant Sciences Dept.)

SUMMER 2009

News from UT gardens

News from the UT Gardens

By Sue Hamilton, Ph.D., Interim Director, The University of Tennessee Gardens

The

UT Gardens have been invited to participate in the new American Garden Award program where garden visitors vote on their favorite plants in the UT Gardens by text messaging or using a call-in number from their mobile phone. This “mobile marketing” appeals to Generations X and Y and is a new marketing tool in the horticulture industry. When visitors call to vote, there will be a 99¢ cellular charge. At the end of the fall season, the program’s headquarters in Chicago will tally the votes, and the top three most-popular plants from participating gardens will win the American Garden Award.

Also, the UT Gardens have been recognized as an official Conifer Reference Garden by the American Conifer Society (ACS). This prestigious status acknowledges the significance of the UT Gardens’ conifer collection and support from the American Conifer Society.

The UT Gardens joined the ACS in 2005. We were honored to help host the 2006 ACS Annual Conference in Tennessee and to have received a $3,000 ACS grant to support our collection. Since October 2005, the UT Gardens has invested $6,114 in developing its conifer collection, which grew by 276 new specimens. Our current collection of 346 conifers represents 19 genera.

We have also invested $11,550 in permanent interpretive botanical labels, aluminum accession labels and a computer to electronically store and manage the plant-collection database. Since 2005, our conifer collection has become a significant collection in our gardens and helps fulfill our garden’s mission. We plan to offer a conifer symposium at the Gardens in Knoxville in late fall 2009. More information will follow as symposium plans and details are made.

Because of our participation in the programs listed below, the UT Gardens in Knoxville & Jackson are able to bring you the best plant-performance information for Tennessee.

This information is invaluable to the Tennessee green industry in determining the best plants for commercial production, sales and landscaping. If you haven’t visited either garden, you are missing out on a valuable resource for your business. Check out the websites for additional information and locations (http://utgardens.tennessee.edu/).

• An All-America Selections Test Garden (http://www.all-americaselections.org/) • An All-America Selections Display Garden (http://www.all-americaselections.org/) • A Fleuroselect Display Garden (http://www.fleuroselect.com/default.aspx) • An American Conifer Society Reference Garden (http://www.conifersociety.org/) • An American Garden Award Garden (http://www.americangardenaward.org/) • A Certified Tennessee Arboretum (http://www.tufc.com/tennesseearboreta.htm) • A National Boxwood Trial Site (http://www.saundersbrothers.com/ boxwood_trialsA.htm) C

calendar of events

Index of Advertisers

Braun Horticulture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 www.braungroup.com

Calendar of Events

BWI Companies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Front Cover www.bwicompanies.com

JULY 28–30

August 12–14

Penn-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show (PANTS) Greater Philadelphia Expo Center Philadelphia, PA Contact: 717-238-1673 www.pnla.com

NCAN Summer Green Show (North Carolina Assn. of Nurserymen) Greensboro, NC Contact: 919-816-9119

October 2–3 August 3 TNLA/HRI Golf Tournament McMinnville Country Club McMinnville, TN Contact: 931-473-3951 Fax: 931-473-5883 Email: mail@tnla.com www.tnla.com

August 4 Tennessee Green Industry Field Day TSU Otis L. Floyd Nursery Research Center McMinnville, TN Contact: 931-473-3951 Fax: 931-473-5883 Email: mail@tnla.com www.tnla.com

Cam Too Camellia Nursery, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 www.camtoocamellia.com Carolina Nurseries, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Back Cover www.carolinanurseries.com Central Landscape Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 www.centrallandscape.com

MTNA TRADE SHOW McMinnville Civic Center McMinnville, TN Contact: 931-507-7322 Email: info@mtna.com www.mtna.com

Crimson Dale Nursery, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 www.crimsondalenursery.com D & D Agri . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Ewing Irrigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Front Cover www.ewing1.com

October 24–28

Forrest Nursery Company, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Southern Region/International Plant Propagators’ Society 34th Annual Meeting Biloxi, MS Contact: 813-655-1914 Email: hgramling@tbwg.org

Forrest Keeling Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 www.fknursery.com Hayes Nursery Enterprises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 John Deere Landscapes . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Back Cover www.johndeerelandscapes.com

January 12–13, 2010 Mid-States Horticultural Expo (a partnership of TNLA and KNLA) Kentucky Exposition Center Louisville, KY For booth information, contact: Louree Walker, 931-473-3951 or louree@TNLA.com For advertising, contact: Betsie A. Taylor, 800-735-9791 or KNLA@mis.net; http://www.knla.org

Larry A. Gribble Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 M&M Plant Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 www.mmplants.com Motz & Son Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Pack’s Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 www.packsnursery.com Surface Nursery, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 www.surfacenursery.com Swafford Nursery, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Back Cover www.swaffordnursery.com Tennessee One-Call System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 www.tnonecall.com Tree Equipment Design, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 www.treeequip.com

classified

Hayes Nursery Enterprises 1474 Old Well Road Morrison, Tennessee 37357 Trudie or James Hayes, 931-939-7945 Liners to Landscape.