NURTURE
G R A D E S , STA N DA R D S & S P EC ’ S OH MY! FLORIDA GROWER JOHN CONROY EXPLAINS THE FLORIDA GRADES AND STANDARDS FOR NURSERY PLANTS, A RESOURCE FOR GROWERS, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS, INSPECTORS, AND OTHER INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS TO MEASURE TREE QUALITY. JOHN DISCUSSES HOW THE GUIDELINES HAVE IMPROVED THE INDUSTRY IN FLORIDA
F INDUSTRY INSIGHTS WITH
JOHN CONROY
ndards ades and Sta Florida Grrsery Plants 2015 for Nu
Florida Depa
Consumer ulture and rtment of Agric ioner am, Commiss Adam H. Putn
lorida Grades and Standards for Nursery Plants has existed in Florida for many decades. As stated in the Grades and Standards document, “The nursery industry must precisely communicate the attributes of its valued product.” Beyond this objective, as it is stated in Florida statutes, industry professionals have detailed specific characteristics (standards) which are used as measures to grade healthy and safe trees which have the best chance for success. Historically, grading standards focused more heavily on aesthetic considerations rather than today’s process which requires greater attention to structural integrity. With the advent of stronger and more frequent hurricanes, industry leadership recognized the importance of producing, installing and maintaining structurally sound trees and palms. Today, the emphasis is now
on well-formed, architecturally correct, healthy trees. Considerable resources have been invested in research and in the accumulation of feedback from many sources. This data serves as the foundation for refining the grading document. Input for the process of establishing standards
NOW THE EMPHASIS IS ON WELL-FORMED, ARCHITECTURALLY CORRECT, HEALTHY TREES to be used in the grading process came from a cross section of green industry professionals: landscape architects, contractors, growers, arborists, maintenance professionals, academics and government officials. All played a role in the drafting of Florida’s Grades and Standards. The document is revised every five years based on on-going research and experience. In our last column we addressed issues of poor branch structure and circulating roots. These defects can result in a tree being rejected as non-gradable. Think of Grades and Standards as a tool of the industry; left in the shed, you cannot effectively evaluate trees. Failures of trees are often directly related to poorly grown or poorly maintained trees. This can result in replacement costs, property loss and personal injury. Obviously, failures aren’t always avoidable but if we are truly responsible professionals the proper culturing of trees can mitigate risks. Because the general
Services
south.prolandscaperusa.com
Pro Landscaper USA South July/August 2021 43
