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Of interest to growers 
A gutter system for tree growing? Now that’s unique! The system described below deviates considerably from what one would normally expect of container production for trees, even though gutters have been a mainstay for many years in the production of crops such as strawberries, lettuce, cut mums and anthuriums.
There are a number of reasons to develop a gutter system specifically for the production of trees. In the marketplace, the quality and sustainability requirements of tree production are forever increasing. Further, European guidelines for the use of fertilizers and crop protection products also require a critical look at production systems. In a number of field production systems the guidelines for water quality and nitrate run-off have not yet been met. As well, labor costs and working conditions in many field production crops still need to be improved. While much of the heavy work is done by machine, the low-to-the-ground work, such as grafting and tying is still tough on the body and can cause long-term problems. |
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 In May of this year, Toronto catapulted to the top of the list when its city council adopted the most comprehensive and stringent green roof bylaw of any city in North America.
“This is a highly commendable act for a city that presently does not even rank in the top 10 of North American cities — with Chicago in #1 spot — in terms of square footage of green roofs installed in 2008,” said Steven Peck, president of Green Roofs for Healthy Cities as he praised council for “exercising leadership” on a tool to fight climate change. The rules — requiring up to 50 percent green roof coverage on multi-unit residential dwellings over 2,000 square meters (21,500 sq. ft.) and higher than six stories — kick in on January 31, 2010. |
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 The use of scanning technologies has become an important tool for those European nurseries wishing to introduce efficiencies to their shipping and receiving departments. The following is a look at how three very different types of nursery operations have successfully implemented scanning technologies into their businesses.
The exporter’s perspectiveDealing with large volumes of in-coming and out-going plant material makes the business of exporting uniquely challenging. Many European exporters have employed scanning technology to deal with these logistical challenges for at least the past five years. “Changing to an automated system forced us to look closely at our shipping systems,” noted one prominent exporter, adding that, “from that point alone, it was a worthwhile venture. And since then, we have been continually modifying our systems to make our business as simple and efficient as possible.”
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Ask the ExpertIn direct response to the many inquiries we have received from you, our loyal readers, this month we are premiering a new ‘Ask the Expert’ feature on Perennial and Nursery News.
Do you have a perennial question for which you just can’t get a definitive answer?
Are your customers asking you questions about perennials that you can’t answer?
As a grower, do you have a technical question about perennials that’s got you stumped?
We’re here to help you out.
Just click on the ‘Ask the Expert’ feature and follow the prompts.
Ask us your question, and, depending on the number of questions we receive, we’ll answer it in the next, or subsequent issues.
This month, we’re answering three questions that we’ve received in the past couple of weeks.
We look forward to putting on our thinking caps on your behalf.
Ask away!! |
Landscape gardener Ramon Brand is self-confessed impulse buyer.
He leaves the search for plants for the gardens he designs for his clients partially to chance. Good information about the plants, even for this landscape gardener from Boskoop, the heart of the Dutch perennial and hardy nursery stock growing region, is almost as important as their quality and growth habits.
In his own show garden one immediately notices that this man is very particular. Ground covers such as Alchemilla, Geranium and Pachsandra are all healthy, durable genera. Walls of ivy look fresh and green and just like the beech hedges are tightly pruned and closely grown. The perfection of a very shapely Magnolia and a triple stem Ginkgo stand out. But most impressive are the various specimen shrubs, every one of which can be evaluated as A-quality. “Quality is the starting point. If the price is too high, I will not skimp on quality, I will just buy a size smaller,” says Brand.
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