Woody Ornamentals for a Fast Woody Ornamentals for a Fast Growing MarketGrowing Market

Juanita Popenoe

Lake County Extension

StatisticsStatistics

Nursery and Greenhouse industry is the fastest growing segment of US agriculture

Driven by expansion in housing Estimated total sales by Florida horticulture

firms in 2000 were $191 M for deciduous shade, flowering, and

fruit trees$176 M for evergreen trees

About 31% of all firms sold trees in 2000

Steps to StartingSteps to Starting

Wholesale or retail? What kind of plants to grow? – Market

Analysis! Where/how to grow? Business plan and analysis

Wholesale or Retail?Wholesale or Retail?

What Kind of Plants?What Kind of Plants?

Trees – 3-5+ year turnoverOak, Magnolia, Fruit or Flowering Trees

Shrubs – 6 months – 1 year turnover Bedding Plants – 12 week turnover Species? Find out what is hot Many retail growers fill out range of plants

with plants from wholesalers

Propagate or Buy Liners?Propagate or Buy Liners?

Buy Liners from others?Costs, sources, reliability

Do you plan to propagate your own?Cost of mist bed – covering, irrigation system

Source of cutting, seed materialsTechniques for cuttings and seeds – plant

hormones, seed treatments

Nursery Design LayoutNursery Design Layout Land Preparation

Clearing, covering with landscape cloth Irrigation system

Overhead sprinklers or micro-irrigation? Pot system

Tree supports needed?Supports to keep from blowing over?

Potting MixWhat type? Source?

Fertilizers and ChemicalsHerbicides, pesticides, fertilizers – When, Where, How?

Land PreparationLand Preparation

Irrigation SystemIrrigation System

Pots?Pots?

Supports?Supports?

Potting MixPotting Mix

Mix your own or buy pre-mixed?

Fertilizers and ChemicalsFertilizers and Chemicals

When, Where, How? Do I need a license? Pesticides – when do you need them? Herbicides – weeds compete

Pre-emergentPost-emergent

Fertilizers Incorporated slow releaseTop dressedTo plant requirements

Business PlanBusiness Plan

Certified Nursery Registration – DPI/ FL DOACS Occupational licenses and bonding Starting A Wholesale Nursery Business at

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/EP/EP05600.pdf Using Business Analysis

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/FE/FE27400.pdf Constantly develop markets – get to know

builders, landscapers, retail outlets How to market yourself – plant locators

Other ResourcesOther Resources

Extension Office UF Crop Time-line for nursery production:

http://cfextension.ifas.ufl.eduClick on nursery production and then woody

Virginia Tech’s getting started in the nursery business:

http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/nursery/430-050/430-050.html

Jon’s NurseryJon’s Nursery Started in 1972 in backyard, Jon was a greengrocer Now one of largest wholesale nurseries in the

Southeast

Ola FarmsOla Farms

Started in 5 acre yard 5 years ago

Now self-sufficient business

Supplier of Oaks and Magnolias contract and retail (with installation only).

Stanley Pond NurseryStanley Pond Nursery

Part-time, open weekends

Started when he bought old ligustrum field nursery next to house

Found display makes big difference

Good Luck!

Thank YouThank You

For more information visit the Small Farms web at http://smallfarms.ifas.ufl.edu

Take a virtual field day tour by visiting the Virtual Field Day web at http://vfd.ifas.ufl.edu

This presentation brought to you by the

Small Farms/Alternative Enterprises Focus Team.