Plant nursery

Plant Nursery

A Plant Nursery is a place where plants are propagated and grown to a usable size. They include retail nurseries which sell to the general public, wholesale nurseries which sell only to businesses such as other nurseries and to commercial gardeners, and private nurseries which supply the needs of institutions or private estates.

History

The concept of a plant nursery has been around for thousands of years. The ancient Egyptians and Romans were known to have nurseries where they would grow plants for ornamental and practical purposes. The modern plant nursery, as we know it today, began to take shape in the 17th and 18th centuries with the advent of botanical gardens and the desire to cultivate exotic plants brought back from explorations abroad.

Types of Plant Nurseries

There are several types of plant nurseries, including:

• Retail Nurseries: These sell plants directly to the general public.
• Wholesale Nurseries: These sell only to businesses, such as other nurseries and commercial gardeners.
• Private Nurseries: These supply the needs of institutions or private estates.

Operations

Plant nurseries use a variety of methods to propagate plants. These can include:

• Seeding: Plants are grown from seeds in a controlled environment.
• Cutting: A piece of a parent plant is cut off and planted to grow a new plant.
• Grafting: A piece of a plant is attached to the root system of another plant.
• Layering: A branch of a plant is bent to the ground and covered with soil to encourage new roots to grow.

Plant Nursery Management

Managing a plant nursery involves a number of tasks, including:

• Watering: Ensuring plants receive the right amount of water is crucial to their health and growth.
• Feeding: Plants need nutrients to grow, which they get from the soil and from added fertilizers.
• Pruning: This involves cutting back plants to improve their shape and promote growth.
• Pest Control: Nurseries must manage pests to prevent damage to the plants.

See Also

• Gardening
• Horticulture
• Botany
• Agriculture

References

• Britannica: Nursery (Horticulture)
• The Spruce: What is a Plant Nursery?

External Links

• AmericanHort
• Royal Horticultural Society