PLANT NURSERY

MANAGEMENT
PLANT NURSERY
A plant nursery is a place where plants are propagated, nurtured, grown for the sake
of being moved or transplanted later.

It can occupy a field, garden, greenhouse, or other form of growing space.

Trees Residences plant nursery

Grass Residences plant nursery Field Residences plant nursery

Jazz Residences plant nursery
KEY ELEMENTS IN NURSERY MANAGEMENT

(1) LOCATION
(2) INPUTS & PLANTING MATERIALS
(3) NURSERY PERSONNEL
KEY ELEMENTS IN NURSERY MANAGEMENT
(1) LOCATION

• Location should be flat to gently undulating

• Has reliable and permanent source of good-quality water supply for
irrigation purposes
• Has good access or exposure to sunlight
• Has good drainage. The site chosen should not be prone to flooding
• Has adequate land area to accommodate required seedlings and facilities
• Has good soil condition: dry sandy loam or loam
• Has good protection from strong winds- planted with wind breakers
• Has good accessibility or close to the road
• Freedom from problematic ecological concerns: free from
neighboring chemical pollution, unmanageable noxious weeds, etc.
• Freedom from problematic political concerns: zoning restrictions, historical land
issue, etc.
KEY ELEMENTS IN NURSERY MANAGEMENT
(1) LOCATION
(1.1) LAYOUT
• Plant nursery layout should be compact and as much as possible in
rectangular or square shape to minimize length of boundaries for fencing and
watch and ward point of view
• Layout should be in a way that enables operations to flow logically through
the nursery so as to save labor and time
• There should be provision for road and path, irrigation and drainage channels,
nursery beds, growing structure, storage, compost pit, etc.
• A nursery is usually arranged in a series of beds with pathway between them
• An open area is needed in one end, where work such as sieving of soil and
filling of containers can be done.
• Usually a room/shelter is required for staff and equipment storage
KEY ELEMENTS IN NURSERY MANAGEMENT
(1) LOCATION
(1.1) LAYOUT
• Mother block- progeny tree or mother or
stock plants are maintained in this section or
block of nursery. The success of nursery
depends upon the initial selection of mother
plants for propagation

• Seed beds- can be accommodated in a

comparatively smaller area. These should be
nearer water source or office so these can be
kept under proper care. Beds should be
raised enough to avoid water stagnation
KEY ELEMENTS IN NURSERY MANAGEMENT
(1) LOCATION
(1.1) LAYOUT
• Pot yard- generally used for tender or
younger seedlings, which require shade as
compared to hardy plants. This area is
shaded and near water source for frequent
watering

• Packing yard and working shed- used for

packing or potting of plants before dispatch.
Area should be large enough to enable
nursery personnel to work with ease
KEY ELEMENTS IN NURSERY MANAGEMENT
(1) LOCATION
(1.1) LAYOUT
• Compost pit- area where nursery waste
products (leaf and other trimmings) are
stored and utilized for production of organic
manure or fertilizer
KEY ELEMENTS IN NURSERY MANAGEMENT
(1) LOCATION
(1.1) LAYOUT
Entrance

Office/
equipment and Vehicle shed/

Pot yard (installed

Packing yard &
supplies storage parking area

with shade net

working shed
room

Mother block and

fully grown seedlings
(for dispatch) Seedling beds
(installed with shade
net)

Compost pit
Sample layout of plant nursery. Perimeter can be planted with wind breakers or trees
Good for 100-500sq m of land
KEY ELEMENTS IN NURSERY MANAGEMENT
(2) INPUTS & PLANTING MATERIALS
(2.1) INPUTS
• Nursery media- the growing medium that holds the seedlings or propagules
during rooting and supply food and water for the successful growth of young
seedling

Sandy loam soil- most common and easily available and

comparatively cheaper medium used in nurseries.
Others: Coco peat, rice hull, saw dust, perlite, vermiculite,
sphagnum moss, etc. (can be used in combination with loam soil)
KEY ELEMENTS IN NURSERY MANAGEMENT
(2) INPUTS & PLANTING MATERIALS
(2.1) INPUTS
• Nursery media must be sufficiently firm to provide anchorage to seedlings or
cuttings

It should have good water holding capacity

It should be free from weed seeds and harmful pathogens

It should be porous to drain excess water

Slightly acidic medium is preferred

It should be readily available, reusable & cheaper

KEY ELEMENTS IN NURSERY MANAGEMENT
(2) INPUTS & PLANTING MATERIALS
(2.1) INPUTS
• Tools and equipment

Pruning Shear
Broomstick
Dust pan
Gardening Scissors Wheel barrow

Telescopic Pruner

Grass Cutter Pruning saw

Aluminum ladder

Gloves
Safety goggles Face Mask

Knapsack Sprayer

Trowel Tape measure

Spade Water Hose

Shovel
Rake Grafting knife
Digging bar
KEY ELEMENTS IN NURSERY MANAGEMENT
(2) INPUTS & PLANTING MATERIALS
(2.1) INPUTS
• Supplies
KEY ELEMENTS IN NURSERY MANAGEMENT
(2) INPUTS & PLANTING MATERIALS
(2.2) PLANTING MATERIALS
• Planting materials- includes seeds, cuttings, rootstocks, scions, explants that will
be used for propagation
KEY ELEMENTS IN NURSERY MANAGEMENT
(2) INPUTS & PLANTING MATERIALS
(2.2) PLANTING MATERIALS
• Propagation methods and techniques
(asexual)

Stem cuttings- a portion of the stem that

contains a terminal or lateral bud is cut and
placed in a growing media to produce roots

Leaf cuttings- leaf blade or leaf blde with

petiole is cut and placed in a growing media to
produce root

Root cuttings- a portion of the root is cut and

placed in a growing media to produce new
shoots
KEY ELEMENTS IN NURSERY MANAGEMENT
(2) INPUTS & PLANTING MATERIALS
(2.2) PLANTING MATERIALS
• Propagation methods and techniques
(asexual)

Budding- a bud is taken from one plant and

grown in another

Grafting- a portion of one plant (bud or scion) is

inserted into a stem, root, or branch of another
(stock) in such a way that a union will be formed
and the partners will continue to grow.

Layering- a means of plant propagation in which

a portion of an above-ground stem grows roots
while still attached to the parent plant and then
detaches as an independent plant.
KEY ELEMENTS IN NURSERY MANAGEMENT
(2) INPUTS & PLANTING MATERIALS
(2.2) PLANTING MATERIALS
• Recommended tree species in the Philippines that can be propagated in
a nursery

See separate attachment for the list of trees. Still working on the species of shrubs
since we are still finalizing the final plant palette
KEY ELEMENTS IN NURSERY MANAGEMENT
(3) NURSERY PERSONNEL
• The nursery personnel must understand the dynamics of nursery operations
and can create a propagation environment that is favourable to plants
• Is knowledgeable in using different gardening tools and equipment
• Is knowledgeable on different propagation techniques
• Should keep an inventory of the production and mortality rate of plants
PHASES OF PLANT DEVELOPMENT
Establishment
• Is the phase from the sowing of seeds through germination, emergence, and
development of the first true leaves
• For plants grown from cuttings, the establishment phase extends from placing
cuttings into containers through the development of roots and shoots
• The establishment phase typically lasts than 6 to 12 weeks
• The goal of this phase is to maximize the amount of growing space filled with
healthy plants, thereby, minimizing losses

Rapid Growth
• During this phase, plants, particularly their shoots, increase dramatically in size
• Often the terminal shoot begins to approach the target size
PHASES OF PLANT DEVELOPMENT
Hardening
• During this phase, energy is diverted from shoot growth to root growth
• When plants are properly hardened, they may have the correct physical
characteristics
• The goal of the hardening phase is to get plants conditioned for stress, prepared
for out planting and ready to be dispatched
NURSERY OPERATIONS
Potting of seedlings
• Before transplanting of seedlings from seedling beds to PEB bags, the bags
should be filled up with proper potting mixture

Manuring & Irrigation

• Generally, sufficient quantity of nutrients is not available in the soil used for
seed beds. Hence, application of compost is added to the soil. Addition of
fertilizer will provide healthy and vigorous plants with good root and shoot
system.
• It is recommended that each nursery bed of 10 X 10m area should be given 300
gm of ammonium sulphate
• Irrigation of nursery beds should be done frequently until the hardening stage

Plant Protection
• Apply pesticide only when necessary or with the emergence of pest
NURSERY OPERATIONS
Weed Control
• Weeds compete with plants for food, space and other essentials. So timely
control of weeds is necessary. For weed control of weeds, use of cover crops,
mulching, use of chemicals (weedicides) are practiced. Pre-emergence
weedicides like Basaline or post-emergence weedicide like 2; 4-D and Roundup
are useful

Measure against heat and cold

• The younger seedling is susceptible to strong sun and low temperature. For
protection from strong sun, shading with the help of timber framework of 1
meter height may be used. Net house and green house structures can also be
used