A letter from the sponsor: Janna Beckerman, Envu

Envu is proud to continue its partnership with Nursery Management, supporting the “State of the Market” special report. Hiring skilled labor is harder to find and more expensive to retain than in previous years, putting added pressure on productivity, quality and profitability.

While we can’t eliminate the labor shortage, we can help growers make every hour count. Results from a Comprehensive Time Savings Labor Review, conducted by Mathers Environmental Science Services (MESS), sought out to understand the current costs of hand-weeding applications. The conclusion: Greenhouse growers and nurseries that do not use any preemergence herbicides and rely solely on hand-weeding can have labor costs ranging from $3,779 to $6,989 per acre per year, depending on nursery size and location. Using one application of Marengo® herbicide can save growers up to 187 hours* per acre of time spent manually pulling weeds.

Marengo preemergence herbicide offers long-lasting weed control over the top, under containers and in field production — stopping more than 100 weed species before they start and providing up to eight months of residual activity. Ornamental plants, particularly those grown in containers, suffer more intensely from weed competition because the container planting media volume is limited. Weeds compete for light, nutrients, water and root space, and even a few weeds can drastically reduce growth and crop quality. But Marengo can be used in bed prep too, forming a powerful foundation for efficient weed management — reducing the need for labor-intensive interventions while keeping crops clean, marketable and healthy.

As the nursery and greenhouse industries face new hurdles — from invasive pests and disease issues to rising labor costs — Envu remains a trusted partner in helping growers do more with less. We work closely with growers, researchers and industry partners to understand real-world production challenges and develop targeted solutions that make operations more efficient and sustainable for the long term.

At Envu, we know that innovation isn’t just about better chemistry — it’s about helping growers work smarter, grow better and stay ahead in an increasingly competitive industry.

ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW LABEL INSTRUCTIONS. Environmental Science U.S. LLC, 5000 CentreGreen Way, Suite 400, Cary, NC 27513. For additional product information, call toll-free 1-800-331-2867. www.envu.com. Not all products are registered in all states. Envu, the Envu logo and Marengo® are trademarks owned by Environmental Science U.S. LLC or one of its affiliates. ©2025 Environmental Science U.S. LLC.

*H. Mathers, ‘Comprehensive Time Savings Labor Review’ Feb. 2025