Angelica Nurseries: Starting at the bottom

Bernie Kohl, president of Angelica Nurseries in Kennedyville, Md., knows that it’s all about the roots. While the upper part of the plant might get all the attention, Kohl knows it takes a strong root system to have overall plant success—and that’s where he’s put his focus. He’s even set up trade show booths that are made up mostly of roots instead of plants. It has taken extra time and effort, but Kohl says that the nursery’s focus on the root system has been a huge factor in the nursery’s success.

“We’ve always said that success at the top starts at the bottom,” says Kohl, who is one of four owners in the family-owned nursery that specializes in ornamentals. “The root system of the plant is as important as the top of the plant. That’s why when we’re developing a plant, we put a lot of effort into making sure it has that heavy fibrous root system that’s going to give it long-term success.”

According to Kohl, the attention to the roots should start when you propagate the plant. Angelica utilizes Rootmaker containers, and attention is given to developing the roots from the very beginning. The plants begin in the propagation houses and are usually moved at least twice before they are eventually sold. During each of those moves, roots are pruned, in addition to a pruning while in the beds.

An example would be a plant beginning in the sand bed, getting pulled and pruned, put into a field with bed spacing, grown there for several years and a root cutting blade run underneath for another pruning, and then ultimately being transplanted into final spacing with the roots hand-trimmed one last time.

“All of these root trimmings boost our plants survivability,” Kohl says. “It’s the smaller hair roots that pick up water and those roots need to be developed. Each time you cut the roots, it forces them to make a more fibrous root system. We take a lot of effort to get the bottom of the plant to be as healthy as the top. It’s a big part of our focus.”

And clients notice. Angelica’s biggest sales sector is to rewholesaling yards. Rewholesalers know that they have to be able to hold those plants and hope they will still look good in their yard to make the sale. With the root development system that Angelica has perfected, the survivability of its transplanted material is ensured. It’s something Angelica does with all 1,500 acres of nursery stock—from shade trees to shrubs.

Kohl says there’s two parts to the success of root development. The first is the mechanized part—that is, having the right equipment. The second part is timing. The pruning needs to be done at the right time of year to be successful.

“We prune our 1,500 acres of nursery stock to a schedule that is crop specific,” Kohl says. “The right timing is a critical part of our success.”

The end result is a better product. Kohl says you can see the difference in the final root ball—the way it holds up.

“While those that don’t have a strong root system tend to flatten out like a pancake, you can see that our root balls really hold their shape, even in a holding situation,” Kohl says. “That doesn’t happen by accident. It’s our methodology that leads to a successful root system, and ultimately a successful plant.”

For more: www.angelicanurseries.com