<b>Battling the Down Economy:</b> Provide proper nutrients, reduce all the labor

When it comes to fertilizers, Bennett’s Creek Nursery doesn’t fool around. While reducing labor is important, getting plants the proper nutrients at the right time is Priority No. 1.

The nursery doesn’t sacrifice plant quality for cost savings. But that doesn’t mean staff members can’t reduce labor in their plant-nutrient programs.

The company, with multiple growing locations in eastern Virginia, relies primarily on controlled-release fertilizers (CRFs), said vice president and horticulturist Bob Black. These include Plantacote, Harrell’s and Scotts products, he said.

They use mainly 12-month products, which means re-application isn’t normally needed.

The CRFs are incorporated into loblolly pine bark substrates prior to potting. Ten to 12 pounds of Plantacote (19-6-12 with minor nutrients) are incorporated per yard of substrate.

The company also adds 6 pounds of dolomitic lime per yard, which adds calcium and magnesium to the substrate and raises the pH to around the low 6s.

“We use half pulverized lime and half round lime,” Black said. “The ground lime gives us better longevity and a slower release of calcium and magnesium. For quick turnaround crops, we’ll use all pulverized lime.”

Crop substrates are checked regularly for electrical conductivity (EC) and pH. If a crop is running low on fertility, the company has the ability to inject fertilizer into the irrigation system. Typically a general liquid agricultural fertilizer (10-2-6) is used.

For crops that take longer than 15 to 18 months to finish, such as camellias and hollies, CRFs are reapplied as a top dress, Black said.

“We try to use the upper end of the low rate or the low end of the medium rate, which saves us some expenses on the top dressing,” he said.


For more: Bennett’s Creek Nursery, (757) 483-1425; www.bcnursery.com.

Getting plants proper nutrients at the right time is top priority at Bennett’s Creek Nursery.