At Cultivate last week there was a lot of talk about plastic. From official roundtable discussions to the even more official—roundbar—discussions, many were discussing the use of plastic in our industry. The ornamental industry is constantly facing new challenges (water, peat, energy, transportation, etc.) and it seems our use of plastic might be the next in the pipeline. 

 

Luckily Spring Meadow Nursery and Proven Winners ColorChoice Shrubs have announced a new initiative to offer sustainable packaging for growers. These new containers are made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE #2) and boast 83% less plastic than traditional industry containers. Created by PlantRight, a division of DCA Outdoor, these containers are made of woven plastic and include handles for easy transport, a wide base for stability and root expansion and drainage holes at the base and sides. 

 

 

The packages are intended for use in the 5-20 gallon size, particularly as growers shift shrubs up from 1-3 gallon containers. The team at Spring Meadow has been trialing the new packages and have determined that the finishing time is equal or sometimes less than that of standard containers. Wow, what a great opportunity for saving plastic and faster production. I can’t wait to get some for myself to evaluate. Growers interested in these new packages should contact their Spring Meadow Nursery account manager.  

I would highly recommend that anyone interested in nursery production or plant materials in the southern U.S. consider attending the International Plant Propagators’ Society Southern Region Annual Meeting. This year it will be held in Tulsa, Oklahoma, from October 26 - 30.

 

 

This year’s meeting is gearing up to be one of the best ever, with a slew of presenters who can help you make big impacts on your business. Plus, the tours are always a blast. If you want to have a great time with great people—this one is a must.

 

Early Bird registration lasts through September 15 so make sure you REGISTER NOW.

They tell us that the younger generation loves interacting with AI (or artificial intelligence for anyone that might not know the moniker yet). This is the clearest indicator I can find that I am no longer considered to be the younger generation! However, it is true and AI applications are growing exponentially, and many today prefer to interact with AI than an actual person. Just Google something and you get AI generated results back first!

 

AI has the opportunity to deliver immediate answers crafted by “reading” massive amounts of data and other information that has been fed to it. Somewhat like a graduate student, but quicker. These tools are becoming critical as the industry continues to market to younger homeowners and clientele. That is why Bloomin’ Easy has taken the reins and become the first major plant brand to implement an AI consumer support chatbot. 

 

 

Daisy Digs is a fun-loving, passionate greenthumb with a youthful twist. Powered by Scapify’s Master Gardener AI technology, Daisy will provide expert guidance to consumers when it comes to plants and landscaping. Daisy Digs can troubleshoot common garden issues like pests or soil health and even help suggest plants for jobs. Hmmm ... sounds like my Extension position! 

 

You can find out more about Daisy Digs by visiting bloomineasyplants.com, or check out scapify.com for more information on the ecommerce and marketing tools offered by Scapify.

Anyone traveling to Colorado in the next few weeks? If so, you might want to stop by Colorado State University’s Flower Trials Industry Evaluation Day, held at the Trial Garden in Fort Collins, Colorado. On August 6, Dr. Chad Miller will be hosting an industry open house to check out their flower trialing program.

 

As someone who runs a similar program, I can tell you that these opportunities are incredible. You can get a leg up on your competition by seeing what works best in the area and any new materials coming out in the near future. With over 1,000 annuals in trials and over 250 new varieties, plus 300 different perennials, I know you will have a blast. 

 

Make sure you REGISTER ahead of time. 

AmericanHort is proud to present a Roundtable discussion focusing on the guest worker program. This event is hosted by Community Connectors, a group dedicated to bringing AmericanHort members together to learn, share and connect with peers. This roundtable event is designed to equip business owners and managers with essential information about the H-2B program, and will feature industry experts who can share firsthand experiences.

 

Laurie Flanagan will kick off the event covering the basics of the program and current regulatory standings. Arnulfo Hinojosa will follow up on the second part of the program sharing his experience working with the program. He has a step-by-step guide to get started in the application process and some tips for successful applications. 

 

The webinar will be held on August 6 at 2:30 p.m. (EST). If your business uses H-2B or you want to learn more about this opportunity, this is a slam dunk. Really, anyone in the landscape industry will probably benefit from attending. For more information CHECK OUT the program page. 

Ever wanted to know more about StriCore, the newest pre-emergent herbicide for the golf, lawn and nursery markets? Well you’re in luck. SePRO is hosting an educational webinar on July 31 at 11:00 a.m. (EST) for nursery managers. If by any chance any turf managers or golf course superintendents are reading, they have a separate webinar for you on Thursday August 1 (also at 11:00 a.m. EST). 

 

StriCore is a pre-emergent with a new active ingredient offering unique chemistry that effectively controls challenging weeds such as goosegrass, Poa annua and crab grass. This herbicide will be on the market starting October 1, so this is a perfect time to learn more before you get lost in the weeds … Visit StriCoreHerbicide.com for more information and to sign up for the webinars.