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Eileen Nelson
UW-Madison Department of Horticulture
608-265-5283 |
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The next issue of this newsletter will be a bit late. I will be returning from a trip to Holland on April 18 and will use the next newsletter to highlight my visit to Keukenhof Gardens and the Flower Auction. |
| Help determine research focus | | |
The IR-4 Project's Ornamental Horticulture Program hel ps provide safe and effective pest management solutions for greenhouse, nursery, landscape, Christmas tree and forestry producers. Every other year, we prioritize the next two-year research plan at our Ornamental Horticulture workshop. We invite you to help us focus our research by asnwering a few questions about the diseases, insects and weeds which impact your business.
Please participate in the on-line survey here
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Growing News You Can Use |
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Source: Michigan State University Extension
Two Rules for Success with Mixed Containers
Greenhouse growers need to keep two concepts in mind when selecting plants for mixed containers or mixed hanging baskets. If you follow both guidelines, containers should perform well for the end-consumer and help bring repeat business for the retail or wholesale grower. Source: Michigan State University Extension
Vegetative Petunia Propagation and Production Challenges
In the past month, we have visited several greenhouse growers across the Midwest and Northeast who have had challenges this year producing some vegetative petunia varieties from different breeding companies. The problem seems to affect yellow cultivars more severely than others. Source: Michigan State University Extension
Manage Fungicides for Long Term Effectiveness
Though resistance is inevitable with narrow-spectrum fungicides, knowing a fungicide's characteristics can help you slow resistance development with careful management. Source: Michigan State University Extension
How to Spot Powdery Mildew on Petunias
With an increasing number of petunias grown from cuttings, powdery mildew is becoming more common in this crop. Here are tips from Margery Daughtrey on how to stay vigilant against this disease. Source: Cornell University/Greenhouse Grower |
Best Restroom Award!
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Source: Garden Center Magazine
Garden Centers of America has created a new award to recognize rooms befitting a 'throne.' At the association's annual meeting this summer, GCA will recognize garden centers that have outstanding restrooms. According to David Williams, GCA president, one of the most important elements in the operation of a garden center is the restrooms. The customer base for independent garden centers is estimated to be 80-percent women, and one of the elements appreciated by women is a clean, fresh and well designed restroom.
To enter the competition, garden centers must submit the store name, contact person, phone number, e-mail and physical address. Also include several pictures of the restroom in JPG file format and a brief paragraph about the bathroom, why is it designed the way it is and its benefit at the garden center. The information should be sent to info@gardencentersofamerica.org. The entry deadline is 5 p.m. (EDST), July 15.
For the rest of the details link here . . . . . |
| Spring Trials | | | Here is a link to the daily newsletters that GIE Media Horticulture Group posted each day during Spring Trials -- news on plant introductions, marketing programs and ideas.
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| Plant More Plants | | |
Retail nurseries and garden centers in Washington, D.C., Richmond, Hampton Roads and Baltimore stand to gain more exposure this spring by partnering with the new Plant More Plants campaign.
Plant More Plants encourages suburban homeowners to plant trees, shrubs and hardy perennials to reduce stormwater runoff on their properties. This runoff flows into local rivers and streams, which drain into the Chesapeake Bay. Dirty stormwater is one reason why the bay - a critical ecosystem and important economic resource - is polluted today.
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| How many Plants on Earth | | |
Source: OFA E-News, 2011.03.23
Did you know that there are some 375,000 plant species on Earth? Seems simple enough, but what if we told you that those 375,000 species are known by 1.25 million names? That disparity can create a consortium of issues for anyone in the horticulture industry.
In an effort to help fix this disparity, an international team of researchers has created a "Plant List" which contains every plant known to man and every one of its aliases.
Click here for more information.
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| Customer Service Improvements | | |
Source: Today's Garden Center
Three strategies your employees can use to provide quality customer service, especially during the busiest season of all: Spring.
1. Choose a positive attitude every day
2. Pay clsoe attention to your customer's body language
3. Invest time in training.
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