Nursery Production FAQ

Whether you are someone interested in starting a nursery of trees and shrubs or perennials, diversifying your farm to include nursery, or have been growing nursery crops for a few years and need more information, questions often arise. Here are some frequently asked questions with concise answers from UMass Extension.

I want to start a nursery business to grow ornamentals. Where do I begin?

Plan to attend UMass Extension Green School, the Northeast Greenhouse Conference, the New England Grows Show or similar educational program. See the list of educational programs on our Extension Greenhouse Crops and Floriculture website and Landscape and Urban Forestry Program website. These programs provide an opportunity to network with growers and product suppliers.

Another trade show of interest would be PANTS held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Additional information at www.pnla.com

See the UMass Extension Landscape, Nursery and Urban Forestry website for fact sheets, pest messages, workshops, climate information and more.

Subscribe to one of several trade magazines and purchase a good reference book. American Nurserymen magazine , Nursery Management magazine, Grower Talks magazine and Greenhouse Grower magazine are trade magazines that will provide insight into the industry. "Ball Red Book" is a general overall reference book for greenhouse production. See these and other resources in the fact sheet “Starting a Greenhouse Business”.

The Massachusetts Nurserymen and Landscapers Association, Massachusetts Flower Growers Association and International Plant Propagators Society (IPPS) are professional associations that provide workshops, newsletters and a membership directory.

What resources and books are available for a nursery producer?

See the UMass Extension Landscape, Nursery and Urban Forestry website for fact sheets, pest messages, workshops, climate information and more.

Helpful reference books are as follows:

  • Armitage, Allen. 1998. Herbaceous Perennial Plants. Varsity Press, Athens, GA. 1141 p.
  • Dirr, Michael. 1998. Manual of Woody Landscape Plants. 5th ed. Stipes Publishing Co., Champaign, IL 1187 p. This publication is widely available online or from the publisher.
  • Dirr, Michael. 1997. Hardy Trees and Shrubs. Timber Press
  • Eaton, Gregory R., and Bonnie L. Appleton. 2002. Getting Started in the Nursery Business. Virginia Cooperative Extension.
  • Heuser, Chas. W., Jr., and Michael Dirr. 2006. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Varsity Press, Inc., Athens, GA.
  • Macdonald, Bruce. 2006. Practical Woody Plant Propagation for Nursery Growers. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  • Nau, Jim. 1996. Ball Perennial Manual: Propagation and Production. Ball Publishing, Batavia, IL. 487 p.
  • Walker, Cathleen, and Leonard P. Perry. 1998. Herbaceous Perennials Production: A Guide from Propagation to Marketing. NRAES-93. Northeast Regional Agricultural Engineering Service, Ithaca, NY. 208 p.
  • Whitcomb, Carl E. 2003. Plant Production in Containers II. 2006. Lacebark Publications, Stillwater, OK. 460 p.
  • Whitcomb, Carl E. 2001. Production of Landscape Plants II (in the field). 2nd ed. Lacebark Publications, Stillwater, OK.
  • Young, James and Cheryl G. Yound. Seeds of Woody Plants in North America (Revised and Enlarged Edition)
  • American Standard for Nursery Stock. 2004. Horticultural Standards Committee.  
    American Nursery & Landscape Association
  • USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

If your interest is container production “Container Nursery Design” by Bonnie Lee Appleton

Also available on-line is The Massachusetts Nursery Best Management Manual compiled by Tina Smith and Paul Lopes, University of Massachusetts Extension.

Where can I find information on labor laws that affect my business?

Through the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation Inc. This a membership organization made up of family farms and farm related businesses. They work to solve problems in agriculture through education and through support from their legislators.

How do I get a pesticide license to use pesticides?

See: UMass Extension Pesticide Licensing Information webpage for the Green Industry.

Where can I find information on calculating the number of containers that will fit in a greenhouse based on spacing and number of containers per cubic yard of soil?

See “Conversion Tables, Formulas and Suggested Guidelines for Horticulture Use”
By the University of Georgia

How do I manage pests in my nursery?

The “Professional Management Guide for Insects, Diseases and Weeds of Trees and Shrubs in New England” contains detailed information on managing insects, diseases, and weeds.

Also, see the booklet “Pest Identification Guide for Weeds, Insects and Diseases of Woody Ornamentals” by Randall G. Prostak, UMass Extension Weed Specialist, Daniel H. Gillman, UMass Extension Plant Pathologist, and Robert D. Childs, UMass Extension Entomologist.

Good identification of your pest problem is the first, key step to successful management! This photo guide has over 80 pages of clear color photographs for the most frequently encountered weed, insect, disease and nonpathogenic disorders of ornamental trees and shrubs in the Northeast.

How do I take a soil sample and where can I get it tested?

Testing is available through the University of Massachusetts Soil and Plant Nutrient Testing Lab.

Where can I have a plant specimen from my nursery diagnosed or a weed identified?

Contact the UMass Extension Plant Diagnostic laboratory. There is a fee for these services.

Also, UMass Extension maintains an on-line weed herbarium with excellent photos and descriptions that may assist with identification of a weed.

I want to sell plants at our local farmers market. Are there any certificates that I need?

If the plants you plan to sell are herbaceous plants (other than strawberry plants), then they do not need a certificate of inspection.

If the plants are nursery stock or strawberry plants, the plants need a certificate of inspection from the Division of Crop and Pest Services, Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR). The nursery inspection program prevents and minimizes the impact of pests entering the state.

All nurseries or places where nursery stock is grown is required to be inspected and certified to be free of pests each year regardless of the quantity being grown. Growers in the Commonwealth who export plant material and/or seed require inspections prior to shipping.

Agent licenses are issued to retail outlets who purchase nursery stock and offer it for resale.
For information on certificates and agent licenses, contact: MDAR, Phone: 617-626-1803.

Application forms for a Nursery Agent License and Nursery Grower Certificate are available at the Mass Gov website

If the plants you plan to sell are herbaceous plants (other than strawberry plants), then they do not need a certificate of inspection. If the plants are nursery stock or strawberry plants, the plants need a certificate of inspection from the Division of Crop and Pest Services, Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR). The nursery inspection program prevents and minimizes the impact of pests entering the state. All nurseries or places where nursery stock is grown is required to be inspected and certified to be free of pests each year regardless of the quantity being grown. Growers in the Commonwealth who export plant material and/or seed require inspections prior to shipping. Agent licenses are issued to retail outlets who purchase nursery stock and offer it for resale. For information on certificates and agent licenses, contact: Howie Vinton, MDAR, Phone: 617-626-1803. Application forms for a Nursery Agent License and Nursery Grower Certificate  Summary of General Laws, Chapter 128, Agriculture, Sections 17, 19, and 20 pertain to nursery stock Section 17: Inspection of nurseries; certificate; suppression of pests All nurseries or places where nursery stock is grown is required to be inspected and certified to be free of pests each year. Section 19: Sale of nursery stock, grower’s certificate Growers or dealers who sell, exchanges, gives, delivers or ships nursery stock within Massachusetts must obtain a current grower’s certificate (within 12 months). Section 20: Importation of nursery stock, certificate of inspection Nursery stock brought into Massachusetts must have an unexpired certificate of inspection. Farmer’s Market Rules Individual farmer’s markets have their own rules. For rules for specific farmers markets, talk to the Market Manager.

Summary of General Laws, Chapter 128, Agriculture, Sections 17, 19, and 20 pertain to nursery stock

Massachusetts defines nursery stock under Chapter 128 of the General laws as trees, shrubs, woody plants and strawberry plants, whether wild or cultivated and parts thereof for propagation. It does not include herbaceous plants such as spring or fall flowers and vegetable bedding plants grown in greenhouses.

Section 17: Inspection of nurseries; certificate; suppression of pests - All nurseries or places where nursery stock is grown is required to be inspected and certified to be free of pests each year.

Section 19: Sale of nursery stock, grower’s certificate - Growers or dealers who sell, exchanges, gives, delivers or ships nursery stock within Massachusetts must obtain a current grower’s certificate (within 12 months).

Section 20: Importation of nursery stock, certificate of inspection - Nursery stock brought into Massachusetts must have an unexpired certificate of inspection.

Resources