Chapter 14 study test-The Gardner Center Employee

What type of plant generally requires more care then the other types and why?

Container grown plants/ Due to type of potting medium that the plants are grown in.

What is the marketing advantage of selling annuals?

Customers are buying these plants with flowers on them and not necessary for them to imagine what the flowers will look like.

What are the problems with machine balled plants.

Difficulty to water and need to give proper planting instructions to customers.

What are other forms of containerized plants?

Field -dug and potted plants.

What is important in the planting process of field potted plants in a decomposable, paper mache container?

The container can be left on the roots as long as top rim is broken down and does not extend through the mulch.

Describe packaged plants.

These plants are dug bare root in the nursery and placed with peat moss or shingle toe in a foil or plastic bag.

What is the challenge to merchandising perennials and ornamental grasses?

They are often transplanted as bare root sprigs or shoots and rhizomes early in the spring without foliage or flowers and limited roots and they look dead early in the season.

What are the key items in caring for and handling sod?

Lay the sod out on display if temperatures are above 55 degrees and/ or the sod had been rolled for more than 48 hours/ Water the sod immediately after unrolling/ Handle the sod with care so the strips remain intact/ Place some kind of protection for the customer's care when placing the sod in the customer's vehicle.

At what temperature, is winter protection necessary, for any plants that are not sold?

Low 20 degree range.

Container plants generally need higher levels of what in relation to phosphorous and potassium.

Nitrogen

How should container plants be stored over the winter?

In plastic greenhouses with minimal heat to maintain a minimum temperature of 28 to 32 degrees F.

How should a customer be met when visiting the store?

Acknowledge the customer's presence when they enter store/ Make eye contact/ Start a generally conversation not involving plants/ Don't point them in the generally direction if they are looking for a certain plant/ Ask open ended questions/ Get as much info on customer's plant needs as possible/ When plant is purchased give customer education on installation and caring for plant/ Know week's ad/ Know store's policies and procedures on guarantees, replacements, rain checks, planting services and delivery fees.

Define indoor foliage plants.

Are non-hardy tropical plants that will not survive freezing temps.

How should the inventory of plants be displayed?

Arrange by species/ by price and size/ each block of plants should have a label that clearly describes the plant/ Each plant should have a tag with plant name and price/ Attractive displays/ Damaged plant material should be removed immediately/ Prune dead plant material/ check inventory once a day.

How do you handle a disgruntled customer?

Avoid escalating a situation/ listen and work to find a way for customer to save face/ take action to remedy the problem as quickly as possible and try to regain their trust/ don't become defensive/ move conversation away from check out area/ Listen carefully with interrupting and give customer undivided attention.

Why is it important to plant machine balled plants in well drained soil?

Peat moss that surrounds the root ball holds moisture.

What are the proper planting instructions for machine balled plants?

Plastic must be removed without disturbing the root system and plant in well drained soil.

What are the different types of plants that can be offered in a garden center determined on the basis of the roots?

Bare root/ Containerized/ Balled and Burlap/ Machine balled.

When should packaged plants be sold?

Before they leaf out because they will be bare root when customer plants them.

How are annual flowers similar to container nursery stock?

Both are in plastic containers and grown in soilless media so care will be similar.

How should you pick up B & B plants?

By the bottom.

For longer term storage of B & B plants what can be done to preserve soil moisture?

Can be mulched with shredded hardwood bark, peat or sawdust .

What is critical for indoor foliage plants?

Correct light exposure.

How should B & B plants be protected in winter at nursery?

Covering the root ball with saw dust , peat, or bark mulch and mulch should extend 9-12 inches beyond the soil ball.

Describe machine balled plants.

Generally small deciduous trees and shrubs that are sold in the spring/ Dug from nursery as a bare root plant and a ball of peat moss is pressed around the root system and packaged in a plastic bag.

What is deadheading?

Process of removing flowers from plants that have past their prime.

Describe the care and display of related plant products.

Products need to look clean/ Bags should be displayed with label up so customers can easily read it/ Keep bagged products out of the sun/ Dust products at least once a week/ Broken bags should a tape placed over tear and placed on bargain table/ Display dry goods off the ground and out of water.

What three rules should be kept in mind when caring for B & B plants?

Protect root ball from drying out/ Apply water and nutrients as needed/ Handle the soil root ball in a way to protect it from breaking.

What is a important in merchandising perennials and ornamental grasses early in season?

Providing plant tags on each plant with pics of plant in full foliage or flower/ knowledge of the plant's potential beauty later the the spring and summer.

What two issues can water with high pH cause for container plants?

Raising the pH of the medium affecting the adsorption of iron and potentially turning the leaves chlorotic and leaving a white residue of calcium carbonate when water evaporates from leaves.

What plants can be successfully transplanted in a bare root condition?

Rose bushes and small deciduous plants.

Describe field-dug and potted plants.

They are similar to B & B with the burlap being replaced with plastic or decomposable container and have natural soil.

How should a broadleaf evergreen at the nursery be protected during the winter?

They will need root protection and protection from the winter sun and winds. Should be checked for moisture in the container or soil ball and stored in a lath house or plastic greenhouse.

What is the care for indoor foliage plants?

Similar care that is given to container grown plants.

How should packaged plants be planted?

Similar to peat-balled plants.

Nurseries that grow container plants will provide a slow release fertilizer in medium. How long will this keep the plants growing and looking good?

Six to eight weeks.

How are perennials and ornamental grasses cared for?

Sold in plastic containers and grown in a soilless media so care is similar to that of container plants.

What is the best way to water B & B plants?

Water needs to be applied slowly with a lawn or overhead sprinkler which acts like a natural rain or drip irrigation.

What needs to be considered when caring for container plants in the garden center?

Watering frequency/ Accepting plants from shippers and inspecting for good health/ Spacing of plants/ Temperature were plants are placed/ Light requirements of each plant/ Support to trees and taller shrubs that may blow over in high winds.

What are the main practices to care for perennials and ornamental grasses?

Watering, deadheading, and fertilizer necessary later in season.