GROWER GUIDE. I 1

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1 GROWER GUIDE I 1

2 FOR GROWERS CONSISTENT & RELIABLE Did you know that Bailey Nurseries has been growing bareroot products for more than 100 years? You may know Bailey Nurseries for its Endless Summer hydrangeas, First Editions plants and Easy Elegance roses, but we have been producing top-quality bareroot products since the early 1900s and are as proud of them as of our well-known brands. The foundation of our company s success is its diverse and reliable product lines: our wide assortment of bareroot trees, shrubs, fruits and roses in a multitude of sizes: rooted cuttings and seedling stock, our new JumpStarts potted liner program, and our great selection of containers available as upshift material. These products make us a one-stop shop that is second to none for both field and container growers. 2 I

3 TIME IS MONEY As growers, we understand that consistency and performance are critical in keeping your production systems running as seamlessly as possible, and that the needs of field and container production operations can vary greatly. Bailey Nurseries is widely considered one of the most reputable growers in the industry today because we understand the needs of growers and have been providing quality solutions for over 100 years. Choosing the Right Liner When planting for field and container production, choosing the bareroot tree or shrub that best fits your production cycle means everything. Our sales and production teams are dedicated to understanding your process so they can recommend the best liner choice possible. Our goal is to save you both time and money. Getting a high-quality product We are constantly evaluating our growing practices to ensure delivery of a consistently high-quality product. Our growing locations in Minnesota and Oregon allow us to take advantage of the optimal growing conditions for your nursery stock. Most of the product that you receive from Bailey Nurseries, whether grown from seed or cuttings, was started right under own roof. Bailey s world-class propagators in Minnesota and Oregon work in tandem with the production teams to ensure that our growers are using only the best of the best. Grow sales with Picture Tags Complete the retail package with picture tags. Consumers are more willing to make a purchase decision when the product is displayed with a high-quality label. Bailey Nurseries offers tags for every variety we offer, making it easy for you to make the package complete. Give your product line the finished look it deserves and consumers the information they crave. I 3

4 FOR GROWERS INTRODUCING JUMPSTARTS TM DEVELOPED BY GROWERS, FOR GROWERS You asked, and we delivered! Introducing a new production solution tailored just for growers: JumpStarts. Meeting demand for just in time delivery just got easier with our new potted liner program called JumpStarts. We developed this jumbo-sized shrub liner with one thing in mind speed: Now you can keep your inventories in line and plant when you want, not when you have to. Key facts about JumpStarts : Available in 15-count trays Tray size: x Plug width: 3.9 Plug depth: 4.2 Hexagonal plug designed to Available throughout growing season inhibit root circling 4 I

5 Racked and ready to go! JumpStarts can ship small package carrier (boxed), half racks (24 flats) or full racks (48 flats). What makes JumpStarts so special, you might ask? We have years of testing and learning to back up our promise. Plus, we have used these liners in our own production for years, so we know that they work! Struggling with the excess plastic of individual potted liners is no longer a hassle as our product comes in full 15-count trays, allowing you to plant them when you are ready. Compared to our previous potted liner program, now you can bring JumpStarts in virtually year-round because we know the planting season doesn t just happen in spring. Most importantly, JumpStarts trays are custom designed to inhibit root circling and maximize transplant success. Why is this? Each cell is configured with a custom hexagonal design, meaning no more lost time in production waiting for root development. Are you ready to give your production a boost? Try JumpStarts today! With many of our brands such as First Editions and Easy Elegance becoming more and more popular, we are excited and proud to offer growers a new solution to bolster production. Plus, we offer an extensive line of other popular shrubs, vines, and roses, too. Simply put, your goal is to produce the best product as quickly as possible. We feel the same way. We have used these liners in our own production for years, so we know they work! Dave Gross, Greenhouse Production Manager I 5

6 FOR GROWERS ROOTED IN YOUR SUCCESS When you buy bareroot products from Bailey Nurseries, you are getting the best in consistent performance, value and investment for both short and long-term profitability. We take time to ensure that every plant we harvest is of exceptional quality and high performance. Here are a few of the ways: Growing conditions Multiple growing locations throughout Minnesota, Washington and Oregon allow us to take advantage of the best environmental conditions possible. Propagation We excel at this critical first step in the production process, allowing us to control the liners we need. Consistency Most of our bareroot products are started in-house, and we take over 10 million softwood cuttings per year. Seeding We maintain seed beds for seedling understocks in Minnesota and Oregon. TRAINING Our people make the difference. Experienced field technicians do all of our pruning and grafting by hand. Undercutting We have used this process for years to build healthy fibrous root systems while creating a dense, well-branched top on items such as sugar maple and honeylocust. It is proven to ensure premium quality and is where the designation PDQ (Performance Designed Quality) originated. High standards Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry (5 clump) We make sure every plant we grade not only meets, but exceeds the American Standard for Nursery Stock, a level that over the years the industry has come to call The Bailey Grade. 6 I

7 GROWING THE BEST Our Hydrangea paniculata trees continue to get rave reviews. Here is a quick look into how we produce these beautiful plants. Hydrangea VaniLla Strawberry field - year 1 Hydrangea VaniLla Strawberry Field - year 2 YEAR 1 YEAR 2 YEAR 3 Plant rooted cuttings in the field and allow to grow as a shrub. Stake and train into whips. Prune off all branches except dominant leader. Shape and develop head with goal of reaching our 4 grade. ENDLESS PERFORMANCE Endless Summer BloomStruck blooming at a young age in our one-year field in Sauvie Island, OR. Having multiple growing locations gives us tremendous flexibility, ensuring that we grow each product in the best environment possible. Shane Brockshus, General Manager -West Coast Production I 7

8 FOR GROWERS TREE GRADING WHIP Top generally has 1 year of growth Typically has no branching Suggestions for success: Excellent balled and burlapped field liner Allows the grower to determine where branching should begin and have complete control on the end result Input costs reduced Finishing times can vary, depending on production cycle ONE YEAR TOP TREES 1yr designation class within branched and light branched categories Boasts young wood with viable dormant buds that train as a leader or produce wellspaced branches Allows you to prune and train trees to production requirements LIGHT BRANCHED TREES Missing a branch at the node and are not symmetrically branched PLANT NOTE: The Light Branched grade is a great option for growers that would like to line out trees. Suggestions for success: Great balled and burlap field liner Branching already started. Finishing times similar to branched trees Lower input costs than fully branched stock Container production liner when production cycle is approximately one year or longer TRANSPLANT TREES (TT) Wholly produced at Minnesota Bailey locations; whips or branched trees are root pruned and transplanted to a new location for 3 4 additional years to build caliper Root pruning and careful spacing encourage a compact, fibrous root system, a heavier head and better branching PLANT NOTE: Transplant trees are ideal for street plantings and landscape projects where larger trees are preferred. 8 I

9 The Bailey Grade One thing is certain: when you purchase bareroot trees and shrubs from Bailey Nurseries, you have access to a broad assortment of consistently high-quality plants. You can also be certain that the grade of Bailey product is comparably higher than the guidelines set by the American Standard for Nursery Stock. Each year, we hand-grade every individual tree and shrub harvested from our fields so that we can produce and deliver the best quality, most consistent product possible. Our standards are high for a reason: we want to earn your business, ensure your success and keep you coming back! Because in the end it is all about your sell-through and profitability, goals we constantly have in mind when growing for you. SHORT BRANCHED TREES A select grade from the light branched category, where branching is well-balanced, but with branch length that simply does not fulfill branched category requirements for that specific variety PLANT NOTE: The Short Branched grade applies to a select group of varieties that include: Acer platanoides Crimson Sentry, Quercus Regal Prince and Syringa reticulata cultivars. Suggestions for success: Excellent balled and burlapped field liner Great container production liner when production cycle is approximately one year or more Similar to light branched where branching has already been determined, meaning less production inputs for the grower BRANCHED TREES Generally has a top that has been growing for at least 2 years, and has a straight central leader with symmetrical lateral branching PLANT NOTE: Many varieties are topped after the first year to encourage branching. By the time they are graded as branched trees, they will be much fuller and have improved branching, which is a great quality for garden centers and growers. Suggestions for success: Excellent balled and burlapped field liner when looking to reduce the production cycle. Best for growers looking for quick production Structurally complete, finished product without soil Container production liner when production cycle is less than one growing season PDQ Trees (Performance Designed Quality) Typically a two-year top that has been undercut while dormant before its final season in the field Undercutting generates a more compact, fibrous root system and more compact head PLANT NOTE: For growers, PDQ grade trees are ideal for potting and field lining, as they transplant better due to less stress, and are less likely to incur breakage during handling. This makes the final retail product more appealing with fuller foliage and sturdier branches for transporting. Suggestions for success: Excellent balled and burlapped field liner when looking to reduce the production cycle. Best for growers looking for quick production Structurally complete, finished product without soil Container production liner when production cycle is less than one growing season I 9

10 FOR GROWERS GRADES BY HEAD SIZE Globe or Upright Types Clump Trees Weeping Types For Globe Peashrub and Lilac Standards: #1 Heavy and #1 will have a caliper of 7/8 or larger with heads of at least 8 #1 Light and #2 may have calipers less than 7/8 Clump form trees have multiple (3 or more) stems Some clump varieties, including most birch, are formed by combining several individual rootstocks or seedlings and allowing them to grow together to form the clump Other varieties are produced by taking a single rootstock or seedling, cutting it back to a few inches above the ground, and then allowing multiple stems to grow and form the clump For Weeping Crabapple and Flowering Cherries: #1 Heavy and #1 will have a caliper of 7/8 or larger #1 Light and #2 grades may have a caliper under 7/8 PLANT NOTE: Weeping Peashrub Standards and Weeping Pussy Willow have a less vigorous growth habit and will have slightly smaller caliper and head size than other weeping varieties of the same grade. PLANT NOTE These grades are determined by growth habit in relation to caliper and head size. For Garden Centers: #1 Heavy and #1 grades are typically fuller trees with even heads All #1 Heavy trees will have 6 or more branches and #1 grades will have 4 5 branches For Growers: #1 Light and #2 grades are less full trees that are well-suited to lining out. They may have uneven heads or shorter and fewer branches that can be pruned and grown to its larger, more retail-sellable size Tim Vogel, Department Head - Minnesota Inventory 10 I

11 SHRUBS GRADING As is true with all Bailey bareroot products, our shrub and rose grades follow the American Standard for Nursery Stock as the minimum acceptable size, but consistently have greater body and heft than is required. You can be confident that every order is hand-graded to ensure a dependable adherence to our Bailey Grade standards. Though there is a wide variation in shrub types, it is fairly simple to break down the general grading options for Bailey shrubs. Keep in mind that our grades are very generous, so even a smaller grade like a 6 shrub could have canes at the 12 mark and be considered 6. We strive for consistency, plant heft and high-quality bareroot product that exceeds our customers expectations, and carry that through our grading process. CANE GRADES CROWN GRADES Most varieties are graded based on their cane height and heft. At Bailey Nurseries, we examine each plant individually to ensure that they not only hit the height requirement for its specific grade, but also exceeds that designation. For example: A 6 shrub grade requires 2 canes well above the 6 mark and a 12 shrub grade requires 3 canes well above the 12 mark Cane grades increase in 3 increments: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 2, 2 ½ designations Crown grades are sized at the ground level, meaning that there are no measurements. Crown grades are designated relative to the crop and the amount of bud break expected, which will determine the size of the plant as it begins to grow. Designations include: #1, Medium and #2. Crown grade varieties include: Buddleia, Caryopteris, Hydrangea arborescens, Hydrangea macrophylla, certain honeysuckle, Tiger Eyes Sumac, Sambucus and Vitis 12 shrub 12 6 shrub Each shrub must show increased body and heft to qualify for the larger grade. For example, even if a plant has the required 12 canes, it must be heftier than a 6 grade, or it will be downgraded to 6. #1 Medium #2 PLANT NOTE Certain shrubs are graded based on width versus cane height. Similar to cane height-graded material, the height must support the width in order to be considered at the designated grade. For example, a plant with 18 width must be supported by a 15 height, or it will be downgraded to a 15 grade. Width-graded shrubs include: Jade Carousel Barberry, Green Carpet Dogwood, Sundrop Spiraea and Miniglobe Honeysuckle. Vickie Pondell, Department Head - Minnesota Bareroot Storage I 11

12 FOR GROWERS ROSES GRADING #1 ROSE #1½ ROSE #2 ROSE These roses general have at least 3 canes, and branched not higher than 3 from the well-balanced crown A #1 graded rose will typically fill out a #2 container in 6 8 weeks These roses generally have at least 2 canes plus help, and branched not higher than 3 from the well-balanced crown A #1 ½ graded rose will typically fill out a #1 container in 6 8 weeks, or a #2 container in 8 10 weeks These rose generally have a minimum of 1 cane of a substantial caliper, plus help A #2 graded rose will typically fill out an 8 pot in 6 9 weeks PLANT NOTE Roses are cut back prior to shipping: Shrub roses are cut back to 8 Climbing roses are cut back to 14 Container Sizes for Bareroot Product Determining what size container to plant your bareroot product will greatly influence its success as a finished product. Use this chart as a general guide for sizing, but keep in mind that, there can be variation based on root system size, age of the plant and the length of time that the plant will be grown in the pot. TREES #7 POT to #10 POT 7 10 shade trees #10 POT 8 1 shade trees #15 POT to #25 POT 1 1/4 1 1/2 shade trees #25 POT 1 1/2 and larger shade trees SHRUBS #1 POT 9 and smaller grade shrubs 3 shrubs, shade trees #2 2 6 and smaller, graded POT #3 POT shrubs #5 POT fruit trees #7 POT shrubs 7/8 and smaller 4 shrubs 12 I

13 BAREROOT PLANTING TIPS Another important factor in planting success is placement in the container, and this differs for shrubs and trees. For Shrubs: If you can see the original soil line from field planting, use that as a marker for where to container plant. The crown should be right at the soil line. For Trees: Because of the evidence connecting planting depth to stem girdling roots, proper tree planting depth is important. It is recommended to plant the root flare at the soil level. FOR BEST RESULTS Always prune for a good root-to-top ratio. You want to prune your top to match your root mass. This is especially important for trees. For product that has a smaller root mass, prune the top back aggressively to keep the plant balanced. For Roses: Roses can be planted similar to shrubs, with the crown right at the soil line. When planting bareroot products into containers, there are a few key things to keep in mind: No matter if you re planting trees or shrubs, root pruning is one of the most important things. Never cram roots into the container, but rather root prune strictly to fit into the designated container. I 13

14 FOR GROWERS BAREROOT CARE TIPS Receiving and Handling Bareroot When your shipment arrives, check for any major breakage. Keep in mind that minimal breakage is absolutely normal during the shipping process; just prune small breakages off as you process your shipment. Do not allow roots to dry out at any time. Keep them moist by watering down well and covering with straw, hay or tarpaulin. Soaking them in a water tank for a couple of days will also ensure proper hydration and performance. Keep the shipment out of sun, wind and freezing temperatures, and immediately transport your shipment to a root cellar or refrigerated storage space. ARE YOU PLANTING OR POTTING SOON? If your bareroot plants are to be planted or potted very soon, you may store plants in as cool and humid of a building as can be found, as long as they are protected from wind and frost. WILL YOUR PRODUCT BE PLANTED SOME TIME IN THE FUTURE? Plants may be heeled in for a longer period of time in sand, sawdust or wood chips. The materials must cover the roots completely and be watered in very well so that no roots are exposed to the air. Be sure to store your bareroot plants in a cool and humid building, such as a barn or garage. Pruning Bareroot Stock: General Guidelines: Any broken roots should be removed If the root system is not fibrous enough to support the top of the plant, thin the top so that the roots can support it You can lightly thin branches for shaping, but be sure that there is a good root-to-top ratio For fruiting varieties, thin some of the branches and cut the rest back about five inches Roses should be cut back to eight inches IS YOUR BAREROOT STOCK FROZEN? Frozen bareroot product should not be handled until it is thawed. This process should be done slowly, preferably at temperatures just above freezing. 14 I

15 Bareroot Sweating What is Sweating? Sweating is the process of waking up bareroot product to prepare it for planting or potting. The process itself is straightforward and easy to manage: Lay the plant material to be sweated on its side and cover with wet packing material such as straw or shingle tow Cover with a sheet of plastic Periodically check to ensure the bareroot material is staying moist and at a temperature between 45 and 70 F PLANT NOTE: Sweating should be done in a building or, if outdoors is your only option, in the shade. Once the buds begin to swell, usually within a few days, the plants are ready to line-out or pot. Be sure that your newly sweated plants move into warm, humid conditions. If they go into conditions with low humidity and/or subfreezing temperatures, the success rate will be less reliable. If you follow these guidelines, you will have a great and consistent crop. The foundation of our business started with bareroot, and we are committed to ensuring our customers success within this product category. Kevin Johnston, General Manager - Midwest Production Which Varieties Need Sweating? Most tree and shrub varieties handle bareroot winter storage very well, but some varieties buds become quite dormant and hard during storage. These varieties require sweating to encourage breaking bud and leafing out: birch, hackberry, oaks, hawthorn and ironwood. Hydration Technique Greenhouse Forcing Depending on the size or accessibility of your facility, an alternative to sweating is through controlled hydration. If you do not have access to a greenhouse with space for sweating, or if you need to prepare these difficultto-break varieties in your fields or a remote location, hydration can work well for you. Place the roots of your bareroot product into a tank or pond for hours prior to potting or lining out to give the plant a jump-start. Be sure to follow the environment guidelines above. If you have a polyhouse, you can help those hard-tobreak-bud varieties develop with the high humidity and temperatures without sweating. After potting, the warm and humid environment forces the plant material to leaf-out. Other varieties such as willow, pears, ginnala maple, barberry, variegated and Pagoda dogwood, spreading cotoneaster, tamarix, trumpet vine and roses are slow to break, but do not require sweating. However, they do require being potted or planted in high humidity and warm temperatures, such as a polyhouse or greenhouse with almost 100% humidity. I 15

16 FOR GROWERS FINISHING TIMES Experience the Bailey Advantage at Every Growing Stage Selecting the right liner to fit your production can be challenging at times. At Bailey Nurseries, we are continuously adjusting our practices to find the best solution for finishing quality product. Finishing times can also vary depending on what part of the country you are in. For example, growers in the Northeast and Midwest have a much shorter growing season than those in the Pacific Northwest and Southeast. This makes liner selection very important to ensure the product you are growing gets to market on time. First Editions Cabernet 3-6 Bareroot PLANTED IN EARLY SPRING FINISH LATE SUMMER (75 DAYS) JumpStartsTM 1 YEAR AND A FLUSH 2 YEARS 9 Bareroot PLANTED IN EARLY SPRING - FINISH EARLY FALL 12 Bareroot PLANTED IN EARLY SPRING - FINISH EARLY FALL Container upshift PLANTED IN EARLY SUMMER FINISH LATE SUMMER Endless Summer BloomStruck 6-8 WEEKS Bareroot 8 WEEKS 10 WEEKS 8 upshift 6-8 WEEKS 8 WEEKS Easy Elegance Super Hero Bareroot 8-10 WEEKS JumpStarts TM WEEKS 16 I

17 First Editions Vanilla Strawberry Bareroot 8-12 WEEKS/ FINISH LATE SUMMER 6 Bareroot 12 WEEKS 12 Bareroot 12 WEEKS / LATE SUMMER 18 Bareroot 5 MONTHS 12 WEEKS JumpStarts TM WEEKS / FULL SEASON 18 MONTHS Container upshift 4 MONTHS First Editions Amber Jubilee Bareroot 8-10 WEEKS/ MID SUMMER FINISH 6 Bareroot 12 WEEKS / MID JULY 12 Bareroot 12 WEEKS / LATE SUMMER 18 Bareroot 12 WEEKS / LATE SUMMER 12 WEEKS JumpStarts TM WEEKS 7 MONTHS Container upshift 5 MONTHS / LATE SUMMER 6 MONTHS / MID TO LATE SUMMER Please use these examples as a guide for your own production, keeping in mind the average growing conditions for your region. Each example shown is based on Midwest production timing. For even more detailed culture sheets and more varieties, please download from I 17

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