Nursery Layout and Its Management

In horticulture, the term nursery represents an area for the rearing of plants. The nursery layout should be planned as per the requirements and convenience of the buyers. It is where all sorts of plants are grown and kept for transporting, for using them as stock for budding, grafting, and other methods of propagation or sale. 

Nowadays, a nursery is no longer just a place where plants are grown but also where flowers, seeds, and other accessory materials such as fertilizers, implements, etc, are sold. So the area for a nursery can range from as small as a private garden or large enough for commercial use. Regardless, the principles behind the planning and management remain the same. 

Site and Nursery Layout

The nursery should be established on a raised ground with a minimal chance of waterlogging; otherwise, it could damage the seedlings or plants. A land or area having established plants is preferred over open ground because semi-shady conditions are one of the main requirements for a nursery. 

The nursery should be easily accessible to visitors and vehicles, with good transportation facilities for easy movement of materials and plants. 

Protection

Nursery should be well protected by providing walls or barbed wire fences surrounded by theory hedges against any pilferage or cattle damage. When the nursery is located as a part of a garden, the view should be cut off from the rest of the garden by a shrubbery or hedge line or a screen. 

Cars should also be taken against the hot and cool winds and severe storms by planting tall trees around the nursery, which will act as a wind break. 

Light

Light is an important factor for the proper management of a nursery. There should be shady, semi-shady and open places for different types of plants having different light requirements. In general, semi-shady conditions are necessary for most of the nursery plants, especially during the summer months. 

Again, one should be careful not to plant a large number of evergreen broad-leaved trees, which will result in dense shade. So, a combination of evergreen and deciduous plants should be planted inside the nursery area so that during winter, an appreciable amount of sunlight can be provided to the nursery plants. 

During summer months, if required, temporary sheds with bamboo structure can e made. Coconut leaves can be easily utilized as a shading material. Too much shade during the monsoon will also spoil the plants, and care must be taken that the plants get the sunlight for at least a few hours. 

The seedling beds should be constructed in open space so that they can be seen when required and the damage caused by drips from overhanging branches can also be avoided. 

Water

While selecting a site for a nursery, the foremost consideration should be given to the availability of freshwater from a permanent source. The source of water should be within the nursery area or adjacent to it. 

The water should be free from high concentrations of salts. As during the summer, daily watering will be necessary to keep the plants in fresh and turgid conditions. Provision for the supply of water in abundance shall have to be made before the establishment of a nursery. 

Hence, several water taps or water reservoirs (cistern, well, pond, etc.) should be provided throughout the nursery area. 

For large commercial nurseries, provision of pumps with the regular supply line should be installed. Hose pipes will be very helpful for covering a large area within a short time. 

Drainage

A proper damage system is another essential item for the successful management of a nursery. Raised seedling beds are safe from the possibility of waterlogging. Construction of drainage channels at regular spacing will take out the excess rainwater within a short time. 

Paths and Walks

A proper network of paths and walks made of cinder, musam, or cement is desirable. The paths should connect all places and corners of the nursery. A minimum width of one meter is to be provided for paths so that wheelbarrows can be used conveniently. From a commercial point of view, the total area allocated for making paths should not be very large. 

Construction of Beds

Raised beds are generally constructed for raising seedlings. It is always better to construct the bed with side walls made of brick. For annuals, vegetable and herbaceous plants, the bed may be of 6m x 1.5m x 30cm in size. 

Seedlings of trees and shrubs may be raised on a similar raised bed or in beds of greater depth. A shallow groove can be made on the upper surface of brickwork for spreading insecticides to repel ants, etc. 

Before filling the bed with soil, a layer of sand (15 cm) should be placed as a drainage layer. But in tree seedling beds, a layer (15 cm) of brick bats (2 cm dia) followed by a layer (15 cm) of coarse sand should be placed. 

Rest to be filled up with the compost consisting of two parts loamy soil and one part each of sand and leaf mould. For protecting tender seedlings from scorching sun or rainwater, arrangements of shade should be made over the beds. 

Materials like hogla and polythene are usually used. To support the shutter, iron bars lying on iron posts should be fixed along the length of the bed. The middle bar should be somewhat higher than the other two to have the necessary slope on both sides. 

Potting Line

When plants are to be kept for more than one year in the nursery, it is necessary to prune the shoots and roots of the plants at least once during the monsoon. The plants should be lifted out from the bed, and after a day or two, they may be replanted in the ground after pruning of shoots and roots. 

Rooted saplings having a firm earth ball around the roots may be directly planted in rows in a potting line. The pots are buried in a semi-shady location, ie, under the partial shade of trees. 

The length of the potting line may vary according to available space. But the width in no case should exceed 1.5 m, and it will facilitate different cultural operations like weeding, watering, etc.

Some space should be provided between the two potting lines. The boundary of the potting line can be made of bricks. 

Potting Shed

A potting shed is essential for various purposes, like storing soil and compost for potting plants, etc. A shed open on 3 sides is generally constructed. On the open sides, a low wall about 1 m high should be raised to get protection from rain. The floor of the potting shed should be above the level of the ground. 

Store House

A shed house is used for storing implements, fertilizers, and other materials. It is one of the necessities in a nursery. 

Greenhouse

For rearing the indoor house plants in a proper way, a well-equipped greenhouse is always necessary. Besides, freshly transplanted plants can be kept in the greenhouse for establishment. 

A greenhouse can be constructed with iron angles and coir nets. The roof can be covered with light shading materials to provide extra shade to the plants during summer. A small lily pool inside the greenhouse will add beauty to the greenhouse and also help to keep the internal atmosphere more moist than that of outside. 

Compost Pits

Leafmould is an important component for seed and pot compost. The compost pit should be constructed near the potting shade, and it will facilitate the collection of compost for storage purposes. It is better to make at least 2 pits so that the rotted refuse may be used in alternative years. 

Showroom and Sales Counter

For exhibiting and selling al;l kinds of plant materials and various garden materials, a showroom and sales counter are necessary, especially for a large nursery. If the nursery is at a distance from the city, the sales counter may be located in or near the city.

Additional Topics

• Media for Propagating Nursery Plants
• Importance Of Nursery Management, Nursery Raising
• Preparation of Nursery bed