Container Tree Nursery Manuals

Volume 2: Containers and Growing Media

USDA Forest Service, Agricultural Handbook 674. 1993

Thomas Landis, Richard Tinus, Stephen McDonald and James Barnett

[Volume 1] [Volume 2] [Volume 3] [Volume 4] [Volume 5] [Volume 6]

In this volume, the authors describe the variety of containers and growing media available and help the nursery manager choose the right combinations for their nursery operations.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1-Containers: Types and Functions Pages 1-40

• Introduction
• Characteristics of Containers for Forest Nurseries
• Types of Containers
• Chemical Root Pruning
• Conclusions and Recommendations
• Literature Cited

Chapter 2-Growing Media Pages 41-86

• Introduction
• Functions of a Growing Medium
• Characteristics of an Ideal Growing Medium
• Components Used in Formulating Growing Media for Tree Seedlings
• Selecting a Growing Medium
• Procedures and Considerations for Custom Mixing Growing Media
• The Importance of Proper Growing Medium Compaction
• Conclusions and Recommendations
• Literature Cited

Index of Common and Scientific Names

The manual is based on the best current knowledge on container tree nursery management and should be used as a general reference. Recommendations were made using the best information available at the time and are, therefore, subject to revision as more information becomes available. Much of the information in this manual was developed for western and southern conifer seedlings. Although the authors attempted to include information for species from other geographic areas, because of the wide variation in individual species responses, contain nursery managers will need to adapt these principles and procedures to their own nursery situation.