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Industry News

Zone creep

The USDA’s Agricultural Research Service and Oregon State University’s PRISM Climate Group have updated the Plant Hardiness Zone Map for the first time since 2012. Half the country shifted to the next warmer half-zone, while the other half of the country remained in the same half-zone. The national differences in zonal boundaries are mostly a result of incorporating temperature data from a more recent period. While it’s tempting to peg plant hardiness zones updates to global climate change, they’re not necessarily reflective of broader climate shifts. That’s due to the highly variable nature of the extreme minimum temperature of the year, as well as the use of increasingly sophisticated mapping methods and the inclusion of data from more weather stations. A hard copy version isn’t available, but you can download and print copies for free at bit.ly/phzm23.

HRI’s lessons in leadership

Photo © Horticultural Research Institute

The Horticultural Research Institute is accepting applications for the Leadership Academy class of 2025 until Feb. 9.

The one-year program offers an opportunity for green industry leaders to enhance their leadership skills, broaden their horticultural knowledge and network with industry professionals. It consists of in-person training sessions and virtual online classes and meetings.

Applications will be evaluated on demonstrated leadership qualities; past evidence of or estimated future potential for contribution to the green industry; ability to consider the broader interests of the community; the applicant’s character and ability to grow because of the experience; and personal and employer commitment to the program. Preference will be given to candidates with at least five years of leadership experience and seven years of relevant industry work experience.

Interviews will be in March and April 2024, with class selection and notification in May 2024 and the class announcement at Cultivate’24 (July 13-16). There’s no fee to apply, and program tuition is covered by AmericanHort. For more information, visit HRILeadershipAcademy.org.

Deadly blooms book

A new nonfiction book from Marta McDowell — a gardening writer and New York Times-bestselling author who teaches landscape history and horticulture at the New York Botanical Garden — explores the influence of gardening on mystery novels, according to the book’s publisher. Gardening Can Be Murder: How Poisonous Poppies, Sinister Shovels, and Grim Gardens Have Inspired Mystery Writers (216 pages) — released in September by Timber Press —explores the horticultural connections to crime fiction.“With their deadly plants, razor-sharp shears, shady corners, and ready-made burial sites, gardens make an ideal scene for the perfect murder. But the outsize influence that gardens and gardening have had on the mystery genre has been underappreciated,” the publisher writes.

Monrovia moves

Monrovia is expanding its New Plants program team, allowing the company to trial and test more plant material and bring more new plants into the market.

Fela Lafi is the new plant trials manager. She joins the plant hunting team and will manage plant trials at all Monrovia nurseries, work with data collection and explore new plant testing opportunities with breeders. Lafi joined Monrovia in 2022.

Photos © Monrovia

Georgia Clay is now the plant selections manager, focusing on new plant choices, bringing selections to market, managing intellectual property and developing breeder relationships. She will also continue her consumer outreach, participating in Monrovia’s webinars and plant care videos. Clay joined Monrovia in 2019.

Clay and Lafi have coordinated on the selection of many of the new 2024 plant introductions and are also working with several breeders around the world to bring new plants into trial next year.

RailScapes Vertical Gardening Clips

Plant Traps: A tool-free clip to help consumers create multi-tiered balcony gardens on railings, RailScapes can suspend up to 15-pound plants at any elevation on the railing; clip onto metal, wood and vinyl railings; and can be used indoors or outdoors.

Based in Pittsburgh, the company was founded in 2021 by Deborah Holtschlag. RailScapes Vertical Gardening Clips launched in the spring of 2023 and retail for $24.95. To learn more, visit planttraps.com.

Magic Gardener Biological Disease Control

Photo © Mycorrhizal Applications

 

Mycorrhizal Applications: A broad-spectrum biological fungicide and bactericide used to control or suppress diseases caused by plant pathogenic microbes for residential home and garden use, Magic Gardener uses a new and higher potency strain of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens.

Naturally found in the soil, Bacillus controls common consumer plant problems, including downy mildew, leaf spot, gray mold, rusts, powdery mildew and more. Magic Gardener can be used on a variety of home garden and residential plants, such as ornamentals, fruits, vegetables, herbs and turf.

Magic Gardener is also listed with the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI), an international nonprofit organization that determines which products can be used in organic production under the USDA National Organic Program. With one in three respondents to the National Gardening Survey reporting that they choose to buy mostly or all organic products, an OMRI listing is a top selling point for many customers.

Magic Gardener is made in the USA, has a two-year shelf life and features vibrant packaging. Customers will find Magic Gardener easy to use, with a clear label and tips for success.

Magic Gardener is sold in 4-ounce, easily stackable containers and complements Mycorrhizal Applications’ other retail-ready products, such as Pyganic, DeBug and Actinovate. To learn how to obtain Magic Gardener or other retail products for garden centers, reach out to your local Mycorrhizal Applications sales representative.

Promotional opportunities for February

From the National Garden Bureau, check out these upcoming holidays and day-of recognitions in February for promotional opportunities to advertise in your garden center.

First Friday: National Wear Red Day

2: Groundhog Day

3: Feed the Birds Day

5: Western Monarch Day

14: Valentine’s Day

17: National Cabbage Day/Random Acts of Kindness Day

19: Presidents’ Day

20: Cherry Pie Day (If you sell cherry trees, make that known and offer suggestions on the best time to plant a cherry tree for your area.)

22: Cook a Sweet Potato Day (Conduct a class or write a blog on how to grow sweet potatoes, with suggested recipes.)

27: National Strawberry Day (Promote your strawberry plants or seeds.)

28: Floral Design Day (Promote cut flower plants for the garden.)

NEXT MONTH’S ISSUE:

California Spring Trials previews: It’s that time of year again. We will be offering you a visual guide to standout plants in California before the Spring Trials kick off.