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Florida
Keys Green Thumb Plant Nursery Certification Checklist
Use this checklist guide to reach or exceed goal of 32 points. This will qualify your Garden Center or Plant Nursery for a Florida Keys Green Thumb Nursery.
Must have ** to be a Certified Plant Nursery.
Certifications are based on:
1) Review of plants & products sold at nursery
2) Knowledge of nursery staff of product line and answering clientele questions
3) Display of UF/IFAS/Monroe County Extension materials (each nursery will receive a packet of materials)
Right Plant, Right Place
Provides healthy, vigorous growing plant that can take the Florida Keys growing conditions of limited available water, salty winds, salt intrusion into the root zone, high pH soils, and year round pest problems.
Products:
1) 2 points** Sell a selection of salt tolerant plants (wind borne & storm surge)
1) 2 points Sell a selection of drought tolerant plants
2) 2 points Sell a selection of wind tolerant plants
3) 3 points** Sell a selection of native trees, palms, shrubs, groundcovers and vines
4) 1 point Plants are not root bound (randomly check 10 potted plants)
5) 1 point Plants are weed free (randomly check 10 potted plants)
6) 1 point Plants are disease free (check nursery)
7) 1 point Plants are grown into the pots (randomly check 10 potted plants)
8) 2 points Meets Florida Grades and Standards for plant materials: trees, shrubs, groundcovers, vines & palms as a Florida Fancy or Florida #1
Knowledge:
Salt tolerant plants: What are the symptoms of a salt damaged plant?
What to do for salt laden soils?
Name three highly salt tolerant plants sold in your plant nursery.
Drought tolerant plants: What are the signs of a drought stressed plant?
Name three high drought tolerant plants sold in your nursery.
Wind tolerant plants: What are the symptoms of a wind damaged plant?
Name a brittle wooded tree you sold in your plant nursery.
Florida Grades & Standards:
What are the Florida Grades & Standards?
Name three attributes of a Florida Fancy tree
Name three attributes of a Florida #1 tree
Name three attributes of a Florida #2 tree
Name three attributes of a Cull tree
Remove Invasive Exotic Plants
Invasive exotic plants grow like weeds in the landscape. They are prolific seed producers or shade out natural habitats. Not selling plants that are taking over your landscape such as the plants listed in Category 1 and 2 of the Florida Keys Invasive Exotic Task Force list.
Products:
1) 3 points** Do not sell Florida Keys Invasive Exotic Task Force Category 1 invasive exotics
2) 3 points** Do not sell Florida Keys Invasive Exotic Task Force Category 2 invasive exotics
Knowledge:
Where can a homeowner find information on invasive exotic removal?
What products can homeowners use in treating a cut stump from
resprouting?
Name three alter-natives to replace an invasive exotic tree
Attracting Wildlife
Plant a variety of native trees, shrubs and groundcovers provides more cover and feeding opportunities for birds, butterflies and caterpillars.
Products:
1) 2 points** Sell butterfly attracting plants (larval/nectar)
2) 2 points Sell vines, shrubs, and trees that provide cover, nesting areas or food sources for birds
3) 2 points Sell bee houses, bird baths, puddling stations, bird houses
Knowledge:
Name three native adult butterflies and their nectar plants sources
Name three native caterpillars and their plant food sources
Name three birds and their plant food source
Fertilize Appropriately
Choose a slow release fertilizer that is formulated for the Keys alkaline soils and apply enough to feed the plants but not pollute our nearshore waters. Your fertilizing goals are to feed your plants to grow more or larger blooms, faster growth, greener leaves or more fruit.
Products:
3 points** Sell slow release fertilizers that are appropriate for alkaline soils
2 points** Sell chelated iron (Sequestrene 138, Hampshire 806)
2 points Sell minor element foliar nutritional spray
2 points Sell 8-2-12 palm fertilizer
1 point Sell composted manures
Knowledge:
How should a homeowner apply fertilizer?
What is the guaranteed analysis?
What months should a homeowner fertilize a non irrigated landscape?
Mulching
Apply wood mulches around shrubs, planted beds and covering bare ground can improve the soil fertility, keep moisture near the plant roots, inhibit weed growth and reduce “weed whacker” damage.
Products:
2 point** Sells by-product mulch as pine bark, enviromulch (melaleuca)
1 point Sell non-arsenic red dye mulch
1 point Sell cypress wood by product mulch only
Knowledge:
Why should a homeowner apply mulch around landscape plants?
How deep should the mulch be around landscape plants?
Which is the better mulch choice: pea rock or wood mulch?
Should mulch be placed against a tree trunk or not?
Controlling Yard Pests Responsibly
Identify the insect determine if the insect is harmful (eating your plant) or helpful (eating harmful insects). If no helpful insects are present try: a stream of strong water to knock them off or insecticidal soaps or horticultural oils.
Products:
3 points** Sell horticultural oils
3 points** Sell insecticidal soaps
2 points Sell yellow sticky traps
2 points Sell Bacillus Thuringensis (Dipel, Thuricide)
Knowledge:
Name three beneficial insects and how they control the harmful insect.
Name three harmful insects and what are their least toxic control measures.
What is sooty mold and how to control it?
Watering efficiently
Overwatering depletes our water supply, makes plants prone to pests and adds to stormwater runoff which pollutes our nearshore waters. Lawns should be watered when 50% of the lawn shows signs of wilt and established bedding plants and shrubs can be watered “as-needed.”
Products:
1 point Drip irrigation equipment
1 point Rainbarrels
1 point Rain shut off valves
1 point Water sensors
Knowledge:
What is the best time of day to water plants?
Dollarweed is an indicator plant of an overwatered or underwatered lawn.
What is the establishment period for a 2 inch caliper tree?
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