1. Grading Balled & Burlapped (B&B) Plants Commercial Plant Production

2. Why Grade Plants? Standardized system of sizing and describing all types of plant material. Standardized system of sizing and describing all types of plant material. Facilitates the buying and selling of nursery stock. Facilitates the buying and selling of nursery stock. The American Standard for Nursery Stock is published by the American Association of Nurserymen (AAN). The American Standard for Nursery Stock is published by the American Association of Nurserymen (AAN).

3. American Standard for Nursery Stock Includes grading specifications for… Includes grading specifications for… Trees and shrubs Trees and shrubs Coniferous evergreens Coniferous evergreens Broadleaf evergreens Broadleaf evergreens Boxwood, Rhododendron, Holly, etc. Boxwood, Rhododendron, Holly, etc.

4. American Standard for Nursery Stock Roses Roses Young plants Young plants Fruit trees Fruit trees Small fruits Small fruits Understocks Understocks Seedling trees and shrubs Seedling trees and shrubs Bulbs, corms, and tubers Bulbs, corms, and tubers Perennials Perennials Christmas trees Christmas trees

5. Grading Shade & Flowering Trees – Types 1 & 2 Acer rubrum, Fraxinus, Gleditsia, Quercus, Aesculus, Tilia, etc. Acer rubrum, Fraxinus, Gleditsia, Quercus, Aesculus, Tilia, etc. Graded by caliper. Graded by caliper. ¼ or ½ inch increments. ¼ or ½ inch increments. ½”, ¾”, 1”, 1 ¼”, 1 ½”, 1 ¾”, 2”, 2 ½”, 3”, 3 ½”, 4”, etc. ½”, ¾”, 1”, 1 ¼”, 1 ½”, 1 ¾”, 2”, 2 ½”, 3”, 3 ½”, 4”, etc. Caliper measured: Caliper measured: At 6” above the ground for grades up to and including the 4” caliper size. At 6” above the ground for grades up to and including the 4” caliper size. At 12” above the ground for larger grades. At 12” above the ground for larger grades.

6. Trunk differences between older and younger trees Younger Older Trunk flare

7. Grading Shade & Flowering Trees – Types 3 & 4 Small upright trees (type 3) and small spreading trees (type 4). Small upright trees (type 3) and small spreading trees (type 4). Acer campestre, Cercis, Crataegus, Malus, Magnolia, Pyrus, etc. Acer campestre, Cercis, Crataegus, Malus, Magnolia, Pyrus, etc. Up to 6 feet tall graded by height at 1-foot intervals. Up to 6 feet tall graded by height at 1-foot intervals. At 6 feet and over graded by caliper. At 6 feet and over graded by caliper. 2’, 3’, 4’, 5’, ¾”, 1”, 1 ½”, 1 ¾”, 2”, 2 ½”, 3”, etc. 2’, 3’, 4’, 5’, ¾”, 1”, 1 ½”, 1 ¾”, 2”, 2 ½”, 3”, etc.

8. Grading Calipers

9. Multi-stem Trees Also called clump form or shrub form trees. Also called clump form or shrub form trees. Occur naturally in many genera of plants. Occur naturally in many genera of plants. Can be created in the nursery. Can be created in the nursery. Cutting back single-stemmed plants. Cutting back single-stemmed plants. Planting multiple liners in the field. Planting multiple liners in the field. Planting multiple liners in containers, growing-on, then transplanting to the field. Planting multiple liners in containers, growing-on, then transplanting to the field.

10. Grading Multi-stem Trees Acer ginnala, Alnus, Amelanchier, Betula, Malus, Prunus cistena, etc. Acer ginnala, Alnus, Amelanchier, Betula, Malus, Prunus cistena, etc. Graded by height. Graded by height. Measured from ground level to the average, uppermost point of growth. Measured from ground level to the average, uppermost point of growth. 1 foot intervals to the 8 foot grade, then 2 foot intervals thereafter. 1 foot intervals to the 8 foot grade, then 2 foot intervals thereafter. 4’, 5’, 6’, 7’, 8’, 10’, 12’, 14’, 16’, 18’, 20’, etc. 4’, 5’, 6’, 7’, 8’, 10’, 12’, 14’, 16’, 18’, 20’, etc.

11. Grading Deciduous Shrubs To simplify grading, shrubs can broken down into 2 basic types: To simplify grading, shrubs can broken down into 2 basic types: Dwarf and semi-dwarf shrubs. Dwarf and semi-dwarf shrubs. Strong growing shrubs. Strong growing shrubs.

12. Dwarf and semi-dwarf shrubs Graded by height. Graded by height. Grade in 3-inch series to 18 inches and in ½ foot series over 18 inches. Grade in 3-inch series to 18 inches and in ½ foot series over 18 inches. 12”, 15”, 18”, 2’, 2 ½’, 3’, 3 ½’, 4’, 4 ½’, etc. 12”, 15”, 18”, 2’, 2 ½’, 3’, 3 ½’, 4’, 4 ½’, etc.

13. Strong growing shrubs Graded by height. Graded by height. Grade in 6-inch series up to 2 feet; over 2 feet, grade in single feet up to 6 feet; over 6 feet, grade in double feet. Grade in 6-inch series up to 2 feet; over 2 feet, grade in single feet up to 6 feet; over 6 feet, grade in double feet. 12”, 18”, 2’, 3’, 4’, 5’, 6’, 8’, 10’, 12’, 14’, etc. 12”, 18”, 2’, 3’, 4’, 5’, 6’, 8’, 10’, 12’, 14’, etc.

14. Quality Considerations for Shrubs For each type of shrub, specifications require a certain minimum number of canes (stems) for each grade. For each type of shrub, specifications require a certain minimum number of canes (stems) for each grade. For example type 1 shrubs, graded at 18 inches, should have not less than 5 canes 18 inches and up. For example type 1 shrubs, graded at 18 inches, should have not less than 5 canes 18 inches and up. 18”

15. Grading Coniferous Evergreens Come in a variety of shapes. Come in a variety of shapes. Graded by either spread or height. Graded by either spread or height. ‘Techny’ Arborvitae

16. Prostrate Evergreens Graded by spread. Graded by spread. Measurement should be average of plant and not the greatest diameter. Measurement should be average of plant and not the greatest diameter. 9”, 12”, 15”, 18”, 2’, 9”, 12”, 15”, 18”, 2’, 2 ½’, 3’, 3 ½’, 4’, 5’, 6’, 7’, 8’, etc. Prostrate evergreens grow wider than tall Overhead view NO!

17. Semi-spreading Evergreens Graded by spread. Graded by spread. 9”, 12”, 15”, 18”, 2’, 9”, 12”, 15”, 18”, 2’, 2 ½’, 3’, 3 ½’, 4’, 5’, 6’, 7’, 8’, etc. Grows wider than tall

18. Broad-spreading Evergreens Graded by height. Graded by height. 9”, 12”, 15”, 18”, 2’, 9”, 12”, 15”, 18”, 2’, 2 ½’, 3’, 3 ½’, 4’, 5’, 6’, 7’, 8’, etc. Height equals spread

19. Globe-shaped Evergreens Graded by height. Graded by height. 9”, 12”, 15”, 18”, 2’, 9”, 12”, 15”, 18”, 2’, 2 ½’, 3’, 3 ½’, 4’, 5’, 6’, 7’, 8’, etc. Height equals spread

20. Broad upright Evergreens Graded by height. Graded by height. 12”, 15”, 18”, 2’, 12”, 15”, 18”, 2’, 2 ½’, 3’, 4’, 5’, 6’, 7’, 8’, 9’, 10’, 12’, 14’, etc. Grows taller than wide

21. Cone type Evergreens Graded by height. Graded by height. 12”, 15”, 18”, 2’, 12”, 15”, 18”, 2’, 2 ½’, 3’, 4’, 5’, 6’, 7’, 8’, 9’, 10’, 12’, 14’, etc. Grows taller than wide

22. Columnar Evergreens Graded by height. Graded by height. 12”, 15”, 18”, 2’, 2 ½’, 3’, 4’, 5’, 6’, 7’, 8’, 9’, 10’, 12’, 14’, 16’, 18’, etc. 12”, 15”, 18”, 2’, 2 ½’, 3’, 4’, 5’, 6’, 7’, 8’, 9’, 10’, 12’, 14’, 16’, 18’, etc. Grows taller than wide

23. Broadleaf Evergreens Graded like evergreens. Graded like evergreens. Spreading types graded by spread. Spreading types graded by spread. Taller growing types graded by height. Taller growing types graded by height. Buxus x ‘Green Velvet’

24. The End