Commercial Nursery & Greenhouse

The commercial greenhouse and nursery industries are a significant GREEN industry in Ottawa County. Over 2,890 acres of nursery stock are grown in the county. Ottawa county has approximately 97 greenhouse businesses with over 11.7 million square feet of production (2016 USDA NASS Nursery and Floriculture Report). MSU Extension provides educational programs, information and materials to these industries.  Educational programs include the West Michigan Winter Nursery Meeting, the Online College of Knowledge, Energy efficiency greenhouse tours, greenhouse meetings on timely topics, and electronic newsletters sent to greenhouse and nursery owners and or growers. If you have specific questions related to greenhouse or nursery issues please feel free to contact:

Heidi Lindberg
Greenhouse and Nursery Educator
Phone number: (616) 994-4701
Fax number: (616) 994-4579
Email address: wollaege@msu.edu

Articles and Documents

Michigan Garden Plant Tour:  Top Trial Performers 
Links to photos of annuals to be considered by Michigan greenhouse growers.

Greenhouse*A*Syst for Michigan Producers

The Michigan Agricultural Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) is a confidential, voluntary and non-regulatory environmental assurance program for farms in Michigan. It allows participants to chart a path towards environmental assurance for their greenhouse system.  This online booklet provides guidance on requirements for MAEAP verification in greenhouse systems.

Crop*A*Syst for Nursery and Christmas Tree Producers

The Michigan Agricultural Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) is a confidential, voluntary and non-regulatory environmental assurance program for farms in Michigan. It allows participants to chart a path towards environmental assurance for their greenhouse system.  This online booklet provides guidance on requirements for MAEAP verification in nursery and Christmas tree systems.

Sanitation Strategies for Greenhouse Growers
Document outlines sound management practices greenhouses can observe to reduce the risk of importing and spreading plant diseases in their operation.

Water Use Reporting MDARD Website
Visit this website for the required reporting form if you are an irrigator with the capacity to pump 70 gallons per minute or more.

Greenhouse Insect Management (Revised January 2018)
[LH2] The latest version of Dr. David Smitley’s insecticide recommendations for floriculture crops. It contains insecticides recommended for all the major greenhouse insects that occur in Michigan.

Greenhouse Disease Management (Revised January 2018) 

The latest version of Dr. Mary Hausbeck’s disease management recommendations for floriculture crops. It contains insecticides recommended for most major greenhouse diseases that occur in Michigan.

MSU Resources

MSU Enviro Weather – Get the latest weather data from one of our 88 weather stations from across Michigan.

MSU Pesticide Education Web Pages - Site has the Pesticide applicator training manuals, details about applicator certification and the calendar of meetings and exam sites for applicator certification.

MSU Plant and Pest Diagnostics –Educational site on submitting samples of plants, weeds, insects and nematodes for diagnosis. It contains the required submittal form and other resources to help you solve plant problems.

MSU Floriculture Website
[LH5] The MSU floriculture and greenhouse crop production website provides greenhouse growers with resources, a list of experts, and articles on important topics. It also provides information about the online greenhouse grower professional development program (College of Knowledge), the Michigan Garden Plant Tour, and the Michigan Environmental Assurance Program.

MSU Floriculture Team – The link to the campus and field staff who serve the floriculture and greenhouse industries of Michigan.

Resources from other Universities or Organizations

Electronic Grower Resources Online (e-GRO) - Electronic Grower Resources Online, or e-GRO (e-gro.org), is an award-winning collaborative effort of floriculture, greenhouse, and controlled-environment Extension specialists and educators from around the country with a goal of providing timely, research-based information. The team creates free online resources, calculators, and learning tools. There are currently 18 academic faculty, specialists, and educators from 11 universities, including 3 from Michigan State University, who contribute to the webpage content and the e-newsletter (e-GRO Alerts).



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Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Quentin Tyler, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.

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