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The Container Tree Nursery Manual

Volume Two

Containers and Growing Media

Chapter 1 - Containers: Types and Functions 1

2.1.1 Introduction 3

2.1 .2 Characteristics of Containers for Forest

Nurseries 5

2.1.3 Types of Containers 20

2.1.4 Chemical Root Pruning 32

2.1 .5 Conclusions and Recommendations 35

2.1.6 Literature Cited 36

Chapter 2 - Growing Media 41

2.2.1 Introduction 43

2.2.2 Functions of a Growing Medium 44

2.2.3 Characteristics of an Ideal Growing

Medium 45

2.2.4 Components Used in Formulating Growing

Media for Tree Seedlings 58

2.2.5 Selecting a Growing Medium 67

2.2.6 Procedures and Considerations for Custom

Mixing Growing Media 73

2.2.7 The Importance of Proper Growing

Medium Compaction 79

2.2.8 Conclusions and Recommendations 81

2.2.9 Literature Cited 82

Index of Common and Scientific Names 87

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Preface

Work on the first comprehensive technical manual on the 

production of container tree seedlings, "How to grow tree seedlings 

in containers in greenhouses" by Richard W. Tinus and Stephen E. 

McDonald, was begun in June 1975 and was published by the 

USDA Forest Service as a General Technical Report (GTR RM-60) 

in May 1979. This manual achieved worldwide acceptance as the 

primary reference on the culture of container tree seedlings. "How 

to grow tree seedlings in containers in greenhouses" was originally 

intended as an interim publication and has been reprinted several 

times; however, it is currently out of print.

In 1982, plans were begun for writing a new container nursery 

manual based on "How to grow tree seedlings in containers in 

greenhouses" but adding several new chapters. The writing team 

consisted of Thomas D. Landis, Richard W. Tinus, Stephen E. 

McDonald, and James P. Barnett. Realizing that container nursery 

management had changed considerably over the previous decade, 

the team surveyed container tree nursery practices in North 

America in 1984. The Container Nursery Survey was distributed to 

135 container nursery facilities in the United States and Canada. 

Response to the survey was excellent: 78 of 135 surveys were 

returned. Information from the survey has been used to determine 

writing priorities and emphasis, and information from it has been 

included in many of the chapters in this manual.

The Container Tree Nursery Manual consists of a series of 

separate, sequential volumes. Each volume contains chapters on 

closely related subjects concerning the production of tree 

seedlings in containers. The volumes can be accumulated and 

used as a complete nursery manual, or can be used separately by 

specialists needing information on a particular subject. Because 

several subjects must be discussed in more than one volume there 

will be some redundancy in the Manual. Such repetition is justified, 

however, because most readers will be using the Manual as a 

technical reference and will not be reading the entire text.

The Container Tree Nursery Manual is structured around an 

outline of numerical organizational headings that allow the reader 

to quickly locate a specific subject without referring to an index. 

The general outline of volume and chapter titles is as follows:

Volume One Planning, Development, and Management 

Chapter 1 Initial Planning and Feasibility Assessment 

Chapter 2 Site Selection 

Chapter 3 Nursery Layout and Growing Facilities 

Chapter 4 Nonstructural Equipment and Controls 

Chapter 5 Auxiliary Equipment and Buildings 

Chapter 6 Shadehouses, Bedhouses, and Tunnels 

Chapter 7 Nursery Management 

Chapter 8 Troubleshooting Container Nursery Problems

Volume Two Containers and Growing Media 

Chapter 1 Containers: Types and Functions 

Chapter 2 Growing Media

Volume Three Container Nursery Environment 

Chapter 1 Temperature 

Chapter 2 Humidity 

Chapter 3 Light 

Chapter 4 Carbon Dioxide

Volume Four Seedling Nutrition and Irrigation 

Chapter 1 Mineral Nutrients and Fertilization 

Chapter 2 Irrigation and Water Management

Volume Five The Biological Component: Nursery Pests and 

Mycorrhizae 

Chapter 1 Disease and Pest Management 

Chapter 2 Mycorrhizae

Volume Six Seedling Propagation

Chapter 1 Stock Types and Growing Schedules

Chapter 2 Seed Factors and Presowing Treatments

Chapter 3 Sowing and Other Propagation Methods

Chapter 4 Establishment Phase

Chapter 5 Rapid Growth Phase

Chapter 6 Hardening Phase

Volume Seven Seedling Processing, Storage, and

Outplanting

Chapter 1 Processing and Storage

Chapter 2 Handling and Transportation

Chapter 3 Outplanting
This 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 knowledge 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 geographical areas, because of 

the wide variation in individual species responses, container 

nursery managers will need to adapt these principles and 

procedures to their own nursery situation. There is no substitute for 

individual experience, and recommended cultural practices should 

be tested before being implemented on an operational scale.

Trade names are used throughout the Manual but are only 

provided as examples, and no endorsement of specific products, or 

the exclusion of equally suitable products, is implied. The mention 

of specific pesticides is intended only for general information and 

should not be construed as an endorsement. Because of frequent 

changes in pesticide registration and labeling, the reader should 

check with local authorities to make sure that an intended use is 

both safe and legal. Remember that pesticides can be harmful to 

humans, domestic animals, desirable plants, and fish or other 

wildlife if they are not handled or applied properly. Use all 

pesticides selectively and carefully, following the label directions. 

Follow recommended practices for the disposal of surplus 

pesticides and pesticide containers.

The Container Tree Nursery Manual was organized into separate 

volumes to allow for revisions and updating. The authors request 

that readers bring any errors in the text to their attention and also 

offer suggestions for improvement. Submit any suggestions to 

Thomas D. Landis, USDA Forest Service, State and Private 

Forestry, PO Box 3623, Portland, OR 97208.

Many people have been instrumental in the writing of this manual, 

and the authors would like to thank them for their suggestions and 

encouragement. Technical review of such a large publication 

involves considerable work, and the authors are extremely grateful 

for the invaluable service provided by the following nursery 

professionals for volume two:

Chapter 1 Containers: Types and Functions

Mr. Kent L. Eggleston, USDA Forest Service, Coeur d' 

Alene Nursery, Coeur d' Alene, ID

Ms. Laurie Lippitt, California Department of Forestry, L.A. 

Moran Reforestation Center, Davis, CA

Dr. Gerald A. Waiters, USDA Forest Service, Pacific 

Southwest Station, Bedding, CA

Chapter 2 Growing Media

Mr. David Simpson, British Columbia Ministry of Forests 

and Lands, Kalamalka Research Station, Vernon, BC

Dr. Steven Grossnickle, British Columbia Research 

Corporation, Vancouver, BC

Mr. E. Van Eerden, Pacific Regeneration Technologies, Victoria, 

BC

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