Questions with Frédéric Gagnon

What are some of the components that make The Nursery Mix ideal for container tree and shrub production?

We created a blend that is perfectly appropriate for the larger container that will be used in outdoor production. The Nursery Mix is a better option than common bulk products because of its high-quality components such as coarse grade Canadian sphagnum peat moss and our EcoPeatPlus+^®, a natural wood fiber.

EcoPeatPlus+ provides a combination of good drainage characteristics after a large rain event, as well as good water retention capacity, which is particularly helpful in the heat of the summer, for example. It’s also an excellent choice for growers who use overhead irrigation.

The Nursery Mix is extremely stable because the EcoPeatPlus+ is harvested from centuries-old peat bogs, which create anaerobic and acidic conditions. Because of this stability, minimal shrinkage will occur, so growers will not need to keep adding more substrate to the containers, which saves money, time, and labor, and maximizes your investment.

Other components include calcitic limestone, dolomitic limestone, a wetting agent, and a starter charge. That is a complete product!

How can The Nursery Mix be customized for the different needs of growers?

Depending on the characteristics that the grower needs, customers can select the peat grade, request a specific pH, a different moisture content, a nutrient charge, an organic-approved input, biologicals, or disease-suppressive products, for example. We have several custom components such as mycorrhizae, a controlled-release fertilizer, and organic additives.

We recommend customizing the mix to your specifications because when a grower tries to blend other components on site, the uniformity won’t be the same as our process. You get maximum efficiency by having uniformity in the mix. We have the equipment to do so.

Moreover, we employ excellent quality control measure to make sure your customized mix meets your specifications.

Photos courtesy of lambert

What are some other benefits of The Nursery Mix?

The stability of The Nursery Mix also inhibits the composting process, therefore almost 100% of the nitrogen goes to plant production. Composting also causes shrinkage, which can occur quickly, especially in the Southern part of the U.S. where it is warm and humid. Because our mix doesn’t compost, you have a consistent amount of substrate in the container from one growing season to the next. Moreover, by avoiding that composting process, way fewer fine particles which would end up at the bottom of the container and clog the drainage holes.

The Nursery Mix is available in compressed towers or bales for shipping, and because they’re compressed, there’s always 9 yards in a tower. It’s always the same, consistent volume and there is no compaction during shipping as with regular bark mixes.

Another benefit is Lambert’s quality control department, which pull samples and analyzes them during each production cycle. Only top-notch products will leave our yard.

For more: www.lambertpeatmoss.com