Join Dean Ricci, owner of Ricci’s Landscape Management, Inc. of Hebron, IN, for a free webinar as he details his company’s vast library of SOP’s that have been developed over the years. This presentation focuses on how clear, well-designed procedures can improve efficiency, consistency, and team performance. This presentation guides participants through the process of creating practical…Read more about Building Strong Operations: Developing Standard Operating Procedures for Green Industry Businesses[Read More]
Resources for landscapes and gardens in the Midwest
Landscape Report
green industry
The Census of Horticultural Specialties, conducted by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), provides the most comprehensive snapshot of the U.S. Green Industry. Released in February as part of the 2022 Census of Agriculture, the 2024 Census of Horticultural Specialties captures detailed information on nursery crops, floriculture, greenhouse production, Christmas trees, and other specialty…Read more about The Green Industry in Focus Part 1: National Highlights from the USDA Census of Horticultural Specialties[Read More]
As we step into a new year, the Purdue Landscape Report team is excited to welcome you to the first newsletter of 2026. Whether you are a long-time reader, a landscape professional, an arborist, a nursery grower, or a homeowner invested in the health and beauty of your landscape, we’re glad you’re here. Each year…Read more about Welcome to the 2026 Purdue Landscape Report[Read More]
The Indiana Green Expo is Indiana’s largest and most comprehensive Green Industry educational conference and trade show serving Indiana and the Midwest. The Indiana Nursery & Landscape Association and the Midwest Regional Turf Foundation sponsor the 2026 Indiana Green Expo (IGE). Unlike some for-profit trade shows, all proceeds from the IGE are used directly to better our…Read more about Indiana Green Expo February 9-11, 2026[Read More]
On September 20, 2025 students from Purdue University’s Field Production of Horticultural Crops and Landscape Contracting and Management classes participated in a day-long field trip exploring several key horticultural sites in central and southern Indiana. The courses, both part of Purdue’s Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, provide students with practical exposure to commercial horticultural…Read more about Purdue Horticulture Students Tour Southern Indiana Green Industry Operations[Read More]
Welcome to the 2025 Purdue Landscape Report! As we embark on a new growing season, our team is committed to providing you with timely, science-based information to support the health and beauty of landscapes across the Midwest. Throughout the season, we will deliver bi-weekly newsletters featuring articles from Purdue faculty and staff across many disciplines….Read more about Welcome to the 2025 Purdue Landscape Report[Read More]
Gardeners are bombarded with sayings like save the stems, leave the leaves, and no mow May. These sayings are rooted in the same goal of protecting pollinators, but often leave gardeners with more questions. Let’s dig into each of the sayings. Save the stems: The first question that often arises from this saying is: “When…Read more about So, the saying goes… Save the Stems, Leave the Leaves, and No Mow May[Read More]
An old saying predicts that March will go out “like a lamb”. Another saying predicts April’s wetness with “April showers bring May flowers”. A lot seems to have happened across Indiana since April began, but March finished the month with below-normal rainfall (except for the northern counties) and above-normal temperatures. Does this describe conditions that…Read more about As the sayings go… (Climate & Weather)[Read More]
Multiple Dates & Locations Indianapolis – Newfields – August 7, 2023 Elkhart – Wellfield Botanic Gardens – August 10, 2023 Evansville – Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden – August 18, 2023 Register here: https://cvent.me/4zyrLe The Purdue Green Industry team is excited to announce three diagnostic training opportunities around Indiana. This event will feature Purdue…Read more about Landscape Diagnostic Training Opportunities in English and Spanish[Read More]
The Indiana Green Expo is Indiana’s largest and most comprehensive Green Industry educational conference and trade show serving Indiana and the Midwest. The 2023 Indiana Green Expo (IGE) is sponsored by the Indiana Nursery & Landscape Association and the Midwest Regional Turf Foundation. Unlike some for-profit trade shows, all proceeds from the IGE are used directly to…Read more about Join us for the 2023 Indiana Green Expo[Read More]
A new community of Green Industry professionals, Women of the Green industry, is inviting you to a free, virtual professional development opportunity on November 1st. Women of the Green Industry was formed to attract and retain more females to the industry by creating networking opportunities, providing education, and build a community of leaders. This group…Read more about Join Women of the Green Industry[Read More]
When transplanting trees, it is important to consider the long-term viability. Since the typical life span of an urban tree is 7-20 years (USDA), proper establishment techniques are very important to decrease this mortality rate. When a tree becomes established, it is much more difficult to correct below ground problems. Root deformations can occur for…Read more about Using Pneumatic Digging Equipment to Correct Root Deformations, Deep Planting, and Compaction on Established Trees[Read More]
The Purdue Turf and Landscape Field Day will be back July 13th! Join us at the Daniel Turfgrass Research and Diagnostic Center on the Purdue University West Lafayette campus. The Purdue Turf and Landscape Field Day is an annual one-day event with the objective of providing professional turf and landscape managers exposure and educational opportunities…Read more about Field Day Returns![Read More]
There are many age-old, philosophical questions that people have been arguing over for many years. What is the meaning of life? Nature or nurture? Do aliens exist? Should I remove the wire and burlap from B&B plant material? The last question has been debated for many years, with almost everyone having a different opinion. There…Read more about Wire Baskets: Leave them or remove them?[Read More]
The indirect effects of the pandemic are continuing to plague the Green Industry. In addition to the on-going, severe labor deficiencies that are plaguing most companies, many plants are in short supply or completely unavailable. In my recent travels, several nurseries and landscapers have discussed some of the specific issues they have been facing regarding…Read more about Green Industry Experiencing Reduced Plant Availability[Read More]
After you have decided on the best species and cultivar (right plant, right place!) for a location, it’s time to inspect the plants from the nursery or garden center. What should you be looking for when inspecting trees prior to transplanting into the landscape? Here are a few: Look for structural defects (Fig. 1). Ensure…Read more about Selecting High Quality Plants[Read More]
Tuesday, April 28th, 2:00 pm (Eastern) To join the meeting via computer: https://purdueextension.zoom.us/j/95573025468 Changes are happening within the Green Industry at a fast pace during the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition to the questions and stress of gearing up for the season, there are many new questions this year, such as: Can your business stay open? …Read more about Current Issues in the Green Industry: Coivd-19 Updates and Resources[Read More]
Day-to-day activities have changed every aspect of businesses throughout the country. The Green Industry is no exception, with changes implemented to maintain safe working environments for employees and their clients while being compliant with the state’s Executive Order. Due to the diversity of services and products that the Green Industry provides, there is no one-size-fits-all…Read more about Green Industry Businesses Share Protocols to Maximize the Health and Safety During the Covid-19 Pandemic[Read More]
As a follow-up to our Horticultural Economist’s, Dr. Ariana Torres, previous research into business and marketing practices of landscape firms across the U.S (https://purduelandscapereport.org//article/2175/), she also co-authored another publication evaluating the business and owner characteristics influencing the adoption of online advertising strategies in the Green Industry. More information can be found below. As more individuals…Read more about Evaluating the Business and Owner Characteristics Influencing the Adoption of Online Advertising Strategies in the Green Industry[Read More]
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