Greenhouse maintenance tips

Greenhouse maintenance is key for any operation. Keeping structures secure and sound is not just to continue operating at max efficiency, but to keep repair costs down and maintain healthy margins.

But how should greenhouse operations approach maintenance? There is no one-size-fits-all approach because every business is different. What is good for, say, a large operation in California growing annuals to sell to big-box stores is not the same for a smaller operation in the Northeast that grows more niche products and sells to local independent garden centers or their own retail operation.

To get insight into maintenance, Greenhouse Management talked to growers from around the United States for their insight. Here’s what they had to say.

Photo: © Parker Michels-Boyce

American Color in Orange, Virginia

Main crops: Bedding plants, annuals

For maintenance, each grower on the American Color team takes on different responsibilities, ranging from cleaning up debris to routine inspections to sanitizing the facilities after a growing cycle is complete.

He also says a key to maintaining the operations’ high standards and keeping everything working as it should is being proactive about upgrades. The belief at American Color is that by upgrading the facility regularly and planning for future needs, it can lessen the need for costly last-minute repairs or upgrades. Sometimes, those kinds of upgrades are unavoidable. But the hope is that more can be avoided than not.

“That all comes from our owner, Ed Van Hoven,” Costamagna says. “He is all about being a forward thinking business. Those investments make our life as growers much, much easier.”

Top photo: ©Mark Madeo; Bottom: ©Yay Images | Adobestock

Neve Brothers in Petaluma, California

Main crops: Cut roses

As a hydroponic rose grower, Neve Brothers specifically works to make sure its system is working at maximum efficiency.

“We have a clear process of how we grow and what we need to do to grow the roses we are known for,” says owner Chris Neve. “So, the key for us then becomes making sure that our inputs are correct and making sure our infrastructure is working as it should. If we do that and put in the hours, we’ll be in good shape.”

To keep everything operating smoothly, Neve says the operation’s growers do frequent water testing to make sure quality is up to par for production. Another key is checking every other component – irrigation equipment, substrate measurements, etc. – to make sure they are where they should be. Another key area is the shipping area, where roses are prepped to be sent to the company’s retail partners.

“We have to keep that area clean and organized at all times,” Neve says. “If not, we risk the whole growing process.”

Bluestone Perennials in Madison, Ohio

Main crop: Perennials

According to Bill Boonstra, the CEO of Bluestone Perennials, a key to greenhouse maintenance is doing it as needed. That has been especially true since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic when he could fill an entire workday simply filling orders and responding to customers inquiries.

As the pandemic went on, the overall approach at Bluestone was to repair the facility as an issue arose. For example, say there was an issue with the greenhouse structure itself, it was repaired right way. Or if there was an issue with the greenhouse covering, it was fixed post haste.

Another key part of their approach was organization. In an effort to maximize the space they had while considering a possible expansion, Boonstra and his team made efforts to organize plants in specific spots and track them digitally with RFID technology. That, he says, made their entire process, from growing to shipping and everything in-between, more efficient.

“It was about making a structure work for you,” Boonstra says. “If we didn’t, we may not have been able to navigate how busy we became.”

Sedan Floral in Sedan, Kansas

Main crops: Bedding plants

Primarily serving independent garden centers and landscape customers, Sedan Floral grower Kathy Cude says that as far as maintenance goes, nailing the basics is key.

“Seasons almost run from one to another,” she says. “We are always finishing one season and going right into the other, so there is no real downtime.”