News

Green industry experiencing shortages

Nurseries and greenhouses this year aren’t prepared for growing demand.

Amy Frankmann, Executive Director of the Michigan Nursery and Landscape Association, says the state’s harsh winters and past economic downturn has affected supplies in the industry.

“Now that demand has increased, we’re finding that our trees and our shrubs that are on a two year to five, six year cycle to growth to maturity, there is a shortage of them.”

She says now that the economy is picking up customers are investing in their landscapes.  While it’s great news for her members, she says customers need to be open to alternative plant varieties.

Frankmann says many plants this spring may still be suffering from winter damage.

“Make sure you do the scratch test where you actually, on a shrub, you take a twig and you scratch on it.”  She tells Brownfield, “If it’s green, if there is any green at all, there’s still life in it.”

The green industry in Michigan is worth nearly $6 billion annually.  Frankmann represents the state’s largest specialty crop industry which includes nurseries, greenhouses, Christmas tree and sod growers as well as lawn and landscaping businesses.

AUDIO: Interview with Amy Frankmann (6:17 mp3):