Project Number: 1230-21000-132-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Jun 27, 2006
End Date: Dec 31, 2008

Objective:
Collecting, establishing, maintaining, evaluating, documenting, interpreting, and introducing living collections of woody and herbaceous landscape germplasm to develop and maintain garden plantings with high aethetic, scientific, and educational value. Incorporating optimal environmentally-sound horticultural practices that increase overall garden management efficiency. Disseminating scientific and practical information to floral and nursery crop industries public gardens, the increasing number of visitors to the USNA and the USNA web site, and the general public interested in gardening. Developing IPM strategies and technologies for floral and nursery crops. New and unusual landscape plants will be distributed to the horticulture industry.

Approach:
Obtain select landscape plants with emphasis on elite plants by conducting plant exploration, exchange with other institutions, or through cooperation with USNA Research Unit. Coordinate plant exploration and evaluation activities with other groups within USDA/ARS and affiliated university sites such as those at Columbus, Ohio; Ames, Iowa; Miami, Florida; and Beltsville, Maryland. Increase accessibility to the collections both physically and by expansion of information on the USNA web site of value to homeowners and nursery professionals, particularly to document the pivotal national role of the USDA and ARS in ornamental plant development and horticulture. Establish, document, evaluate and highlight plants within garden settings for access by others. Utilize Integrated Pest Management principles in solving pest and disease problems. Incorporate automatic irrigation systems into gardens to conserve water. Prepare articles, participate in symposia, classes and tours to disseminate results of evaluations, IPM practices and irrigation methods.