Commercial gardens are plots of land used to grow plants and produce. Commercial gardeners may focus on growing crops, such as corn, potatoes, carrots, and tomatoes. Commercial gardeners may also grow ornamental plants.
Some people supplement their food supplies by growing their produce. Others grow plants to generate revenue. The horticulture industry in the United States generated over $13 billion in 2019. Commercial gardeners make a significant financial investment in their gardens, and there are several crucial steps they can take to protect their investment.
Store crops appropriately
Pot planters offer a vital way to protect your plants. The experts with Pots Planters and More offer free shipping and can help you find outdoor planters suited to the crops you grow. Planters must have a drainage hole to prevent plants from drowning. The plant’s roots also need enough space to grow, or the plant may die. Choose between fiberglass planters, metal planters, and resin planters. You can choose between small and large planters and shop for planters with specific colors or textures to suit your commercial garden.
Install a security system
Commercial gardens aren’t immune to crimes such as vandalism and theft. Food shortages, poverty, and high crime rates contribute to the challenges gardeners face. For some, the situation’s so bad that they may lose their entire crop if they don’t pick crops prematurely.
Installing a security system can deter vandals and thieves. Network video recorder (NVR) systems use internet protocol (IP) cameras. These cameras connect to the Internet via Wi-Fi or Ethernet cables capable of transmitting data faster than coaxial cables. The video footage can be stored remotely, which means you aren’t limited by the size of your hard drive when you’re recording security footage. You can also access your cameras remotely and review security footage in real-time. Some systems also allow you to set up alerts so you’ll be notified if there’s a security concern or another type of threat, such as a fire.
With a fish eye camera, you’ll enjoy multiple advantages. Your fisheye lens can zoom in for close-up shots while staying in focus. You can also use a fisheye lens to capture panoramic images, which means you’ll need fewer cameras to monitor your garden. Fisheye lenses have a considerable depth of field. Depth of field refers to the range in the images that’s in focus. A picture with limited depth of field may only have one focal object in focus, while the rest of the image is blurred. Minimal depth of field can be an ideal feature when you’re taking portraits, but for security footage, it’s best to have as much of the image in focus as possible to ensure you can identify people.
Buy crop insurance
People aren’t the only threats to crops. A security system may deter human theft, but it won’t stop wildlife from eating your plants, and it won’t stop hail from landing on your garden. Crop insurance is an insurance option for farmers and commercial gardeners who rely on the income from their crops. Crop insurance compensates you for financial losses caused by issues such as disease and bad weather.
Protect your plants from wildlife
You can prevent wildlife from accessing your garden by installing a fence around your garden. You can also plant barrier plants that shield your crops from wildlife. For example, deer don’t like the smell of lavender but enjoy snacking on roses, which is why lavender plants would make a better barrier plant if you’re attempting to stop deer from accessing your commercial garden. You may also be able to protect your plants with plant covers and use the urine from predators to discourage wildlife from entering your garden.
Protect your plants from insects
Insects can destroy crops. While it’s possible to eliminate insects with insecticide, you may prefer natural solutions instead of chemicals. Plant barriers prevent some insects from accessing crops. You can also deter harmful insects by adding good insects to your garden. Ladybugs, spiders, and ground beetles can deter harmful insects, such as aphids and caterpillars.
There are several steps you can take to protect the plants in your commercial garden. Using appropriate planters will ensure your plants’ health. Installing a security system can deter vandals and thieves. You can also protect your crops with insurance, fences, and plant barriers that deter wildlife and harmful insects.
