The Important Role of Trial Gardens in the Horticulture Industry
Trial gardens are an essential part of the horticultural world. These gardens serve a dual purpose: they are both a battleground against the elements and disease, and a stage to exhibit plant performance. They also function as a powerful marketing tool for nurseries and breeders, who can support their claims with substantiated data.
What is a Trial Garden?
At its core, a trial garden is a space where plants are grown specifically to test their performance. These gardens are not designed for ornamental purposes like public display gardens, nor are they purely functional like production fields. Instead, trial gardens are living laboratories that help evaluate how plants behave in real-world conditions. Depending on the trial garden contract and the breeder’s goals, plants will remain in the trial for two to five years, sometimes even longer.
Why Does Plant Testing Matter?
Whether testing a new cultivar or comparing species side by side, trial gardens offer real-world insights that simply can’t be replicated in controlled environments. Plant testing matters because of the need to learn as much as possible about a plant before breeders can confidently recommend where to plant it, how it will behave, and whether it’s ready for the market. Listed are some examples of the information needed to make good selection decisions.
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These traits ensure the plant is not only beautiful but also reliable and marketable.
Who Uses Trial Gardens?
Trial gardens are used by many parts of the horticultural industry, and for different reasons.
- Plant Breeders – To assess whether new introductions reliably exhibit the desired traits.
- Growers and Nurseries – To evaluate regional adaptability and market potential.
- Retailers and Landscapers – To identify reliable, high-performing plants for customers.
- University Researchers – To generate data for the broader horticultural community.
Benefits of a Trial Garden
Annual trial gardens at Michigan State University during 2024. | Heidi Lindberg, MSU Extension
Trial gardens receive specific care to ensure accurate and reliable data collection. There are regular maintenance practices that happen, like weeding, fertilizing, and watering. Depending on the objectives of the trials, some plants may be pruned, disbudded, or receive treatments for pests or diseases. Some key benefits include:
- Risk Reduction – Poor-performing varieties are identified before full-scale production.
- Better Decision-Making – Trial data informs breeding, marketing, and purchasing strategies.
- Brand Integrity – Ensure that brands meet the high standards that customers expect.
- Continuous Improvement – Feedback from trials and growers supports refinement and innovation.
For additional information on the importance of trial gardens, including the difference between public and private trial gardens, please read the original article hosted on the Bailey Nurseries website.
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