The inventory cycle at a plant nursery is directly governed by nature, specifically the dormancy and active growth phases of different plant types. Nurseries must anticipate local planting conditions months ahead of time, ensuring they have the right stock—trees, shrubs, annual flowers, and vegetable starts—available exactly when the weather permits planting. This process is inherently seasonal, with the availability of plants depending heavily on their species and the specific climate zone. Inventory arrivals are staggered across the entire calendar year to maintain a constant supply of fresh, healthy material.
Timing for Bare Root and Dormant Plants
The earliest inventory arrivals are reserved for plants shipped in a state of dormancy, most notably bare-root stock. These include deciduous trees, shrubs, roses, and many perennial varieties which are dug up from growing fields without any soil around their roots. Harvesting occurs in late fall or early winter after the plants have fully entered dormancy, a natural suspension of growth induced by shorter days and cooler temperatures.
These dormant plants are packed with moist materials like sawdust or wood shavings and kept in cold storage to prevent them from breaking dormancy prematurely. Nurseries receive these shipments, representing the earliest selection of woody plants, generally from late December through March. Planting bare-root stock while the ground is still cool allows the root system to establish itself before the plant begins to leaf out in the spring.
When Active Growing Stock Arrives
The spring season dictates the largest inventory cycle for most nurseries, driven by the demand for actively growing plants that provide immediate color or food production. This stock includes annual flowers, vegetable transplants, hanging baskets, and potted perennials. The arrival of these tender plants is strategically linked to the local average last frost date, with nurseries in warmer climates receiving them earlier than those in colder regions.
Initial arrivals in early spring focus on cool-season crops, such as pansies, snapdragons, cabbage, and lettuce, which can tolerate a light frost. The bulk of the spring inventory, including heat-loving annuals like petunias and warm-season vegetable starts such as tomatoes and peppers, arrive after the danger of a killing frost has passed. Nurseries manage this surge by receiving new shipments in “waves” from April through June, ensuring the plants are at their peak freshness and ready for immediate planting. For example, a nursery in a mild zone like Austin, Texas, may see major stock in March, while one in the Midwest may not fully stock up on tender plants until May.
The constant influx of new material is necessary because many popular spring items, such as bedding plants, have a rapid growth cycle and a short window of peak appearance. By receiving plants progressively, nurseries avoid having too much stock that quickly grows past its ideal retail stage. This continuous restocking helps maintain the quality and appeal of the inventory while meeting variable demand influenced by local weather patterns.
Late Summer and Fall Inventory Cycles
Following the peak spring rush, nurseries transition their inventory to cater to the second major planting season in late summer and fall. This cycle typically begins in late August and continues through October, focusing on plants that benefit from being established in warm soil before winter. This period marks the arrival of items specifically for fall aesthetics and planting.
The new inventory includes traditional fall favorites such as hardy chrysanthemums, which provide vibrant color as summer annuals fade, and cool-season vegetable starts like kale and broccoli. This is also the primary time for stocking deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs, as autumn planting allows the root systems to develop over winter before the stress of summer heat. Fall is the exclusive season for the arrival of spring-flowering bulbs, such as tulips and daffodils, which require a period of cold stratification in the ground to flower the following year. As the season progresses, nurseries begin to clear out the remaining summer stock, often marking down prices to make space for the final winter-interest and holiday-related inventory.