US (MI): Walters Gardens expanding, updating greenhouse

Walters Gardens is expanding and updating its greenhouse. In total, 73,584 square feet (6,853 m2) of new greenhouses will be installed in three different phases spanning a period of three years. "It is a significant investment that enables us to keep providing our customers the quality liner material that they demand," says Troy Shumaker, COO at this perennial liner producing company.

The new shipping space.

Shipping space
The first phase was completed on January 4th and consisted of 2 DeCloet Greenhouse Structures totaling 8,064 sqft (749m2). These structures will be utilized for shipping space. "This will provide us with a controlled environment in which we will be able to efficiently assemble and hold customers’ orders while maintaining high quality plant material prior to shipping," says Shumaker.

The new shipping space.

Replacing aging propagation facilities
The second phase will begin in April 2016 and will consist of a DeCloet Greenhouse Structure totaling 20,160 sqft (1,872 m2). "This new structure will have heated floors, diffused glass roof with an anti-reflective coating, boom watering, a low pressure misting system to create evaporative cooling and either HPS or LED lighting," he says. This structure will replace one of their aging propagation facilities and its completion is scheduled in fall of 2016.

The new shipping space.

Replacing outdated propagation facilities
The third phase will begin in April 2017 and will consist of 3 more DeCloet Greenhouse Structures totaling 45,360 sqft (4,214 m2). "These new structures will have heated floors, diffused glass roof with an anti-reflective coating, boom watering, a low pressure misting system to create evaporative cooling and either HPS or LED lighting." This phase will complete the replacement of their existing outdated propagation facilities and its completion is scheduled in fall of 2017.

Aerial view of Walters Gardens.

Walters Gardens
Walters Gardens was established in 1942. With over 200 employees, 1,500 acres of land, and 500,000 square feet of greenhouse space, they grow 18 million perennial plants which are shipped annually to independent garden centers, wholesale growers, landscapers, and municipalities across the US and Canada. Each year, approximately 100 new items are added to their catalog of over 1,000 bare root and plug perennial liners.

For more information
Walters Gardens
Troy Shumaker
Email: tjs@waltersgardens.com
www.waltersgardens.com