Page 39 - Free State Spring 2023_WEB

FEATURED MEMBER A Carol Kinsley

Abby Farms

bby Farms in Waldorf will passed away in 2017. Eighteen “It’s a pretty big operation, but people
host the MNLGA Field Day this months ago, the entire operation was still do not know we are here. We are
Asummer, on September 13. sold to the Horsey family - Robert, very happy to host the field day to get
The nursery was started 25 years ago Wayne and family. people to see what’s going on here,”
by Denison Landscaping to supply Abby Farms has more than 1,000 Taylor said.
nursery stock for its work, and 13 years acres of farmland in Maryland, with Visitors that day will see a lot of trees.
ago was opened to the trade as a 700 acres in production of trees, “At that time of year, we are pruning
wholesaler and re-wholesaler. There said Justin Taylor, sales manager and planting, getting ready for fall.
are no retail sales.
of the wholesale division. Taylor, We’ll be potting up containers. August
John Denison started Denison who graduated from college with is probably a slower time of year.”
Landscaping in 1973 with a single a degree in political science, took a Abby Farms started using a grow
truck and grew it into one of the summer job at Abby Farms 17 years bag system 10 or 12 years ago. “We
largest nursery and landscaping ago and has been there ever since. auger a hole, put a felt bag in, fill it
businesses in the industry. The “We have about 150,000 trees in the with soil, then plant a tree. It grows in
company ranked 23rd on Lawn & ground and 25,000 above ground the bag. We are able to harvest year-
Landscape’s Top 100 list in 2017, and for spring and summer sales. There round,” Taylor explained. Roots can
31st on Landscape Management’s are about a half million shrubs grow through the felt if left too long,
2020 listing of the industry’s top 150 and perennials in 1- and 3-gallon but most stay confined to the bag.
revenue-generating firms. Mr. Denison containers. The roots don’t girdle, he said. “We

Deakins Run, Tree Growing Facility (continued on next page)

Get Active. Stay Involved. • SPRING 2023 39