Windmill cuts temperatures in polytunnels with innovative use of shade

MARCH 2023

What does it take to make a customer truly happy? For Michael Roe, Vice President of Production at Windmill Nursery, it comes down to delivering more than customers expect. By implementing a custom Svensson screen solution, Windmill Nursery was able to significantly reduce temperature and humidity during the hot, humid summer months in Louisiana—improving both crop performance and working conditions.

“It could be a re-wholesaler managing a major project, or a hard-pressed manager at a Home Depot,” Roe explains. “I want to hear that they got exactly what they needed, on time, and that the plants look outstanding. That’s a really happy customer for me.”

A large-scale nursery with diverse markets

Michael Roe has worked at Windmill Nursery for 15 years. The family-owned operation, located just south of Franklinton, Louisiana, represents five generations of nursery experience. Known for its pollinator-friendly, 100 percent neonicotinoid-free plants, Windmill Nursery has grown to serve nearly one-third of the US market.

“Our business is about 10 percent big box stores,” says Roe. “Most of our container-grown shrubs, perennials, trees, and ground covers go to re-wholesalers, along with two garden centers we own and a wide range of independent garden centers.”

A climate challenge in subtropical conditions

When Roe approached Svensson, he was facing a complex climate challenge. “We operate around 200 poly tunnels,” he explains. “To manage cold winters, we dedicate a team of eight people to covering the tunnels in October and removing them again in April.”

While effective against cold, this strategy had drawbacks. “Altogether, it’s about four weeks of labor,” Roe says. “And in Louisiana, we get a lot of rain. When the tunnels come down, rain-sensitive crops like loropetalum and roses are exposed and can suffer damage.”

Building a better polytunnel

According to Svensson climate consultant Paul Arena, the starting point for any project is detailed climate measurement. “We need to understand both the indoor and outdoor climate, day and night,” he explains. “In this case, we went a step further and constructed a new tunnel using a combination of Svensson Solarwoven Ultra and Xsect screens.”

The installation took place during peak summer heat, which made an impression. “It was hot, and we don’t normally build tunnels in the middle of summer,” Roe recalls. “It was definitely an above-and-beyond effort by the Svensson team.”

The custom solution consisted of Solarwoven Ultra as the primary screen, combined with a central strip of Xsect insect screen to improve ventilation and humidity control.

Results that exceeded expectations

The impact of the new tunnel was immediate. “It was incredible,” Roe says. “You could walk into the new tunnel and it would be 20 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than the one next door. It created a much better environment for both people and plants.”

The improved climate significantly accelerated crop development. “We literally shaved months off production time,” Roe explains. “Next season, we’ll skip the one-gallon stage entirely and move straight to three-gallon pots, which will also save on labor.”

Because the tunnel stays cooler, Windmill Nursery can now leave the structure in place year-round. This eliminates the annual four-week labor effort and provides continuous crop protection.

“That was one of our main goals, and it’s worked extremely well,” Roe says. “Even with the ventilating strip of Xsect screen at the top, the mesh is fine enough to keep heavy rain off the plants.”

A solution worth recommending

Would Roe recommend Svensson’s combination of screens and expertise? “Absolutely,” he says. “The product quality is excellent, the team is willing to think outside the box, and the customer service is outstanding. It’s a great team to work with.”