How do I document my plant knowledge before I retire from my nursery?

Begin with the calendar. For each plant group, write what you do in each season, when you do it and how you know it is time. Many of your best decisions rest on observation, such as the colour of a leaf or the feel of the soil, so describe the signs you look for and not only the dates. Photos and short videos taken during real work capture detail that writing misses.

Add the problem history: which varieties struggle in which beds, which pests return, what you tried and what failed. Record the sources, too. Note the growers and suppliers you trust for cuttings, seed and stock, and why. If any plant names or propagation rights come with restrictions, ask your lawyer and an intellectual property adviser how they pass to a new owner.

Test the notes. Ask your successor, or a trusted employee, to follow a page without your help and tell you where it confuses them. Revise it. Keep the collection in one place, and make a copy that does not depend on a single computer. If you plan a gradual exit, set a schedule of check-ins so questions can be answered after you step back.

Key takeaways

• Record the signs you watch for, not only the dates.
• Capture problems and failures along with what works.
• Have your successor test the notes while you can answer.