Look inside the crown of the tree at the trunk form. Grade the tree according to the drawings and captions here. Trees with one dominant trunk are graded Florida Fancy. Those with double or multiple trunks are given a lesser grade depending on the extent of the defect. Circle the appropriate grade below based on trunk form only.

Check branch arrangement. Grade the tree according to the drawings and captions here. Trees with optimum branch arrangement are graded as Florida Fancy. Those with branch arrangement defects are given a lesser grade according to the extent of the defects. Circle the appropriate grade below based on branch arrangement only.
Note: All conifers (e.g., pines), magnolias, hollies, loblolly bay, bald-cypress and other narrow, upright trees are exempt from Step 2.

Choose the appropriate tree matrix type based on the natural form of the tree as it should appear in the nursery.

Measure the caliper of the trunk. Caliper:_________________

Locate the caliper of the tree in the left column of the appropriate matrix chart chosen in Step 3. (For multistemmed crapemyrtle, cattley guava, wax privet, wax myrtle or other similar trees, find the container size or root-ball diameter of the plant you are grading and ignore the caliper.) Grade the tree according to the minimum crown spread diameter. A tree must have a spread equal to or larger than the minimum for the grade. Circle the appropriate grade below based on minimum crown spread only. 

Grade the tree according to structural uniformity of the crown see here. Circle the appropriate grade below based on structural uniformity only. Skip Step 6 when grading weeping yaupon holly and other trees with a naturally irregular canopy.

What is the lowest grade determined in Steps 1, 2, 5 and 6?

Grade: _______________

If any of the following statements (a, b, c, d, e, f, or g) are true, reduce the grade determined in Step 7 by one.

a) The tree with a trunk caliper larger than 1 " requires a stake to hold it erect.

b) The root ball or container is undersized (consult any tree matrix).

c) The root ball on a B&B tree is not secured tightly with pins, twine or wire.

d) The tree is excessively root-bound.

e) There is evidence that one or more large roots (greater than 1/5 the diameter of the trunk) were growing out of the container or grow bag.

f) The crown is thin and sparsely foliated. Many evergreen oaks and other trees are thin and sparsely foliated in late winter / early spring just prior to the spring growth flush. Recently dug field-grown trees might also be thin. Do not downgrade for this.

g) More than 5% of branches have tip die- back.

Grade: _________________

If two of the following statements (a-j) are true, reduce the grade determined in Step 8 by one.

If more than two of the statements (a-j) are true, reduce the grade by two.
Note: It takes only one true statement to reduce a Florida Fancy to a Florida #1. Three true statements are required to reduce a Florida Fancy to a Florida #2.

a) Tree height is shorter than the minimum height or taller than the maximum height specified in the appropriate matrix chart. Plants such as wax privet and other small multistemmed specialty plants should not be downgraded if they are shorter than the minimum height.

b) Flush cuts were made when pruning branches from the trunk.

c) Branch stubs are left beyond the branch collar. A branch stub can be removed and not reduce the grade.

d) Open trunk wounds or other bark injury is evident. (Open trunk wounds must be less than 10% of the trunk circumference and less than 2 inches tall on Florida #1 trees. An open pruning scar on the trunk resulting from removing a branch is not considered an open trunk wound.)

e) Graft unions are not complete.

f) More than the lower 40% of the trunk is free of branches. (The portion of the lower trunk with shortened, temporary branches is not considered part of the clear trunk; it is considered part of the canopy.)*

g) More than 5% of the leaves are chlorotic; or more than 5% of the canopy exhibits damage from pests and diseases.
Note: A Florida #1 cannot have more than 10% of the leaves chlorotic or more than 10% of the canopy damaged from pests or diseases.

h) Most leaves are smaller than normal.

i) There is bark included between the trunk and a major lateral branch or between main trunks.

j) Trunks and/ or major branches are touching. Secondary branches on major branches may touch each other.

Final Grade: _______________

* If planting specifications require that a larger portion of the trunk should be clear of branches, do not downgrade for Step 9f.

The tree is a Cull if it has a root greater than 1/10 the diameter of the trunk circling around more than 1/3 of the trunk in the top half of the root ball. Circling roots can be found on the periphery of the root ball or inside the root ball. Those inside the root ball result from being in a smaller container when the tree was younger. Circling roots less than 1/3 the trunk diameter can be cut at the point where they begin to circle. Following cutting, the tree is no longer a Cull.