Section R68-6-4 - Condition of Nursery Stock(1) Any nursery stock that, in the judgment of the commissioner or an authorized agent, does not meet the minimum indices of vitality in this rule shall be removed from sale.(a) Woody-stemmed deciduous stock, including fruit and shade trees, rose bushes, and shrubs shall have moist tissue in the stem or stems and branches and shall have viable buds or unwilted growth sufficient to permit the nursery stock to live and grow in a form characteristic of the species when planted and given reasonable care.(b) Each rose bush stem shall show moist, green undamaged cambium in at least the first eight inches above the graft. Any single stem on a rose bush not meeting this specification may not disqualify the entire plant provided that a bush may be pruned to comply with the specification if at least two stems meeting the specification remain and the grade designation is changed accordingly.(c) Hardy herbaceous biennials or perennials when in a wilted, rotted, or any other condition indicative of poor vitality may not be sold or offered for sale in Utah.(d) Any bare-rooted or prepackaged woody-stemmed nursery stock having more than two inches of etiolated or otherwise abnormal growth from individual buds may not be sold or offered for sale.(e) Balled and burlapped stock in a weakened condition as shown by dieback or dryness of earthball or foliage, or stock having broken or loose earthballs may not be sold or offered for sale.(f) Stock offered for sale in containers.(i) The container shall be sufficiently rigid to hold the ball shape, protecting the root mass during shipment.(ii) Container Stock. (A) Container stock offered for sale shall be healthy, vigorous, well rooted, and established in the container in which it is sold.(B) The tops of the plants shall be of good quality and in a healthy growing condition.(C) Sufficient new fibrous roots shall have developed so that the root mass will keep its shape and hold together when removed from the container. This shall be shown in each case by the earthball of the stock remaining reasonably intact upon removing it from the container.(iii) Non-established container stock.(A) Non-established container stock offered for sale shall be deciduous stock that shows good top quality and a vigorous healthy growing condition.(B) The potting media shall be capable of sustaining satisfactory plant growth.(C) Evergreen stock may not be offered for sale in containers unless it is well established in the container.Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2021-04, effective 2/8/2021Amended by Utah State Bulletin Number 2022-12, effective 6/8/2022