While pollinators are getting a lot of attention the green industry is increasingly looking for ways to support wildlife to shore up our ecosystem.
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OSU Ornamental Plant Breeding Program developing new cultivars for city settings
Lloyd Nackley and Carolyn Scagel Since 2009, the The Oregon State University Ornamental Plant Breeding Program has been dedicated to developing seedless varieties of resilient… Continue Reading…
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Nurseries making it easier for homeowners to create urban habitats for critters
While pollinators are getting a lot of attention the green industry is increasingly looking for ways to support wildlife to shore up our ecosystem.
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Subsurface drip irrigation tape emerges as an effective option
Twenty-five years ago, subsurface drip irrigation was little more than a niche concept in the nursery industry. It was being used in a select number… Continue Reading…
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Farwest seminars cover a range of topics
There’s a little something to pique everyone’s interest this year at the 2024 Farwest Show in Portland, Oregon, August 21-23, as far as seminar topics… Continue Reading…
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A pledge to America and a call to action
I find myself sentimental toward our nation and its promise to the world. I feel pride and apprehension for our daring experiment of a form… Continue Reading…
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Helping others succeed distinguishes our industry
One of my favorite things about this association and this industry in general, is everyone’s willingness to help and guide one another. As my husband,… Continue Reading…
Plant Features
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With new cultivars and year-round coloring, Nandina has taken root
They can be a fiery red, a pretty pink or a deep, dark burgundy. Some are golden or amber depending on the season, while others nearly glow in soft peach tones.
![](https://diggermagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Thuja-Annas-Magic-Ball-DSC07877-copy-150x150.jpg)
New shrub offerings won’t outgrow smaller spaces
Landscape designers face the challenges of smaller lot sizes and density of homes when choosing front-yard shrubs. Growers and nurseries are meeting these challenges with more shrub options that stay true to size and will not outgrow the spots where they are planted.
Nursery Operations
![](https://diggermagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Subsurface-3-150x150.jpg)
Subsurface drip irrigation tape emerges as an effective option
Twenty-five years ago, subsurface drip irrigation was little more than a niche concept in the nursery industry. It was being used in a select number of ornamental tree operations, according to Kevin Stewart, director of marketing for Rivulis, a leading manufacturer of subsurface drip irrigation systems. Today, as water resources have become scarce and energy […]
![](https://diggermagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Grande-150x150.jpg)
Nurseries ride the next wave of automation
As labor costs soar and the need for efficiencies increases, Oregon nurseries are embracing technology like never before.
![](https://diggermagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Thuja-Annas-Magic-Ball-DSC07877-copy-150x150.jpg)
New shrub offerings won’t outgrow smaller spaces
Landscape designers face the challenges of smaller lot sizes and density of homes when choosing front-yard shrubs. Growers and nurseries are meeting these challenges with more shrub options that stay true to size and will not outgrow the spots where they are planted.
Oregon Is Nursery Country
![](https://diggermagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Index-art-150x150.jpg)
Welcome to Nursery Country 2023
With a record $1.37 billion worth of sales in 2022, Oregon’s nursery industry continues to grow. And if you want to know why, you can ask the families that are driving the growth.
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John Holmlund Nursery
Nathan and Angie Holmlund continue their dad’s recipe for success: focus on people and plants.
![](https://diggermagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Drakes-Crossing-2-2-150x150.jpeg)
Drakes Crossing Nursery
Jan Hupp and his wife Cindy use a team approach to nourishing his mother’s thriving dream.
![](https://diggermagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Bentwoodlead-1-150x150.jpg)
Bentwood Tree Farm
Laura and Tom Dufala have taken their passion for cloud-pruned trees and turned it into a thriving business
Recent Columns
A pledge to America and a call to action
By Jeff Stone
I find myself sentimental toward our nation and its promise to the world. I feel pride and apprehension for our daring experiment of a form of government, which is powerful and yet at the same time fragile every four years as we pick a new president. Elections matter. You as voters matter even more. While […]
Helping others succeed distinguishes our industry
One of my favorite things about this association and this industry in general, is everyone’s willingness to help and guide one another. As my husband, Wayne, started Columbia Nursery, he called countless people — truly too many to mention. There was always someone to answer his questions on grafting, business planning, where to buy nursery items, […]
Species rhododendrons offer unusual alternatives
By Mike Darcy
Species rhododendrons may not always have the spectacular flowers that many hybrids do, and while a species can give color interest with their flowers, they can also offer other features for garden interest such as colored or variegated foliage, indumentum (fine hairs), and variable growth habits.
Growing Knowledge
OSU Ornamental Plant Breeding Program developing new cultivars for city settings
Lloyd Nackley and Carolyn Scagel Since 2009, the The Oregon State University Ornamental Plant Breeding Program has been dedicated to developing seedless varieties of resilient plant species that were previously considered invasive. This approach is crucial because when we introduce plants to urban and suburban areas, we need them to thrive despite facing challenging conditions […]
New tools to forecast boxwood blight infection risk in Pacific Northwest nurseries
The protection of boxwood in Oregon depends on precise timing of surveillance, monitoring, and management of boxwood blight infections.
Researchers at Oregon State University are testing pots made from recycled materials
The industry needs sustainable solutions to reduce plastic waste and an alternative is the use of plantable biopots without separating biopots before planting, which favors microbial biodegradation.