Digger magazine

Written to make you a nursery industry expert.

  • Digital-Ad-Campaign-FWS-2026_728x90.png
  • Nursery-Guide-Find-More-Banner-Ad_728x90.png
  • Digger-Employment_banner-2020-728x90px.jpg
  • Digital-Ad-Campaign-FWS-2026_560x75-04.png
  • MK-bug-728x90-NG.png
  • Home
  • Articles
    • Nursery News
    • Features
    • Plants
    • Growing Knowledge
    • Operations
    • Nursery Country
  • Issues
  • Events
  • Farwest
  • Columns
    • Director’s Desk
    • Mike Darcy
    • President’s Message
  • Employment Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe to Digger
You are here: Home / Archives for Mitch Lies

OAN members see benefits and rewards from serving ag industry organizations

By Mitch Lies — Posted July 21, 2026

Tom Fessler, president of Woodburn Nursery & Azaleas (Farwest booth #14043), recalls the disconnect he felt when leaving the Oregon Association of Nurseries Board of Directors after serving for two years in the 1990s. “All of a sudden, your term is up and you’re off the board and you’re kind of lost in space,” he […]

Filed Under: OAN Members Tagged With: Leadership

New technology allows nurseries to water more efficiently while saving energy

By Mitch Lies — Posted April 22, 2026

With energy and labor costs at or near record highs, it has never been more important for nurseries to strive for efficiency.

Filed Under: Nursery Operations Tagged With: Energy, Soil and Water Conservation, Sustainability, Water

Bare-root grading among the most challenging tasks

By Mitch Lies — Posted March 24, 2026

Grading bare-root trees is both a subjective and an objective process.

Filed Under: Nursery Operations

Terra Gardens owner’s gesture for his mother opens the door to other wheelchair-bound gardeners

By Mitch Lies — Posted January 23, 2026

Salem nursery is now a destination for many wheelchair-bound gardening enthusiasts.

Filed Under: Nursery News, Nursery Operations, Retail Garden Centers

Communication with the destination will help plants arrive without disruption

By Mitch Lies — Posted October 21, 2025

Often the receivers of nursery shipments play a critical function in keeping schedules on track.

Filed Under: Nursery Operations, Retail Garden Centers Tagged With: Shipping, Transportation

Four Oregon nursery owners find fulfillment in selling their businesses to key employees

By Mitch Lies — Posted September 26, 2025

In multiple cases, nursery owners said they could have made more money selling to outsiders, but were more interested in maintaining the culture of an operation than reaping profits from a sale.

Filed Under: Nursery Operations Tagged With: Succession

Success comes from reading the future

By Mitch Lies — Posted March 25, 2025

An accurate read on coming market conditions and a balanced strategy are critical to weathering ups and downs of tree-growing business 

Filed Under: Nursery Operations

Nurseries shift production seasons to meet demands, save costs

By Mitch Lies — Posted February 24, 2025

Growers adjust production schedules due to changes in labor laws, labor shortages, plant varietal advancements and market factors.

Filed Under: Nursery Operations

Nurseries save by making the switch to LEDs

By Mitch Lies — Posted January 27, 2025

With energy costs soaring, nurseries are tapping into an Energy Trust of Oregon program to reduce the financial burden of installing LED lighting.

Filed Under: Nursery Operations Tagged With: Greenhouses, Lighting

Profile: Gold Family Farms

By Mitch Lies — Posted November 21, 2024

Steve and Joe Gold are focused on providing value and quality for their customers through efficiencies and scale.

Filed Under: Oregon Nursery Country

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • Next Page »

NURSERY NEWS

Bailey Nurseries removed dams to build environmental resilience

The new NurseryGuide.com powers up with new features

Terra Gardens owner’s gesture for his mother opens the door to other wheelchair-bound gardeners

OAN announces 2025 Friends of Nurseries award winners

OAN leads grower-driven Japanese beetle solution

AmericanHort president and CEO to step down

In memoriam: Bill Van Belle

Longtime employee buys Heritage Seedlings and Liners

More Nursery News

From the pages of Digger

August 2026 Digger: Farwest Show Edition

July 2026

June: The Shrubs Issue

May 2026: the Sustainability Issue

April: The Tree Issue

More issues of Digger

Pests and Diseases

Box tree moths pose a threat to Oregon nurseries

Managing Phytophthora: timing, temperature and emerging threats

Managing slugs and snails in Pacific Northwest nurseries

OAN leads grower-driven Japanese beetle solution

Prioritizing nursery pest challenges

More articles

FARWEST SHOW UPDATES

2026 Farwest Show issues calls for speakers

Excitement, optimism prevail at 2025 Farwest Show

Dazzling plants, products garner Retailer’s Choice Awards

Youngblood Nursery wins Best in Show booth honors at the 2025 Farwest Show

Glow Sticks Fescue wins top honors from judges at Farwest Show’s New Varieties Showcase 

More Updates from Farwest

The Value of Membership

OAN members see benefits and rewards from serving ag industry organizations

AmericanHort president and CEO to step down

OAN honors industry leaders at 2025 Convention

More member stories

​

Updates to exisiting subscriptions can be sent to info@oan.org

News

  • Nursery News
  • Growing Knowledge
  • Nursery Operations

Features

  • Plant Features
  • OAN Members
  • Oregon Nursery Country

Columns

  • Director’s Desk
  • Mike Darcy
  • President’s Message
  • Digital Growth

Resources

  • OAN Home Page
  • Job Listings
  • Subscribe to Digger
  • Advertise in Digger
  • Online Plant Search

© 2026 Oregon Association of Nurseries