Digger magazine

Written to make you a nursery industry expert.

New boxwood varieties shore up defense against spreading boxwood blight

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As boxwood blight was spreading in the U.S. in the 2010s, executives at Plant Development Services in Loxley, Alabama, and Saunders Brothers Nursery in Piney River, Virginia, were looking for solutions. Plant Development Services looked to Europe, where blight had been a major issue since 1998, while Saunders Brothers looked to germplasm it had on […]

Growth, challenges, and the road ahead for the nursery industry

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Jeb Fields, and Ryan Contreras In a recent article published in HortTechnology, titled “How Natural Resources, Consumer Perceptions, and Labor Are Transforming the U.S. Nursery Industry,” nursery science researchers from across the United States examined the current state and future of the nursery industry. The paper, available free online (TinyURL.com/IndustryPaper), highlights the substantial economic impact […]

The sprint to November begins now

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Every four years, we hear from the political pundits that “this election is the most important one in our lifetime” or “our nation and its survival is at stake.” Alternatively, we might get a pervasive feeling of dread that our vote won’t matter in the end. Well, this election is very important. The direction (not […]

Excited for a new season and a new year

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Fall is almost here, and I can feel the change happening. To me it is always the most obvious that seasonal change is upon us first thing every day. There is nothing like that cool, crisp morning with a beautiful sunrise and a light layer of fog covering the ground. I thoroughly welcome that change […]

Looking back, ONF scholarships made a big difference in launching the careers of winners

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The Oregon Nurseries Foundation has given 588 scholarships since its beginning, totaling just over $530,000. The scholarships have helped the recipients complete their education and start their careers.Digger caught up with five former scholarship winners to see where they are now and how they’re doing. Their stories provide an inspiration for the industry and reinforce […]

Sense of excitement prevailed at Farwest as nursery industry ‘Meets the Future’ 

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A sense of optimism and excitement prevailed at the 2024 Farwest Show as the exhibitors put their best foot forward, forged new customer connections, and strengthened existing relationships. “This year’s Farwest Show floor had great energy with over 4,000 in attendance and more than 300 exhibiting companies representing many segments throughout our industry,” said Allan […]

New Phytophthora pathogen — not P. ramorum — found on two nurseries

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A soilborne plant pathogen not previously seen in the United States — Phytophthora austrocedri — has been detected at two Oregon nurseries and has infested an unknown number of plants. The detections have prompted an aggressive quarantine of some of the plant material on both operations as growers and authorities strive to identify infested areas and contain the pathogen’s […]

Farwest Show attendees select favorites for the Retailers’ Choice Awards

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As part of the Retailers’ Choice Awards™, a jury of volunteer garden retailers browsed the aisles and highlighted 15 different products that caught their attention at the 2024 Farwest Show in Portland, Oregon. The awards as chosen by the judges were presented Thursday afternoon (August 22) at the show, in a presentation emceed by Danny Summers, managing director of The Garden Center Group. Both live goods and hard goods were eligible.

Starway to Heaven™ Japanese Snowbell wins People’s Choice balloting at Farwest Show New Varieties Showcase

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Nursery industry professionals attending the 2024 Farwest Show chose Starway to Heaven™ Japanese Snowbell (Styrax japonicus ‘RNI-Rixred’ PP35353) as their favorite new plant in the New Varieties Showcase. That made it a clean sweep for the new tree, which also won the NVS Judges Choice’ Best in Show award earlier in the week.