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You are here: Home / Archives for Plant Pests and Diseases

Restoring a conifer classic

By Ryan Contreras — Posted September 22, 2021

Breeding disease-resistant Port Orford cedar for reforestation and the horticulture industry By Ryan Contreras and Richard Sniezko Port Orford cedar (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana) is a long-lived conifer native to northwestern California and southwestern Oregon. It spans an elevational range from sea level to 5,000 feet or more. In forestry, the tree has both economic and ecological […]

Filed Under: Growing Knowledge, Phytophthora, Plant Pests and Diseases Tagged With: Digger, Digger magazine, Oregon State University, OSU, Pests and Diseases, Trees

Call it ‘herbal distancing’

By Jerry Weiland — Posted August 27, 2021

Research shows that spacing out boxwood shrubs in production prevents the spread of infectious spores By Mana Ohkura, Lloyd Nackley, Carolyn Scagel and Jerry E. Weiland It’s been a year and a half since the COVID-19 pandemic started. We have been hearing how social distancing prevents the spread of the virus and we see signs […]

Filed Under: Blights, Boxwood Blight, Growing Knowledge, Plant Diseases, Plant Pests and Diseases Tagged With: boxwood blight, Digger, Digger magazine, Oregon State University, OSU

A tree with a peel

By Kym Pokorny — Posted August 27, 2021

Despite some pest issues, birch trees provide a distinctive, well-loved look Sales of popular birch trees in Oregon plummeted in the early 2000s when the bronze birch borer made its way across the country and began attacking susceptible plants up and down the Willamette Valley. The voracious insect had been plaguing states in the Midwest […]

Filed Under: Borers, Bronze Birch Borer, Insects, Plant Features, Plant Pests and Diseases Tagged With: birch, Digger, Digger magazine, plant features, Plants, Trees

Lessons from an ice storm

By Eric Hammond — Posted May 27, 2021

Widespread tree destruction highlights the importance of proper selection and maintenance The northern Willamette Valley in Oregon was hit by a once-in-a-generation ice storm on February 12 and 13 of this year. In the small town of Silverton, where the valley meets the Cascade Range foothills, freezing rain fell for more than 30 hours. Trees […]

Filed Under: Borers, Bronze Birch Borer, Insects, Nursery News, Plant Pests and Diseases Tagged With: Digger, Digger magazine

The grassroots of research

By Curt Kipp — Posted April 21, 2021

The nursery industry plays an important role funding and vetting beneficial research projects Universities and colleges, in Oregon and elsewhere, don’t merely provide nurseries and greenhouses with well-trained, knowledgeable and conversant employees. They also provide research-proven knowledge and best practices, so growers can produce a better crop and run a more profitable business. These institutions […]

Filed Under: Blights, Borers, Boxwood Blight, Flatheaded Borer, Insects, Nursery Operations, Plant Diseases, Plant Pests and Diseases Tagged With: Digger, Digger magazine, Education

Villains of the greenhouse

By Jay Pscheidt — Posted March 23, 2021

When seedlings fail, Rhizoctonia damping-off, root and stem rot may be the cause There is so much hope for the future when we plant seeds, but that can be dashed when they don’t emerge, or when they fall over soon after popping out of the media. There are many fungi that live and survive in […]

Filed Under: Blights, Cankers, Fusarium Root Rot, Growing Knowledge, Plant Diseases, Plant Pests and Diseases, Pythium Root Rot, Rhizoctonia Root Rot, Root Rots Tagged With: Digger, Digger magazine, Oregon State University, OSU, Pests and Diseases

Knowing your cedar pests

By Jay Pscheidt — Posted January 7, 2021

Grower awareness of problems can protect both grower and customer It’s important to be aware of issues in the landscape and forest, as they can become problems in the nursery or for your customers. Cedar trees have a number of pest and problems to be aware of, from abiotic disorders to insects and diseases. Some […]

Filed Under: Blights, Cankers, Growing Knowledge, Phytophthora, Plant Pests and Diseases, Root Rots, Rusts, Scales Tagged With: Digger, Digger magazine, Growing Knowledge, Oregon State University, OSU

Silicon: the non-essential beneficial nutrient for plant defense?

By Katerina Velasco-Graham — Posted November 30, 2020

Rhododendrons and azaleas are the backbone of many ornamental landscapes in the Pacific Northwest. Unfortunately, since 2016, a beautiful little insect has been plaguing the genus Rhododendron, causing aesthetic and physiological damage, which may lead to plant death if left unchecked (Figure 1). Preliminary studies suggest that cultivars vary in their tolerance to azalea lace […]

Filed Under: Azalea Lace Bugs, Borers, Growing Knowledge, Insects, Leaf Miners, Mites, Plant Pests and Diseases Tagged With: Digger, Digger magazine, Growing Knowledge, OSU, Pests and Diseases

Managing epidemics

By Jennifer Parke — Posted October 21, 2020

Whether dealing with plant pathogens or COVID-19, common principles apply The COVID-19 pandemic has changed life as we know it, threatening human health, causing disruption to our society, and resulting in economic challenges. While impacts of plant pests and diseases may pale in importance compared to COVID-19, they still cause large-scale ecological and economic damage […]

Filed Under: Asian Longhorned Beetle, Beetles, Borers, Emerald Ash Borer, Growing Knowledge, Insects, Phytophthora, Plant Diseases, Plant Pests and Diseases Tagged With: coronavirus, Digger, Digger magazine, Growing Knowledge, Oregon State University, OSU

Scouting for boxwood blight

By Jerry Weiland — Posted February 26, 2020

These tips make it easier to spot and mitigate this highly infectious disease By Jerry E. Weiland and Jay W. Pscheidt The 2019 growing season was a big year for boxwood blight in Oregon. The disease, caused by the pathogen Calonectria (Cylindrocladium) pseudonaviculata, has caused substantial damage to boxwood shrubs in U.S. nurseries and gardens […]

Filed Under: Blights, Boxwood Blight, Growing Knowledge, Phytophthora, Plant Diseases, Plant Pests and Diseases, Root Rots Tagged With: boxwood blight, Digger, Digger magazine, Oregon State University, OSU, Pests and Diseases

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NURSERY NEWS

In Memoriam: Melvin John Steffenson

New USDA Census of Hort arriving in mailboxes this month

Oregon Association of Nurseries honors the industry’s best at 2024 Convention

Eason Horticultural Resources is now employee-owned

Oregon’s nursery licensing program aims to keep the entire industry healthy

Building trust is key to establishing clientele base for new nurseries

Five owners share their experiences on what it takes to start a nursery businesses

Bailey hires new CFO and chief HR officer

More Nursery News

From the pages of Digger

May 2025: Sustainability Issue

April 2025: The Tree Issue

March 2025: The Perennial Issue

February 2025: The Greenhouse Issue

January 2025: The Retail Issue

More issues of Digger

Pests and Diseases

Prioritizing nursery pest challenges

New tools in the battle against thrips

Aiming for precision in pest control

Oregon’s nursery licensing program aims to keep the entire industry healthy

$250,000 shifted to P. austrocedri research

More articles

FARWEST SHOW UPDATES

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

Farwest Show attendees select favorites for the Retailers’ Choice Awards

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

Hopper Bros. wins Best in Show booth award at 2024 Farwest Show   

Starway to Heaven™ Japanese Snowbell wins Judges’ Best in Show at Farwest Show New Varieties Showcase

More Updates from Farwest

The Value of Membership

Meet the leader: Sam Pohlschneider

OAN honors the industry’s best

Oregon Association of Nurseries honors the industry’s best at 2024 Convention

More member stories

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