Digger magazine

Written to make you a nursery industry expert.

You are here: Home / Archives for Digger magazine

Five business books worth reading

By — Posted

I love reading in just about any genre, but I don’t love reading books about business. The writing is often dry, the information sometimes unhelpful, and the tone often a little too boastful for my taste. That said, the right book can make a significant impact on work habits, creativity, and overall outlook. Here are five […]

Don’t sleep on the WPS

By — Posted

During the administration of Barack Obama, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) expanded the rules for agricultural operations to protect workers from pesticide exposure. These rules make up the Worker Protection Standard (WPS). With a new administration, the same rules apply. While not passed by Congress, these rules are very real and the nursery and greenhouse […]

Move forward on immigration

By — Posted

I’d be willing to bet most folks in our industry don’t have an elaborate tie collection. I myself own three. They rarely come out except for the occasional wedding or funeral, but this past May, I packed all of them up and headed to our nation’s capital to do some politicking on behalf of our […]

June 2018

By — Posted

Kym Pokorny shares with us the ways plant communities are an emerging concept in landscape design, plus other stories about olive tree trials for cold hardiness and the impending threat of the emerald ash borers to Oregon’s urban ecosystems. In this issue: Natural by design: The concept of designed plant communities combines the synergy of nature with […]

Are olives viable for Oregon?

By — Posted

With a column title like What I’m Hearing, I am always listening for new ideas, new plants, trends in garden centers and new plant trials. Recently in a conversation with Ann Murphy, a communications and marketing manager at Oregon State University (OSU), I learned that the OSU North Willamette Research and Extension Center in Aurora, […]

A team effort for your success

By — Posted

It was my great privilege to serve as president of the Nursery and Landscape Association Executives (NLAE) of North America for the past two years. I am the third Oregonian to serve in that role. Merv Belknap was the first in 1969-70, followed by Dan Barnhart in 1989-90. The NLAE is a team of committed […]

Fun and business

By — Posted

It seems spring has just started, but it’s coming to an end already. Summer’s just about here. It’s a welcome transition. It means we can regroup after spring’s “harvest havoc” and start to focus on production and future planning. Because it is summer, hopefully there are plans that include something fun and relaxing. And hopefully, […]

May 2018 — The Efficiency Issue

By — Posted

The Efficiency Issue Rising costs, labor scarcity and competition create challenges for growers. Greater efficiency can be the answer. In this issue: Your efficient nursery business. We talked to more than a dozen growers and industry colleagues who have become more efficient, and increased their bottom line, by improving their management, workflows, inputs and workspaces. Managing for […]

Optimum watering schedules for Oregon home lawns

By — Posted

By Conner Olsen and Alec Kowalewski In times of drought, outdoor water-use restrictions are most often focused on landscape water use, and implemented in terms of the number of days per week for which watering is allowed. This method, although effective at reducing water use, neglects to consider ideal irrigation frequency for maintaining the health […]