Digger magazine

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Growing at the right pace

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  Marred by the recession, nursery growers are evolving along with the industry Over the past few years, Minnesota-headquartered Bailey Nurseries worked on breeding a new addition to its Endless Summer® brand of hydrangeas. Called Summer Crush®, the plant erupts in raspberry red or neon purple flowers, hues that are much bolder than the standard […]

Member profile: Kelleygreen Nursery

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When wholesale plant buyers drive across the wooden, one-lane bridge to access Kelleygreen Nursery, they typically don’t do it by accident. The grower of containerized Japanese maple varieties is situated on 22 acres of gently sloping ground that is nestled between forested Coast Range hills, about a three-hour drive from Portland, or about 45 minutes from Eugene. “If somebody comes here, we know they’re serious,” said cofounder Jan Kelley, who owns and operates the nursery together with his son, Kevin.

Green from the ground up

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  Whether the customers are landscapers or retailers, the most sought-after characteristics in ground cover plants for pathways and walkways are the same. People want low-growing, low-maintenance, drought-tolerant, evergreen, flowering, noninvasive, deer-tolerant, durable and — gaining in popularity — rabbit-resistant plants. And it would be nice if they could also help with the dishes! Customers […]

Where gardeners turn for answers

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Garden centers typically can offer their customers several advantages that big box stores can’t fully duplicate. One of these is the ability to provide customers with valid, localized information about the challenges they face. When I ask my neighbors, friends and other gardeners where they would go if they had a question about a problem […]

Where plants, growth and networking thrive

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Oregon’s Willamette Valley is a treasure trove of rich and vibrant soil, clean water and a climate that is perfect for growing nursery stock. Growers of all sizes have brought the Oregon nursery and greenhouse industry from mostly a local enterprise to national and even global prominence. That’s not bad for an industry that arrived […]

Solving irrigation drip tape damage

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Managing the pests that are causing the problems Who has been chewing through our irrigation tape? A grower contacted us after detecting a large number of irrigation leaks of uncertain origin. The grower found holes in the tubes where the leaks had occurred. Many of the holes showed frayed edges and were less than 1 […]

Satisfying in small spaces

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Trees, conifers and weepers that fit the bill with beauty, versatility and easy maintenance Smaller yards haven’t changed homeowners’ need for shade or beauty. But, they have changed what will fit into a yard, which has changed the market and by extension, growers’ business focus. We asked growers to share favorite selections of small trees, […]