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
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— PostedIt 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
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— PostedIt 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
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— PostedThe 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
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— PostedBy 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 […]
Money efficiency
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— PostedThese tips will help growers spend their business dollars wisely As a business owner, you want to spend your money on what provides true, long-term business value. Because nurseries can rely heavily on cash flow to keep their operations running, it’s important to understand where your money is going and plan for your capital investments. […]
Marketing efficiency
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— PostedThis is the Efficiency Issue of Digger, so I’m joining the party to talk about efficiency in marketing. By that I mean ways you can do more with less: less time, less money, fewer resources and so on. You may be expending too much time, effort or money. Here are a few simple suggestions for […]
Your efficient nursery business
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— PostedNursery profitability is always a challenge. 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. Whether it’s a daffodil or a giant sequoia, a plant is a relatively simple closed system. Its ultimate growth is driven by basic environmental factors such as light, water, soil and accessible nutrients. The nurseries that produce these plants, however, are much more complicated.
Managing for efficiency
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— PostedEfficiency begins at the top. It starts with company leadership setting an expectation and empowering employees to contribute their ideas and expertise. It’s about encouraging dynamic, back-and-forth conversations in the workplace. Companies such as wholesale propagator JLPN Inc. in Salem, Oregon; wholesale grower Skagit Horticulture in Mount Vernon, Washington; Eshraghi Nurseries in Hillsboro, Oregon; wholesale […]
Creating an efficient workflow
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— PostedAlthough setting the tone for innovation is important, the production process is where the action takes place. Companies like Alpha Nurseries of Salem, Oregon; Robinson Nursery of Amity, Oregon; Woodburn Nursery & Azaleas of Woodburn, Oregon and others have realized great savings from revising their production processes to make them more efficient. At Alpha, manager […]
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