This flowering tree is on the upswing, thanks to disease resistance and all-season beauty Crabapples have enjoyed a bumpy history. Originating in the mountains of Kazakhstan, crabapples’ spring flowers landed in Chinese palace gardens and were carried along the Silk Road to Europe. Beyond their beauty, crabapples can act as a blanket pollinator for an […]
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Keeping lawns healthy
Research points to certain practices for minimizing invasive annual bluegrass By Alec Kowalewski, Clint Mattox, and Alyssa Cain Desirable turfgrass species in western Oregon include,… Continue Reading…
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Meeting online customer expectations
Prepare before jumping into online retail, lest the opportunity become a pitfall COVID-19 pushed many garden centers to catch the growing wave of online shopping.… Continue Reading…
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Power pact
Nurseries and landscapers look at electric alternatives to traditional equipment Many garden retailers and nursery owners are starting to turn away from gas-powered equipment as… Continue Reading…
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Growth from above
Nurseries explore new uses for drones, from inventory to scouting to spray treatment Initially a tool for the military and aviation hobbyists, unmanned aerial systems… Continue Reading…
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GK Machine Inc.
Founded: 1976 by Gary and Keith Grossen OWNER: Gary GrossenKNOWN FOR: Branded agricultural equipment, and custom manufactured equipment.PEOPLE: Gary Grossen, CEO and outside sales; Keith… Continue Reading…
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The solitary life of pocket gophers
These territorial animals can cause major problems in nursery production Both moles and gophers can be a menace to nursery production fields. As these animals… Continue Reading…
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When you know what to grow
When considering which trees to produce, several factors are important, but profitability is king What’s the recipe for becoming a successful grower of trees? Try… Continue Reading…
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Getting the word out
Growers take an interest in steering landscapers and end users to the right tree for the location No tree can grow best in the wrong… Continue Reading…
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A new day for crabapples
This flowering tree is on the upswing, thanks to disease resistance and all-season beauty Crabapples have enjoyed a bumpy history. Originating in the mountains of… Continue Reading…
Plant Features

Unsung perennials
A treasure trove of options is available for those who want to go beyond the staples Thousands of books are written about them, as are poems, and there are even songs sung about the flowers we know as perennials. Perennials are the backbone of most garden designs and some container gardens, as well. Consumers adore […]

Nature is in the house
A back-to-earth ethic fuels the lust for new, classic and collectible house plants In the 1970s, it seemed like everyone decorated their indoor space with a pothos (Epipremnum aureum) winding around the ceiling and a dusty-looking Coleus on the windowsill, but houseplants fell out of favor during the more technology-driven ’80s. Now they’ve come roaring […]
Nursery Operations

Green practices and silver bullets
Integrated pest management, or IPM, has continued to improve and deliver benefits for growers While integrated pest management (IPM) has been an accepted best practice for growers since its introduction in the 1960s, it hasn’t always been growers’ first choice when looking for a fast, efficient answer to their crop dilemmas. The field of study […]

A growing appetite for superfoods
Retailers and growers can fill the demand for nutrient-rich berries, fruits and vegetables A show of hands for those who think “superfood” when loading bananas in the supermarket shopping cart. No takers? No surprise. Even though bananas are touted as a good source of fiber and potassium, folate, vitamin C and B6, and other antioxidants and […]

Certifiably successful
Sustainability-minded certification programs can help nurseries grow and improve Scholls Valley Native Nursery sits on 60 lush acres just outside Forest Grove in the eastern foothills of the Oregon Coast Range. To the west of the nursery, Roderick Creek rolls by before merging with Gales Creek, which borders Scholls Valley’s western edge on its way […]
Oregon Is Nursery Country

GK Machine Inc.
Founded: 1976 by Gary and Keith Grossen OWNER: Gary GrossenKNOWN FOR: Branded agricultural equipment, and custom manufactured equipment.PEOPLE: Gary Grossen, CEO and outside sales; Keith Grossen, co-owner (retired); JoAnn Agee, Vice President and CFO, Connie Lindsay, marketing; Mike Mader, equipment sales, Brent Selnau, equipment sales; Derrick Bratton, greenhouse sales.CONTACT: P.O. Box 427, Donald, OR 97020-0427503-678-5525clindsay@gkmachine.comONLINE: […]

Yoshitomi Brothers Inc.
Founded: 1960 by Ed, Fred, Robert and Kay Yoshitomi OWNERS: Don and Mariah KondoKNOWN FOR: Growing a wide variety of perennials (40%), annuals (40%) and vegetable starts (20%) wholesale, for delivery to retail garden centers.PEOPLE: Randy Gettel, production, logistics and maintenance manager; Gilbert Baltazar, head grower; Dan Bamberger, landscaper sales and production manager; Josh Stenson, […]
Recent Columns
Goodbye to Buchholz Nursery
By Mike Darcy
When the owner of a nursery decides to retire, what happens to the business? If there is a family member involved who would like to take it over, then that might become a solution to keeping the business alive. But, if family involvement is not an option, then what? A nursery is unlike most other […]
The greatest privilege of a lifetime
By Jeff Stone
When the month of June rolls along, there is one day that stands out: Father’s Day. I am one of the fortunate sons who had a caring father. He drives me nuts, but he is mine. In the nursery and greenhouse industry, I see many fathers who should be the leading example to a nation. […]
Thank God for June!
In the agricultural community, there are many things that set us apart from other industries. But after a rough spring, the one I notice most is resilience. And this year, we have definitely needed it. I can’t recall ever needing to phone so many friends to cry on their shoulders, nor do I remember so […]