Digger magazine

When you know what to grow

By Jon Bell — Posted March 18, 2022

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 one part climate and weather, another part land and inputs. Add in a solid team of employees and loyal customers, some business acumen and a dash of forecasting magic. Don’t […]

Getting the word out

By Mitch Lies — Posted March 18, 2022

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 place, and no location can be enhanced by the wrong tree. To that end, the flow of information between tree growers, and experts in the markets they serve, is critical […]

A new day for crabapples

By Erica Browne Griva — Posted March 18, 2022

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 […]

Meet the Leader: Rod Park

By Bill Goloski — Posted March 18, 2022

OwnerPark’s NurseryOAN member since 1986 OAN roles/positions:• Young Nursery Person of the Year (1986)• OAN President (1991)• Political Awareness Award (1996)• Pacific Coast Nurseryman Outstanding Service Award (1998)• Clayton W. Hannon Distinguished Service Award (2006)• Honorary Lifetime Membership (2019) Service positions on the OANAwards, Convention, Finance, Government Relations, Nominating, and ONPAC committees Tell us about […]

Trees that stand above

By Mike Darcy — Posted March 18, 2022

This issue of Digger is devoted to trees,and this made me reflect on some of the many benefits they provide for us. Perhaps Henry David Thoreau summed my reflections best in his famous words: “I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees.” Trees certainly do contribute much to our […]

Smoldering ashes at the Capitol

By Jeff Stone — Posted March 18, 2022

There is an old black and white photo in the Oregon State Capitol café, located in the basement of the building, and it has always spoken to me. Located off in a non-descript place near dining tables along the wall, it shows the old capitol building engulfed in flames. I can almost feel the heat […]

Blind spots

By Josh Robinson — Posted March 18, 2022

I recently had the opportunity to get involved in a discussion with other nursery industry professionals about blind spots. It was an eye-opening experience and helped me better appreciate all the things that our great community does. What is a blind spot? I don’t mean the part of your car that blocks your view of […]

March 2022 — The Greenhouse Issue

By Bill Goloski — Posted March 2, 2022

Our 2022 Greenhouse Issue of Digger explores the people, plants, production methods and pest management techniques of Oregon greenhouses. It starts with a profile on the Yoshitomi Brothers nursery. There are also new ideas for perennial producers, a cost-saving irrigation equipment analysis, and a review of efficient greenhouse space management. Finally, OSU researchers also follow […]

Villains of the greenhouse II

By Jay Pscheidt — Posted February 22, 2022

When seedlings fail, Fusarium damping-off or wilt could be another cause Part two of a series. Part one of Villains of the greenhouse, published in the April 2021 issue of Digger, covered Rhizoconia damping-off, root rot and stem rot. It can be viewed at www.diggermagazine.com/villains-of-the-greenhouse. There are many fungi that live and survive in the […]

Arranging for efficient greenhouse production

By Mitch Lies — Posted February 22, 2022

The intentional, strategic use of space can determine how efficiently a greenhouse functions and how profitable it is Nursery operators tend to fill greenhouses to capacity, so that enough product is available when sales come knocking. But according to Rick and Elizabeth Peters of Lean consultants The Peters Company (Wilsonville, Oregon), a packed greenhouse at […]