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, but are not limited to, perennial ryegrass and tall fescue. Perennial ryegrass will produce a dense, dark green lawn when regularly mowed, irrigated, and fertilized. Tall fescue, on the other […]
Oregon State hires dean of agriculture sciences
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Staci Simonich has been appointed the dean of the Oregon State University (OSU) College of Agricultural Sciences and director of the Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station, according to a release from the university. Simonich has more than 20 years of experience with the university, starting as an assistant professor in 2001. She has been an interim […]
The solitary life of pocket gophers
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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 look to survive a lack of available food during summer heat or winter cold, they often look to nursery crops, killing them or causing severe damage. The difference between gopher […]
Villains of the greenhouse II
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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 […]
A bee’s eye view
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Testing for UV reflectance to gain insight into the benefits of nativars compared to native plants Market demand for native plants in ornamental landscapes has drastically increased since the early 2000s, as consumers, landscapers, landscape designers and landscape architects are increasingly aware of the environmental benefits provided by native plants. But despite their popularity, native […]
Knowing your cedar pests (Part 2)
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Part 2: Thuja, Juniperus and Cupressus It’s important to be aware of issues in the landscape and forest, as these can become problems in the nursery or for your customers. On the flip side, problems not detected in the nursery can become big issues when planted out at the customer’s end. Cedar trees have a […]
Know thy enemy
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Expert insect pest identification resources are available in Oregon The foundations of a good integrated pest management (IPM) plan are scouting, monitoring and identification — knowing where and when you have pests, and knowing exactly who those pests are. Scouting and monitoring techniques are straightforward. One can use tools like sticky cards, traps, bait plants, […]
Testing tolerance with Marengo
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Herbicide’s label allows growers to experiment with various plants and levels Herbicides are an important weed control method in container-grown ornamental plants. Knowledge of crop tolerance to herbicides is essential for a safe and effective weed control program. Tolerance to a specific herbicide application method depends on the crop species and the cultivar. Thus, developing […]
Restoring a conifer classic
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Breeding disease-resistant Port Orford cedar for reforestation and the horticulture industry By Ryan Contreras and Richard Sniezko Port Orford cedar (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana) is a long-lived conifer native to northwestern California and southwestern Oregon. It spans an elevational range from sea level to 5,000 feet or more. In forestry, the tree has both economic and ecological […]
Call it ‘herbal distancing’
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Research shows that spacing out boxwood shrubs in production prevents the spread of infectious spores By Mana Ohkura, Lloyd Nackley, Carolyn Scagel and Jerry E. Weiland It’s been a year and a half since the COVID-19 pandemic started. We have been hearing how social distancing prevents the spread of the virus and we see signs […]