MARCH 2018
Demand on the rise PAGE 15
Tips for retaliers PAGE 18
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15 A houseplant awakening COLUMNS 7 President’s Message Growers and retailers are tapping into a renewed interest in indoor houseplants. For them, deciding what 13 Pivot Points products will meet customer demands takes a bit of 30 Director’s Desk study. Many of them are making those choices in smart, interesting ways. DEPARTMENTS 18 Houseplant sales tips 8 Calendar Northwest News Ten helpful tips for business owners who wish to target 9 customers looking to buy and maintain their own indoor 21 Classifieds houseplant haven. 23 Advertisers Index 23 Subscription Info 13 When simplicity beats creativity 25 Growing Knowledge Sometimes being too creative with your marketing 31 Digger Marketplace messages can work against your goals. 25 Heroes and villains Research identifies harmful and beneficial microbes in nursery soil.
On the cover: Houseplants are creatively display at Cornell Farms in Portland, Oregon. On this page: (Left) Unique options for a miniature garden and (right) colorful tropical plants Printed in Oregon on domestic entice customers at Al's Garden & Home in Sherwood, Oregon. Photos by Dawn Hummel. recycled paper when available.
4 MARCH 2018 DIGGERMAGAZINE.COM Astun Ornamental Fungicide
Astun_Ad_17.indd 1 9/13/17 3:09 PM LEONARD ADAMS INSURANCE Offering employer and individual health,
dental, property and casualty insurance 29751 S.W. Town Center Loop West Wilsonville, OR 97070
PH 503-682-5089 PORTLAND PH 888-283-7219 NATIONWIDE FAX 503-682-5099 MAIN OFFICE FAX 503-682-5727 PUBLICATIONS [email protected] EMAIL www.oan.org WEB www.diggermagazine.com NEWS BLOG ______
STAFF Jeff Stone EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR [email protected] 503-582-2003
Beth Farmer COMMUNICATIONS & [email protected] WEB DESIGN MANAGER 503-582-2013
Bill Goloski PUBLICATIONS [email protected] MANAGER 503-582-2009
Kelsey Hood EVENT & PROGRAM [email protected] COORDINATOR 503-582-2010
Debbie Hopkins ACCOUNTING & [email protected] DATABASE MANAGER 503-582-2004
Curt Kipp DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS [email protected] & PUBLICATIONS 503-582-2008
Allan Niemi DIRECTOR OF EVENTS [email protected] 503-582-2005
Blair Thompson ADVERTISING [email protected] ACCOUNT MANAGER 503-582-2012
Kristen Urban EVENT & EDUCATION [email protected] MANAGER 503-582-2011
Stephanie Weihrauch DIRECTOR OF FINANCE [email protected] & ADMINISTRATION 503-582-2001
OAN members have exclusive program access DIGGER
Curt Kipp EDITOR with Providence Health Plans and LifeMap [email protected] Bill Goloski ART DIRECTOR [email protected]
Blair Thompson ADVERTISING [email protected] ACCOUNT MANAGER ______HEALTH WORKERS AUTO AGRI PROPERTY & COMPENSATION HOME BUSINESS CASUALTY Copyright © 2018 by the Oregon Association of Nurseries (OAN). Digger magazine is an official publication and a member service of the Oregon Association of Nurseries, 29751 S.W. Town Center Loop W., Contact Randy Skinner: 503-296-0077 • 866-907-1850 Wilsonville, OR 97070. [email protected] • www.lacoinsurance.com REPRINTS AND SUBMISSIONS Digger allows reprinting of material with written permission; requests should be directed to the editor. We are not responsible for unsolicited freelance manuscripts and photo- graphs. Contact the editor for contribution information.
SUBSCRIPTION AND CHANGE OF ADDRESS Circulation is controlled. Domestic subscriptions are complimentary to qualified U.S. nursery industry members. Non-qualified U.S. subscriptions are $42. Qualified foreign subscriptions are $35 to Canada; $45 to Mexico; and $80 for all other countries. Single copy rate is $6 while supplies last. Notify OAN Publications of change of address. Please allow 3-4 weeks for OREGON ASSOCIATION OF NURSERIES address change. 5201 S.W. WESTGATE DR, SUITE 300 GROUP HEALTH, DENTAL, PROPERTY & PORTLAND, OR 97221 CASUALTY INSURANCE PROVIDER Postmaster: Change of address correction requested to above address.
ADVERTISING Contact OAN Publications for display and classified advertising rates. Deadlines are the 1st of the month Employer & Individual Health and Dental Insurance • Property & Casualty Insurance preceding the month of publication. Agribusiness Insurance • Workers Compensation Insurance • Auto & Home Insurance
6 MARCH 2018 DIGGERMAGAZINE.COM PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 2017–2018 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Josh Zielinski Alpha Nursery PRESIDENT 5050 Hazelgreen Rd. N.E. Christmas [email protected] Salem, OR 97305-3519 503-390-1286 FAX 503-390-2639 Mike Hiller Kraemer’s Nursery Inc. is here PRESIDENT-ELECT P.O. Box 930 [email protected] Mt. Angel, OR 97362 503-845-2283 From the looks of this title, you FAX 503-845-6557
Jim Simnitt Simnitt Nursery may be wondering if it’s a misprint VICE PRESIDENT 138 NE 22nd Ave. [email protected] Canby, OR 97013 or if December’s article somehow 503-266-9640 FAX 503-263-6330 crept its way into the wrong issue. Kyle Fessler St. Christopher Nursery LLC TREASURER 12936 Portland Rd. N.E. By now, even the discounted holiday [email protected] Gervais, OR 97026 Josh Zielinski 503-580-4470 OAN PRESIDENT FAX 503-792-3902 decoration aisles have all been put Mark Bigej Al’s Garden & Home away, right? PAST PRESIDENT 1220 N. Pacific Hwy. [email protected] Woodburn, OR 97071-3616 It’s not a mistake. For many of us in the nursery business, March is harvest time. 503-981-1245 FAX 503-982-4608 Or, as we say at our early spring staff safety meetings: “Get ready, Christmas is here!”
Josh Robinson Robinson Nursery Inc. Of course, any new team members are a bit confused and probably making a SECRETARY P.O. Box 100 quick glance at the calendar, but sooner rather than later they begin to understand. [email protected] Amity, OR 97101 503-835-4533 Hopefully, they don’t look at my calendar. I’ve chicken scratched “Christmas” on FAX 503-835-3004 March 1 for years. Denece Messenger Decorative Bark Products As growers, we spend months on end MEMBER AT LARGE P.O. Box 1198 [email protected] Tualatin, OR 97062 getting all of our plants ready for market We are somewhat abruptly 503-510-4029 — planning, planting, pruning and grinding FAX 503-859-3764 reminded of why we’ve ______away, day in and day out. Retailers engage in a similar amount of planning, purchasing been doing what we’ve STATE BOARD and projects, so everything is ready for cus- REPRESENTATIVES been doing all year long. tomers to come pouring into the parking lot CENTRAL OREGON CHAPTER Gary S. English Landsystems Nursery when the sun starts to shine. [email protected] 541-382-7646 It’s honestly pretty grueling work. It’s easy to lose sight of why we do it all when
CHRISTMAS TREE CHAPTER we’re in the middle of an unpleasant task, like applying pesticides at 1:30 a.m. on a vacant warm August night, or repainting the customer bathrooms on a wet and cold CLACKAMAS CHAPTER January day. Adam Farley Countryside Nursery [email protected] 503-678-0511 But then, one day we get up to a distinctive noise that isn’t exactly sleigh bells or Amanda Staehely Columbia Nursery reindeer hooves on the roof, but it’s equally magical. It’s the sound of semi-trucks roar- [email protected] 503-810-2598 ing into our docks and driveways. We are somewhat abruptly reminded of why we’ve EMERALD EMPIRE CHAPTER Tamara Clift McKenzie River Nursery been doing what we’ve been doing all year long. [email protected] 541-747-2767 Christmas is here! GREENHOUSE CHAPTER As an industry, we spend a lot of time producing plant material — often years. Andrea Avila-Aragon Smith Gardens [email protected] 503-678-5373 When it’s time, we carefully select the orders, pack the plants and trees neatly into Mark Leichty Little Prince of Oregon Nursery trailers and ship them to destinations near and far. The plants are then unloaded and [email protected] 503-678-5687 matched up with the perfect customer. It’s a monumental effort that everyone in our MT. HOOD CHAPTER Scott Ekstrom Ekstrom Nursery Inc. industry takes part in each season. [email protected] 503-663-4035 We quickly become absorbed in the fervor of the “holiday” itself, scrambling for Anthony Kinen Kinen’s Big & Phat Special Plants more supplies, more labels, more trucks and more labor. More, more and more. It’s [email protected] 503-866-3627 good fun work and there’s so much urgency that the days quickly fly by. RETAIL CHAPTER Should we run out of plants or supplies, it’s time to check OAN Nursery Guide Laura Hammond Al's Garden & Home [email protected] 503-981-1245 and www.nurseryguide.com for countless listings of the usual and the obscure. The book and website are an indispensible resource for the buyer and the seller. So sellers, SUNSET CHAPTER Matt Gold Midas Nursery Solutions be sure to get your plants listed. And buyers? Keep your Nursery Guide handy. [email protected] 503-628-3059 Ron Kinney Monrovia And grab your coffee, your raingear, and maybe hum an out-of-season tune, [email protected] 503-868-7941 because our industry is going to be busier than the WILLAMETTE CHAPTER North Pole for the next few months. Janet Poot Growers Nursery Supply Inc [email protected] Cheers to a great shipping season! Robert Van Klaveren Van’s Nursery [email protected] 503-463-4507
DIGGERMAGAZINE.COM MARCH 2018 7 MAR Calendar Get the word out about your event! Email details to [email protected] by the 10th day of the month to be included in the next issue of Digger.
MARCH 1 ONF SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS Do you know any high school, college or graduate students who are considering a career as a nursery or landscape professional? If so, tell them March 1 is the last day to apply for one of the 19 different Oregon Nurseries Foundation scholarships. Awards range from $500 to $1,500, and are sponsored by individuals and OAN chapters. For more information, log on to www.oan.org/onf, or contact Stephanie Weihrauch at 503-582-2001 or [email protected].
MARCH 2 MARCH 31 PLANT NERD NIGHT NEW VARIETIES SHOWCASE DEADLINE Start your garden season off with Mike Submission forms are due for the 2018 New Varieties Showcase. Eligible plants must be new Darcy’s annual Plant Nerd Night, brought to the market for 2018 or 2019, have different attributes than plants currently on the market, to you through the support of The Hardy and be in production and offered for sale by a 2018 Farwest Show exhibitor. Download Plant Society of Oregon, as well as the the form at www.farwestshow.com/nvs.shtml. For more information, contact Kristen Friends of the Rogerson Clematis Garden Rae Urban, OAN event and education manager, at 503-582-2011, or [email protected]. and the Salem Hardy Plant Society. Six regional specialty nurseries will offer previews of new or favorite plants, many of which will also offered for sale at the event. Doors will open at 6 p.m. on March opportunity, hosted at Al’s Garden & Home of other assistance, call 503-682-5089 or email 2. Presentations run 7–9 p.m. at Lake Bible Sherwood, Oregon. The first of two half-hour [email protected]. For display advertising, Church, 4565 Carman Drive, Lake Oswego, training presentations will review different contact Blair Thompson, OAN advertising Oregon. Visit www.hardyplantsociety.org/ insect pests that trouble growers and how to manager, at 503-682-5089 or [email protected]. plant-nerd-night for more information. make smart pesticide decisions. The second session covers the latest strategies for foliar APRIL 7 MARCH 3 disease control. The workshop begins with a GARDENPALOOZA BEEVENT POLLINATOR CONFERENCE social hour at 5 p.m., and ends with a 7:30 p.m. More than 45 local nurseries and garden Registration is open for the fourth annual raffle drawing. All event proceeds support the art vendors will showcase thousands of Pollinator Conference, hosted by Linn County OAN Scholarship Fund. Register by March 21 plants, tools and outdoor décor at the Spring Master Gardeners. The event will take place and submit your $25 attendance fee by going Gardenpalooza, a one-day gardening event. from 8 a.m.–5 p.m. March 3 at the Linn County to www.oan.org under "Events." Festivities will take place 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Fairgrounds in Albany, Oregon. Three lectures Saturday, April 7 at Fir Point Farms in will take place, reviewing how to help pollina- MARCH 31 Aurora, Oregon. Admission is free. For tors, nurture mason bees and suggestions for WAZA TO KOKORO information about exhibiting, contact Jeff creating an environment for native pollinators The Portland Japanese Garden is offering a and Therese Gustin at 503-793-6804 or in your yard. Cost is $30. More info www.lin- beginner level Waza to Kokoro: Hands and www.gardenpalooza.com. nmastergardeners.com/tickets.html Heart seminar September 20–27. The 12-day, stonework-focused program is for profes- APRIL 7 MARCH 18 sionals in garden design, construction, and SOIL SCHOOL FRUIT PROPAGATION FAIR maintenance who wish to learn the skills This day-long workshop includes multiple ses- The Home Orchard Society will host the 42nd and techniques for creating and stewarding sions on a wide variety of topics, including soil annual Fruit Propagation Fair from 10 a.m.–4 traditional Japanese gardens. Register before structure/testing, principles of soil health, per- p.m. at the Clackamas County Fairgrounds (694 March 31. For more information, please visit maculture, planting hedgerows for pollinators, NE 4th Ave., Canby, Oregon). The event will www.japanesegarden.org/thecenter rebuilding soils, sustainable landscape design, showcase hundreds of varieties of apples, pears, plant problem diagnosis and non-chemical cherries, plums, persimmons, grapes, kiwis, figs APRIL 3 pest management. Registered landscape pro- and much more. Admission is $5 for members OAN NURSERY GUIDE DEADLINE fessionals who attend can receive certificates (family $10); $7 for non-members (family $12); Listings are due for the 2018–19 OAN Nursery from the Oregon Landscape Contractors Board and free if you join the society at this show. Guide. This 360-plus-page book is the gold for continuing education hours. Soil School Please visit www.homeorchardsociety.org for standard for finding the plants, products is held at the Portland Community College more details. and services you want to buy — and letting Rock Creek Event Center and sponsored by people know what you want to sell. Only West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation MARCH 28 OAN members may submit listings, and each District, Tualatin Soil and Water Conservation GRIFFIN-OAN GROWER WORKSHOP member receives one free listing. To submit District and OSU Extension. The cost to attend Join Griffin and the OAN Retail & Greenhouse listings, log on to www.NurseryGuide.com. is $30, with online register available at chapters for a unique technical workshop If you need your username, password or www.wmswcd.org/soil-school.
8 MARCH 2018 DIGGERMAGAZINE.COM Northwest News OAN members and chapters are encouraged to send in relevant news items, such as new hires, new products, acquisitions, honors received and past or upcoming events. Email [email protected].
Northwest Farm Credit Services creates fund to support OAN events Northwest Farm Credit Services has created a $3,000 sponsorship fund to help support programs and events put on by OAN chapters. Each chapter is initially eligible to apply for up to $400 to help support one event that is beneficial for members. This first round of applications is due May 31. After that date, chapters may apply for additional funds to support Josh and Chris Robinson, owners of Robinson Nursery in Amity, Oregon, visit with Rep. Karin Power additional events, provided (D-Milwaukie) during OAN Lobby Day on February 13.. PHOTO BY CURT KIPP there is still money available. The sponsorship program is part of the overall plan to strengthen OAN Thanks to a constructive and issue-oriented chapters. Further steps will MEMBERS VISIT LEGISLATORS FOR approach, the OAN enjoys positive relation- be considered and addressed LOBBY DAY ships with legislators on both sides of the aisle. as part of the Chapter About a dozen OAN members, including Revitalization Task Force OAN President Josh Zielinski and Government which has been created and will meet this year. Relations Committee Chair Leigh Geschwill, OAN WATCHES BILLS BY LAND, SEA Chapter leaders have took to the State Capitol on Tuesday for Lobby AND AIR been provided with the Day. They had face-to-face discussions with Aside from cap and trade, there are 274 bills application form. Those legislators about issues affecting their busi- active in the 2018 Oregon Legislature, which interested in applying for nesses and the green industry as a whole. convened Monday, February 5. Of these, about money from this Northwest Farm Credit Services The afternoon began with a group meeting 70 are being tracked by the Oregon Association sponsorship fund may contact with House Speaker Tina Kotek (D-Portland), of Nurseries. Members of the OAN Government OAN Director of Events Allan followed by Senate Minority Leader Jackie Relations team are doing their best to ensure the Niemi at [email protected], Winters (R-Salem) and Sen. Chuck Thomsen bills help the nursery industry, or at least don’t 503-582-2005 or FAX 503-582- (R-Hood River). This was followed by smaller harm it. 5099, with any questions. groups visiting legislators in their offices. “We are watching bills on water storage As always, the lack of available labor transfers, land use exceptions and air quality was the top issue mentioned by nursery regulations, and we are poised to make sure and greenhouse operators. The cumula- those bills do not impact nursery owners,” OAN tive impact of multiple employer mandates contract lobbyist Elizabeth Remley said. “The from the Legislature, including wages, fam- land use and water bills ask the legislature to ily leave, predictive scheduling and taxes, bypass the standard process for establishing was also a primary concern. Growers also urban growth boundaries or transferring water mentioned water needs, freight movement rights. That would set a bad precedent and could and the possible impact of climate change open those policies to more detrimental changes legislation if not done thoughtfully. down the line. The air quality legislation could Lobby Day helps legislators understand the mean additional burdensome regulations on the real issues that growers are facing in the nearly appropriate use of pesticides.” $1 billion, traded-sector nursery industry, OAN members can check Member which contributes greatly to Oregon’s economy. Update emails for the session's developments.
DIGGERMAGAZINE.COM MARCH 2018 9 Northwest News The majority of filbert nuts produced in the United States are grown in Oregon. PHOTO COURTESY OF PIXABAY.COM
CHINA ASSIGNS 60,000 SOLDIERS OAN WELCOMES NEW STAFF events, weddings and charity fundraisers. TO PLANT TREES, FIGHT AIR MEMBER KELSEY HOOD “Having an unadulterated passion for POLLUTION Kelsey Hood is the new event nature and love for plants, I am abso- The People’s Republic of China and program coordinator lutely thrilled to be here and can- is deploying its army in the fight for the Oregon Association not think of a better industry against air pollution by assigning of Nurseries. She joins to work for,” Kelsey said. “As some 60,000 soldiers to tree-planting the events team for the Thomas Jefferson once said, duty, according to a report by The Farwest Show and other ‘No occupation is so delight- Independent (London, U.K.). OAN programs and events. ful to me as the culture of the The world’s most populated nation Kelsey was hired after Ali earth and no culture compa- is attempting to plant at least 32,400 Pennell left the OAN. Kristen rable to that of the garden.’” square miles with trees this year — an Urban, already on staff, was pro- Kelsey is a graduate of the area about the size of Ireland — and moted into Ali’s former position. University of Portland, earning her eventually raise its forest coverage from “We are excited to have Kelsey bachelor’s degree in organizational 21 percent of its landmass to 23 per- on our team,” OAN Director of Events communication. She can be reached at cent by 2020 and 26 percent by 2035. Allan Niemi said. “Her experience 503-582-2010 or [email protected]. The article didn’t indicate where the and passion will be great additions trees will be sourced, but China has long to the success of the Farwest Show been interested in Oregon plant mate- and our member-focused events.” EPA WORKING ON REPLACEMENT rial, and a number of Oregon growers Kelsey has a professional background FOR CLEAN WATER RULE are active in the Chinese market. Read in event planning and marketing from her The controversial 2015 Clean the article at tinyurl.com/yclrmucr. time with Wheelhouse 20/20, a business Water Rule has been officially put on Reduction of air pollution is among development company for the building hold for two years while the EPA and the tree and plant benefits promoted supply industry based in Portland. She U.S. Department of the Army work on by the OAN’s Plants Make Life Better also managed her own event planning writing a replacement. As the rule was campaign. For downloadable materials business, Belle Carousel Events, which written, the definition of the “Waters of promote the use of plant material, visit coordinated both corporate and social the United States” (commonly referred www.PlantSomethingOregon.com/pmlb.
NEW HAZELNUT NAMED FOR POLLY OWEN Polly Owen, former director of the Hazelnut Industry Office at Oregon State University, will soon have a new cultivar named after her to honor the service she provided to the hazelnut growing industry. Named PollyO, OSU’s new variety is an Eastern filbert blight-resistant tree bred by Shawn Mehlenbacher. PollyO is a large cultivar that produces hazelnuts that mature up to two weeks earlier than those of the Barcelona variety, and yield more nuts per tree than both Jefferson and Yamhill trees. Best suited for farmers in the kernel market, PollyO is compatible with McDonald, Wepster, and York varieties, working as a new ‘pollinizer’ tree that leads to decent yields and high- quality nuts. To read the more, visit Captial Press website by going to tinyurl.com/yc2dz325.
10 MARCH 2018 DIGGERMAGAZINE.COM The majority of filbert nuts produced in the United States are grown in Oregon. Yellow streaks and stunted growth are symptoms of soil-borne wheat mosaic virus.
PHOTO COURTESY OF PIXABAY.COM PHOTO COURTESY OF K-STATE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION, TINYURL.COM/YC6RCM7Y
to as WOTUS) gave federal regulatory authority over even marginal waters and streams. Growers and ranchers across the country expressed concern about the overly broad authority this would give federal officials. "The OAN has been critical of the WOTUS rule over the last several years and supports the administration and the efforts to reduce the overreach by the federal government on water regulations,” OAN Executive Director Jeff Stone said. SOIL-BORNE WHEAT MOSAIC Christina Hagerty, an Oregon As reported in the Capital Press VIRUS IN NORTHEAST OREGON State University assistant professor and (Salem, Oregon), the leaders of the Soil-borne wheat mosaic virus has plant pathologist at the Columbia Basin American Farm Bureau Federation, arrived four weeks earlier than last Agricultural Research Center, told Captial National Cattlemen’s Beef Association year at a disease resistance nursery near Press the unseasonably warm weather may and Western Growers issued public Milton-Freewater, Oregon. Affecting have caused the early arrival of symptoms. statements in support of this delay. a wide variety of horticultural and If you need to have your crop tested Read their comments by going vegetable crops, mosaic is a viral disease or have questions, read the full article to tinyurl.com/ydc6hqpk. found throughout the United States. online at tinyurl.com/y7pslulj.
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DIGGERMAGAZINE.COM MARCH 2018 11 Northwest News The view from the top of Detroit Dam. PHOTO BY CURTIS ALLWORTH
FUTURE PROJECT MAY IMPACT The project would likely require SEATTLE-BASED COMPANY MID-WILLAMETTE VALLEY draining some percentage of Detroit DEVELOPS SHELTERS THAT MEET IRRIGATION Lake — the reservoir that feeds into the H-2A HOUSING STANDARDS The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers North Santiam River — for up to two A startup company is creat- is developing proposals for construct- years. Growers in the area would have ing economical, portable shelters ing a water temperature control tower limited ability to irrigate their crops intended for H-2A farmworkers, and floating screen at the Detroit Dam, in that span of time. The project is in according to a report in the Capital according to a report in the Capital the early stages of development, and it Press newspaper (Salem, Oregon). Press newspaper (Salem, Oregon). will take years to conduct an environ- This news comes as more and more mental impact study. nurseries show interest in obtaining guest The earliest start date workers through the H-2A program. is 2021. Local farm- According to the report, the shelters are ers are waiting the full lightweight and include heating, air condi- project details before tioning, electrical wiring and bunks. raising concerns. Their 100-square-foot model units are Visit tinyurl. large enough to shelter two farmworkers. com/yba8hwre to Units are expected to last up to read more about the 10 years. developing discussion. Read more at tinyurl.com/y8fec7uy
12 MARCH 2018 DIGGERMAGAZINE.COM PIVOT POINTS
When simplicity beats creativity
T PIVOT, THE MARKETING 1. When you’ve got a great offer, put Ian Doescher agency where I work, I have it up front. If your retail store is offering a the enviable (at least I think 50 percent off sale, you could use a headline Ian Doescher is the Director of so)A position of being on a creative like “Half is a laugh!” or “The odds of Nonprofit Marketing at Pivot Group, team tasked with dreaming up creative loving this sale are better than 50/50.” You a marketing agency in Portland, Oregon. campaigns for our clients. We’re the could show a clever image that pictures half He can be reached at [email protected]. group that sits around bringing every of your store normally, and half wrapped in resource to bear — clever plays on money or something. 2. If there’s a common name for words, less clever puns, cultural You could do those things, but even something you’re doing, use it. Not too references, eye-catching headlines and if they are creative (debatable), they are long ago, a client (a regional cellular images, whatever we can — to help our the wrong choices. The only headline you provider) asked us to brainstorm a name clients’ advertising sing. should use, big and bold, is something like for a quarterly flash sale in their retail Occasionally, though, we happen on “Everything 50% off!” or “50% off sale!” store. We came up with a few different a campaign in which we try to come up Why hide a great offer behind a creative names, like Selling Point, Red Hot, The with creative ideas but end up with some- slogan or image that might make the Real Deal, and The Hookup. thing simple. That doesn’t mean talking message harder to understand? You get 500 bonus points if you can down to customers; it means being forth- Yes, sometimes we need creative guess what we eventually called it. If you right and clear with your messaging. marketing; we don’t create ads that just say guessed Flash Sale, you are correct. And Here are some examples and things “Buy Our Flowers.” But when you have a you know what? It was the best name. to consider on this question of simplicity fantastic offer, though, keep your advertising Why? Because people understand what a vs. creativity. simple and give the offer pride of place. flash sale is.
DIGGERMAGAZINE.COM MARCH 2018 13 PIVOT POINTS
Healthy plants, healthy profits. You don’t call cell phones Cody Plath “frequency-enabled personal connection Chris Fox tools.” You don’t call shoes “podiatric
CPS Cornelius Branch locomotion devices.” You don’t call Office: 503-640-2371 Fax: 503-640-5973 plants “aesthetically-pleasing natural chlorophyll receptacles.” Think about the terms your customers use — not what your industry uses or what a more creative 800.477.4744 name might be. Speak in their language. 3. Being effective trumps being 1076 SW Berg Parkway creative, every time. Some ads are Canby, Oregon 97013 merely creative, while others are creative and effective. (Some are uncreative obcnw.com and ineffective, but let’s not talk about those.) When it comes to marketing, effectiveness trumps creativity. You can have the most creative idea — an idea that makes thousands of people burst into spontaneous laughter and applause when they see it — but if it doesn’t produce results for your business, it’s a failure. 4. Put every idea or ad to the test. When you look at an ad you are creating for your business or a campaign headline, ask yourself: do I understand the main message in five seconds or less? If a headline is so creative that it needs explanation — “You see, it’s Dosatron Injectors Greenhouses clever because René Descartes famously said, ‘Cogito ergo sum,’ and we’re Non-Electric Proportional Semi-Gable, Semi-Quonset, Fertilizer Injectors: 14 -100 GPM and Gutter Connected breeding and selling corgis, so ‘Corgito ergo sum’ is brilliant!” — it’s the • Automate hydroponics nutrient mixes Clear and blackout poly film, shade cloth, • Deliver precise results privacy screen, single and double wall wrong headline. • Easy to use and maintain with no reservoirs polycarbonate, heaters, exhaust fans, If you understand the offer or the • Parallel installations inject multiple nutrients circulation fans, soil mixes, and more message in five seconds or fewer, you in a single water line supplies to grow with. are in good shape. Even better if you get that down to two seconds. (Remember, people have shorter attention spans Everything You Need to Grow than … sorry, what was I saying?) • Bamboo • Label Printers Sometimes, to accomplish this, you • Burlap • Poly Film have to set aside creativity and focus • Containers • Shade Cloth on simplicity. • EarthPots • Twine As much as it may pain me — a • Fertilizer • Tye Tapes creative professional — to say so, there • Soil • Wire Baskets are plenty of times when simplicity • Ground Cover • Greenhouse Supplies beats creativity. Sometimes, the most • Hardware straightforward message is the most effective one. Keeping the points above in mind will help you know when that’s Licensed & Bonded • License #127055 (OR) • OBCNO1 H022CR (WA) the case.
14 MARCH 2018 DIGGERMAGAZINE.COM An attractive table display at Al’s Home & Garden Center, Sherwood location, PHOTO BY DAWN HUMMEL
A houseplant awakening Growers and retailers tap into a renewed interest in indoor plants
BY DAWN HUMMEL
ISA ELDRED STEINKOPF is addicted to houseplants Jennifer Williams, a plant buyer and merchandiser with and has a huge collection to prove it. She recently Dennis’ 7 Dees Nursery & Landscaping in Portland, Oregon, published a 272-page hardback book on the subject, has also noticed steady growth. The nursery’s indoor plant LHouseplants: The Complete Guide to Choosing, Growing and sales for 2017 were up 18 percent over the prior year, Caring for Indoor Plants. she said. “If I had only paid a dollar for every plant, I’d have at Fessler Nursery, a wholesale greenhouse grower with sea- least $1,000 tied up,” she said. sonal retail on the side, has observed the same rise in interest. Enthusiasts like Lisa are a welcome sight for any retail “(Our houseplant sales to) retailers have really grown in nursery owner, but for a long time they were few and far the last two years,” said Dale Fessler, manager of houseplants between — at least when it comes to houseplants. For many, and co-owner at the nursery. “We’ve been striving to offer houseplants were something their mom grew in the 1970s. more houseplant cultivars to our clients.” Not anymore. Houseplants can also be deployed in Echeverias, succulents, tillandsias, orchids and tropi- business and corporate spaces. Kathy cals are making a resurgence on the local and national J. Fediw, is president of Johnson scene. Recent houseplant sales figures reflect the trend. Fediw Associates, a consulting firm “Houseplants are getting more popular every that works with interior plantscape season,” said Judy Alleruzzo, a plant buyer with Al’s companies. Garden & Home, a retailer with four Oregon loca- “I’ve seen an increase in office tions. “A few short years ago it was not a big plant sales of 15 to 30 percent, interest department. The increase in popular- depending on the city,” she said. ity of tillandsias and huge assortment of Interiorscapers regularly install unique succulents are helping to drive blooming orchids, bromeliads and our houseplant department sales, other tropicals and houseplants in cor- which have increased 14.8 per- porate office buildings, changing them cent as of December 2017.” out every four to eight weeks.
DIGGERMAGAZINE.COM MARCH 2018 15 A houseplant awakening Several different houseplant options to satisfy a multitude of customer interests are on display at Al’s Home & Garden Center (Sherwood), Portland Nursery (Division Street), the Plants Etc. booth at Portland Flower Market, as well as Fessler Nursery in Woodburn. PHOTOS BY DAWN HUMMEL
Tapping into interest plants based in Langley, British Any retailers hoping to sell more houseplants would be wise Columbia, Canada, suggested that to target millennials, generally defined as the 80 million people independent garden centers (IGC) born between 1977–2000. Their spending is expected to reach should look for ways to stand out $1.4 trillion in 2020, according to a study by Accenture. as well as ways to help the According to Mark Leichty, director of business develop- customer succeed. ment at Little Prince of Oregon Nursery, a wholesale greenhouse “Differentiate yourself from the big grower in Aurora, Oregon, houseplants can be an initial entry box stores,” he said. “Don’t try to compete on point for customers who may graduate to larger purchases price on the basics. Instead, offer unique items and education by long term. offering classes, pots, tools, books (and other aids). IGCs are the “Consumers like the idea of growing things indoors — source for ideas and knowledge. everything from purifying the air to cool plants that are just fun to grow and look at,” he said. Removing the guesswork But there’s a caveat. Those who monitor trends have noted Growers must decide what to grow and buyers must decide that fear of failure can drive consumer behavior, particularly what to stock. De Boer says that his approach is to let sales fig- among millennials. Alleruzzo has noticed that they ures drive future offerings. will look for information in YouTube videos “We are like disc jockeys — you request, we play,” he said. and come looking for what they see. “If an item goes viral it may influence demand, but ultimately “Many customers are decorators our customers decide.” and desire specific plants in their Alleruzzo peruses industry trade magazines, Pinterest and home because they found it in home decor magazines for new ideas on what to order. a home décor magazine,” Williams, of Dennis’ 7 Dees, said open dialogue with cus- she said. tomers is important. “One of the most important ways to keep a Giving these custom- pulse on what is in demand is by listening to what customers are ers a successful first expe- asking for and what they’re excited about,” she said. rience with plants is key Brian Jacob, West Coast territory manager for ForemostCo®, to earning repeat business. a Florida-based broker of young plant starts, said that company Fred de Boer, owner of marketers follow social outlets such as YouTube, Pinterest and Mainland Floral Distributors Instagram. However, trends aren’t always easy to read. Ltd, a major supplier of house- “How do we take information provided by social media
16 MARCH 2018 DIGGERMAGAZINE.COM and make the best use of it for our own B2B operations?” he asked. “There are a lot of pins originating in Europe. By the time social media has discovered a new plant, there are typically many years of effort already invested by the professional young plant supplier network.” Justin Hancock, Costa Farms Horticulturist, says many growers show plants that are not yet commercially avail- able to see what response they get from trade show attendees before going into full production. Attending TPIE, Cultivate and MANTS are great for trend spotting. By combining educated guesswork, customer dialogue and crystal ball gazing, growers can predict what customers Quality Bark Dust will want and determine how best to provide it. @ Wholesale Prices Fir Bark Dust • Hemlock • Sawdust Compost • Hog Fuel • Fines
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DIGGERMAGAZINE.COM MARCH 2018 17 A houseplant awakening
SALES TIPS
Ways to target consumers Here are the top 10 tips for targeting consumers that were offered by growers and retailers interviewed for this story:
OFFER SOMETHING BRING BACK MAKE MINE TAG, YOU’RE IT! BULLETPROOF. MINIATURE MACRAMÉ. 1 2GARDENS. 3 4 Houseplants that are Amongst younger folks, Most houseplants lack easy for brown thumbs to Mini-houseplants less macramé holders are all the the branded or detailed grow — such as tender suc- than 2 inches tall are rage. Millennials love information ornamental culents, Sago Palms, Zanzibar all the rage on the the retro, kitsch growers typically provide on Gem, Pothos, Sansevieria and East Coast. The look paired with plant tags. That’s an oversight. Philodendrons — represent a fairy garden succulents, Most women’s and men’s win-win for retailers. Those craze has not tillandsias, clothing items sport 2–3 that also sport a bit of color hit the Pacific orchids, ferns, tags per item. Contrast that are even better. Aglaonemas Northwest air plants, with houseplants — many and Syngonium can be very with the and glass lack even one! According colorful. same feroc- terrariums. to Dale Fessler, Fessler’s If a plant can serve a ity yet, but When macramé Nursery recently added them. dual purpose, that also helps. Al’s Garden & holders show up “Until we entered the retail Plants like Aloe Vera clean the Home, Portland in JoAnn Fabrics, Pier market, we weren’t tagging air, have medicinal usages and Nursery, Garland Nursery 1 Imports, Michaels craft our houseplants, but now look cool. ForemostCo® offers and others have been ahead of stores as well as Crate and we are,” he said. According certified, organic sourced the bell curve, selling a wide Barrel catalogs and Etsy sites to Williams, Dennis’ 7 Dees Aloe that is perfect for dual- variety of fairy garden plants. at the same time, it’s time for recognized houseplant tags as purpose houseplant category. They offer a wide range of garden retailers to take note. an upgrade for 2018 to help Spathiphyllum is an excellent, books, tools and do-it-yourself drive increased sales. low-light interior plant with classes in creating fairy gardens. attractive white flowers most of the year. It will last mul- tiple years with minimal care. Curcumas are great tropical patio plants. They can be brought into garage and left to go dormant. Trot them back out once the weather warms again allows plants to become fuller and floriferous every year.
18 MARCH 2018 DIGGERMAGAZINE.COM Indoor plants are a popular trend. PHOTOS BY DAWN HUMMEL
SALES TIPS
EDUTAINMENT AS SIGNAGE: THE WOULD YOU GET INTO A SALES TOOL. SILENT, 24/7 LIKE SOIL WITH TRAINING. 5 6SALESPERSON. 7YOUR PLANT? 8 Millennials are hard- Houseplants can be an working individuals who When the seasonal Plants generally do afterthought at retail nurser- crave authentic learning crunch time ensues and not enjoy a huge mark-up, ies, particularly for front-line experiences. Classes are a staffing is an issue, do not but soils, tools and other employees. To avert this pos- great way to reach them and forget about signage. Al’s sundry items do. Asking the sibility, Al’s Garden & Home drive sales. Al’s Garden & uses rotated signage to give customer if they want soil pays specific attention to Home schedules classes in more information about or fertilizer can boost retail houseplants in its staff train- January and February when plants in stock. They also sales immensely. Add-on ing. The company hosts a their gardener base is staying try to use light require- items such as baskets, glass, spring refresher class for all indoors. To boost orchid ment stickers to identify macramé holders, books, staff and seasonal employees sales around Valentine’s Day, high, medium and low light specialized soils, fertilizers, so they are ready to answer Al’s features basic orchid plant varieties. “We have and specialized tools offered questions, help customers, and care classes. Their mini- made a conscious commit- online, in merchandised keep the department properly indoor fairy garden classes ment to have knowledge- displays, endcaps or classes merchandised. “Our special- are gaining popularity. able staff people available can turn a $3.99 sale into a ized houseplant lead employ- There’s also PlantNite.com, to customers to help them $25–$50 sale. ees shadow veteran staff a Boston-based website that select plants for their “There are endless gathering in-depth informa- organizes “build your own homes, offices or as gifts,” opportunities for add-on sales tion to keep the department terrarium” and similar events Alleruzzo said. with indoor plants,” Williams clean, plants stocked and at local bars and restaurants said. “We have good success well-cared for in their daily and licenses independent with specialty soils and routine,” Alleruzzo said. entrepreneurs to run them. fertilizers, decorative moss and rocks for top dressings, and indoor pottery. We have added a few items this year such as macramé hangers, cork pieces and other unique plant display items that are trendy. We have surely not yet tapped the full potential of this department.”
Frank Adams, presents at the 2016 American Institute of Floral Designers Christmas event at the Portland Flower Growers Market.
DIGGERMAGAZINE.COM MARCH 2018 19 A houseplant awakening
BE AWARE OF 9‘THE AMAZON EFFECT.’ As everyone in retail knows, Amazon’s share of holiday shopping dollars, and retail dollars in general, is going up. Independent garden centers and wholesale nurseries are not immune. Millennials are purchasing houseplants from non- traditional sources. The rise of PayPal and Square payment apps, Etsy and Facebook are technology disruptors impacting traditional brick and mortar retailers. If that’s not enough to cause concern, Amazon has made moves into brick-and- mortar retail and recently introduced its cashless, contact free retail store concept in Seattle where you walk in, pick up your merchandise, walk out and are charged automatically.
KNOW THAT PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE WITH PLANTS. 10Shrinking home lots and yards are becoming nearly non-existent inside urban growth boundaries. Houseplants bring the outside indoors — providing enjoyment to young and old alike. Hop on the houseplant train to offer your customers a wee bit of green happiness year-round.
Dawn Hummel is the president and CIO of BeeDazzled Media LLC, a firm specializing in marketing for small B2B horticulture and floriculture customers. She has more than 20 years of experience in retail garden centers and wholesale nurseries, and can be reached at [email protected] or 503-784-0691.
20 MARCH 2018 DIGGERMAGAZINE.COM CLASSIFIEDS 1. Select Standard or Display Classified formats. Classified Line Ad 2. Determine general heading and subhead that ad runs under: • $35/column inch for OAN members / $55 for nonmembers. • General: “Employment,” “Plant Material,”“Service/Supply,” “Real Estate.” • Regular, one-column, standard typeface, approximately 28–38 characters • Subheads run under general headings. Create your own, but be general: per line, 7 lines per inch. Use headlines, bold, italics and special characters. “Conifers,” “Liners,” “Equipment,” etc. • Corporate logo (black & white) $30 additional charge. 3. Indicate number of months ad runs. Classified Display Ad (plus production charges @ $69/hour) 4. Indicate any blind box for confidential replies. We assign number and • $45/column inch for OAN members / $71 for nonmembers. mail any responses. • Use logos, display type, borders, screens or reverses. 5. Compose ad. Designate headlines. • Electronic ad files can be supplied. Call for production details. 6. Email ad by deadline, March 10 for the April issue. Digger Classifieds 7. We bill after publication. 29751 S.W. Town Center Loop W., Wilsonville, OR 97070 8. We reserve right to edit ads for content. Phone 503-682-5089 • Fax 503-682-5727 • Email: [email protected]
EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT HORTICULTURAL SALES CONTAINER PRODUCTION MAINTENANCE WORKER PLANT HEALTH SPRAY FIELD REPRESENTATIVE MANAGER Be part of a team in our progressive APPLICATOR For Fred C. Gloeckner & Company – BAILEY NURSERIES INC. wholesale tree nursery in the Wholesale nursery seeking a pesticide Texas Territory. YAMHILL, OREGON Boring, Oregon area. Will work at applicator in our plant health For a full job description and details Job Description: our propagation farm performing department. The qualified applicant on how to apply, please go to our • Leadership of all growing & shipping maintenance for all facilities including must have the ability to work in a website under the Employment tab: activities of 200-acre container nursery. repairs, limited construction for team environment and communicate www.fredgloeckner.com/ warehouses, greenhouses, coolers, with various management levels both employment.html Responsibilities & Qualifications: office buildings, outbuildings, wells, written and verbal. Our Container Production Manager will: and irrigation systems. OPERATIONS MANAGER – • Have proven experience in Horticultural or agricultural FLOWER BULB FACILITY management & container nursery Requires working knowledge of light experience and an Oregon Certified Fred C. Gloeckner & Company in production. electrical, plumbing, and construction. Pesticide Applicator License (or ability Clackamas, OR. • Have a minimum 2-year degree in Driver's license and insurable driving to acquire) preferred. Bilingual in For a full job description and details an Ag Sciences or business field or record required. The ideal candidate English/Spanish a plus. on how to apply, please go to our equivalent work experience. will have skills in farming activity website under the Employment tab. • Have strong leadership skills to train and equipment operation with the Required Skills or Qualifications: www.fredgloeckner.com/ & motivate a workforce of up to 125 willingness to contribute in all areas 1. Ability to measure/calibrate employment.html employees. of nursery production especially during solutions for spray equipment. • Have the ability to manage pro- peak seasons of nursery activity. 2. Knowledge of tractor/equipment/ OFFICE SUPPORT/SALES duction cycles & cultural practices to sprayer operation. Plant Quest, a wholesale nursery accurately hit sales target windows. Full-time position, Monday through 3. Basic knowledge of insects, weeds, grower/broker located in Gaston, • Create and monitor departmental Friday with some weekend work and disease in nursery crops. Oregon, is looking for an Office capital & expense budgets. includes an excellent benefits package. 4. Basic understanding of economic Support/Sales person. This person will • Track appropriate depart- Position is available immediately and thresholds for application justification. aid the existing sales staff with a goal mental metrics. wages are DOE. 5. Must be able to work independently • Have the ability to communicate and be available for working evenings/ of developing their own relationships Mail, fax or email resume to: effectively with all levels of the com- weekends if necessary. with current and new customers. J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co. pany. Must collaborate with other 6. Oregon Certified Pesticide Attn: Human Resources divisions & departments, includ- Applicator License (or ability to acquire) Position will also include clerical duties PO Box 189, Boring, OR 97009 ing inventory, plant health, human 7. Knowledge of Worker Protection and data entry. Preferred candidate Fax: (503) 512-2209 resources, shop, water manager, Standard and Employee Right to will be proficient in QuickBooks Email: [email protected] including General Ledger and have sales, bareroot, propagation. Know requirements (Hazardous strong verbal, writing and people • Incorporate Lean flow & a Communication Program) skills. manufacturing outlook into the 8. Pass internal safety training farm's culture. 9. Basic computer skills helpful We offer a competitive wage and • Be able to analyze our systems & 10. Valid driver’s license with insurable benefits. Please email cover letter processes, looking to continuously driving record. and resume' for consideration to improve efficiency. [email protected] • Have a valid Oregon driver's license HELP WANTED Compensation: This is a full-time with insurable driving record. For jobs and key employees position and includes full benefit NURSERY FIELD PRODUCTION • Have computer literacy including throughout California and the package, pay DOE. SUPERVISOR Word, Excel, Power Point and internal Northwest, call Florasearch, Inc. Qualified candidates will have 3 or reporting. You know us. For more than three To Apply: Please submit resume and more years of nursery experience with • Spanish language skills desired but decades we have been bringing letter of interest to skills to effectively manage crews in not required. together key people and excellent Abigail Garcia, all aspects of field production tasks: companies in the nursery and Bailey Nurseries, Inc., pruning, grading, shipping, field prep, Compensation: This is a salaried posi- greenhouse industries and allied 18616 NW Reeder Road, irrigation, mechanical field harvest, tion that includes full benefit pack- trades. Check our references. Portland, OR 97231. etc. Private applicator's license is age, pay DOE. Confidential. Employer pays fee. Email: [email protected]. required. Bilingual (Spanish) desirable. Phone: 503-621-9710 Ext: 101 Comprehensive benefits. Send resumes To Apply: If interested, please submit Florasearch, Inc. to [email protected] resume and letter of interest to: 1740 Lake Markham Rd. Brian Bowman, West Coast Sanford, FL 32771 CLASSIFIED ADS Administrator Bailey Nurseries, Inc. Ph (407) 320-8177 9855 NW Pike Rd Yamhill, OR 97148 Fx (407) 320-8083 WORK! [email protected] Website: www.florasearch.com [email protected] 503-662-3244 Email: [email protected] 503-582-2012
DIGGERMAGAZINE.COM MARCH 2018 21 EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT PLANT MATERIAL PLANT MATERIAL
SPRAY APPLICATOR SUPERVISOR MERCHANDISERS JAPANESE MAPLES J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co. is looking Merchandisers needed to assist 10 acres of Japanese maples and for an individual to operate agricultural with daily maintenance of outdoor conifers 10 to 20 years old. Best farm equipment and apply pesticides. garden plants at multiple store reasonable offers considered. Go to Must be able to communicate in locations for mid-sized wholesale www.hlfarms.org to view inventory. English and either have or obtain grower in Portland. Duties include Also have containers for sale – must private pesticide applicators license watering, moving, consolidating buy all – no ones & twos. Woody Liner Tool Kit within six months of hire. Will and cleaning of plants and display supervise and train workers in safe areas. Also assisting with building Contact Howard at 971-563-7603 or Nobody has a wider selection of working practices around chemicals tables, displays, monitoring plant 503-632-4154. unique cultivars and root stock. and equipment hazards. signage and answering customers’ plant questions. Salem, OR 97317 SCHURTER NURSERY Requires proficiency in the working 503-585-9835 / Fax 503-371-9688 maintenance and operation of all Must be reliable and detail-oriented, [email protected] Arborvitae - Emerald green tractors, sprayers, and equipment able to work independently and www.heritageseedlings.com Container-grown Boxwoods used in pest management. Must be as part of a team. Must also be Green Giants able to work independently without enthusiastic and dedicated, self- starters, who enjoy working with Otto Luyken • Skip Laurel close supervision and observe all HICKENLOOPER GARDENS safety requirements. Horticultural plants and are willing to learn. Various Sizes & Varieties We have a lot to offer! plant knowledge and mechanical Experience in retail or wholesale nursery industry is desirable, 503-932-8006 abilities a plus. Comprehensive Specializing in: but not necessary. Valid driver’s employee benefit package. Salary Hosta license and working cell phone commensurate with experience. Winter Jewels Hellebores are required. Must be able to CLEARWATER GROWERS Hardy Fuchsia communicate in English. Mail, fax or email resume to: Heuchera J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co. ROOTED CUTTINGS / PLUGS: Ferns Attn: Human Resources Please send your resume and cover Carex; Deschampsia caespitosa; letter to [email protected] with PO Box 189, Boring, OR 97009 Juncus; Scirpus; Contact us for an availability list. Blind Box A in the subject line. Fax: (503) 512-2209 Thuja o. - ‘Emerald Green’ www.hickenlooper-gardens.com Email: [email protected] LINERS: Phone: 503-949-5723 Arctostaphylos - ‘Mass’; Fax: 541-327-2011 Carex; Carex testacea; [email protected] Ceanothus g. ‘Pt Reyes’; We are always looking for career oriented skilled sta . Cornus s. ‘Kelseyi’; Our operations include wholesale growing, shipping, Cotoneaster - ‘Lowfast‘/ ‘Coral landscape contractor sales, and retail nursery. If you Beauty’; Deschampsia caespitosa; have the interest and skills needed to be a part of our Fragaria; Juncus; Leyland Cypress; DECIDUOUS TREE GROWER IN team, please apply. We are growers of container and Specimen size eld grown ornamentals. Liriope m. ‘Big Blue’; MILTON-FREEWATER Liriope spicata; Mahonia; We are looking for people in the following areas: BAMBOO Wholesale deciduous tree nursery Pachysandra; Pennisetum; located in Milton-Freewater, Oregon • Sales / Customer Service (Wholesale/Retail) over 30 feet tall • Production / Growers / Supervisors Polystichum; Prunus – ‘Schipkaensis’; is seeking a full-time, experienced • Shipping & Receiving Rubus c. Sarcococca; available grower. Must be hands-on with direct • Inventory / O ce Mgmt & Admin / Purchasing Thuja o. – ‘Emerald Green’; Vinca experience in planting, growing, and • Pesticide / IPM Managers & Applicators harvesting deciduous trees. • Irrigation Management / Skilled Laborers 1 gal availability • Outside sales throughout U.S. & Canada Arctostaphylos - ‘Mass’; •Clumping Bamboo Applicant must be fluent in Spanish • Controller / Accounting Manager Calamagrostis; Carex; • Horticultural Website Developer and English, both reading and Ceanothus; Cornus s. ‘Kelseyi’; •Large diversity writing, and have proven supervisory/ Applicants with speci c work experience or education Cotoneaster dammeri - ‘Coral •Quality wholesale plants management skills. in the nursery industry is desired. Computer skills, Beauty’ / ‘Lowfast’; Deschampsia; Spanish / English bilingual, plant ID knowledge and We carry bamboo barrier Festuca; Fragaria; Gaultheria shallon; • equipment operation skills also preferred. Ideal candidate will be self-motivated Helictotrichon sempervirens; Juncus; HDPE 30” x 60 mil and quality driven, be honest, a team Pay commensurate with experience. Bene ts to Liriope; Mahonia; Pennisetum; Controls running bamboo player, trustworthy and possess a high include: Paid vacation and sick leave, paid holidays, Polystichum munitum; Rubus; medical and dental insurance. Respond with resume (503) 647-2700 work ethic standard. Sarcococca; Vinca to [email protected] to the speci c job for www.bamboogarden.com which you qualify. Five plus years of horticultural Custom Propagation Available [email protected] education and/or work related For more information, please visit us online at www.loennursery.com experience is preferred. Valid driver's Ph: 503-359-7540 license required. Wage DOE with full Fax: 503-357-2282 company benefits. PLANT MATERIAL Forest Grove, OR
Mail, fax or email resume to: OREGON GREEN MOSS J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co. A cheap way to keep plant KISLER FARMS Bareroot & Container Grown Understock & Rooted Cuttings Attn: Human Resources soil moist, cool and colorful. Chamaecyparis, J Maples & more. PO Box 189, Boring, OR 97009 All field stock 30% off wholesale: Bareroot Seedlings • Soil cover in pots Acer, Amelanchier, Betula, Cercis, Malus, Fax: (503) 512-2209 • Lining for hanging baskets Cham.O. Nana Gracilis, Spiralis, Chabo Populus, Prunus, Pyrus, Zelkova Email: [email protected] • Filling wire forms for topiaries Yarderi, Oregon Crested, Torulosa, Rooted Cuttings Cham.T. Glauca Pendula, Little Jamie, Acer rubrum, Betula, Platanus, Prunus & Ulmus Contact: Acer P. Lions Main, Dis. Crim Q. Band Pot Grown Acer, Carpinus, Cornus, Fagus, Liquidambar, [email protected] Nyssa, Quercus, & Syringa More varieties at: or visit Over 175 Varieties www.WillametteEvergreen.com https://kislerfarms.wordpress.com/ landscape-trees/ Salem, Oregon 1-877-490-7844 jlpnliners.com • [email protected]
22 MARCH 2018 DIGGERMAGAZINE.COM PLANT MATERIAL PLANT MATERIAL PLANT MATERIAL SERVICE/SUPPLY
Ground Covers LINERS AVAILABLE Rootstock Containers Grown in Anderson BP’s Green Mountain Boxwood ROOT CONTROL Hicks Yew GROW BAGS Blue Maid Holly Skip Laurel from High Caliper Growing Systems Portuguese Laurel Smart Pots - Any Size European Beech Pot Pruners - Tree Collars Pacific NW 500+ $1.50ea 2500+ $1.25ea CopenHaven Farms Nursery 1-800-521-8089 Native Plants Phone: 503-874-4123 www.treebag.com Container • B&B • Bareroot Environmental & Ecological Quality Oregon-Grown Re-vegetation Landscape Contractor Rootstock & Seedlings GALVANIZED BENCHING Native Trees & Shrubs Northwest Natives Bench tops or full sets for Groundcovers for Fruit, Flowering freestanding displays. Wetland & Riparian Plants Conifers & Deciduous Trees & Shade Trees Shelves 18"x 6' – 32 available – $25/ea. Shelves 34"x 6' – 53 available – $35/ea. Contract & custom growing year-round Other miscellaneous pieces $5/ea. Call: A Valley 503.985.7161 541-979-0885 or [email protected] Fax: Growers BEAVERLAKE 503.985.7876 Nursery NURSERY AD INDEX 503-651-3535 • FAX 503-651-3044 www.copenhavenfarms.com www.valleygrowers.com [email protected] AAA Mercantile...... 31 [email protected] Native, Wetland Gaston, Oregon Alpha Nursery Inc...... 17 Hubbard, OR • OR and WA Certified D/WBE Company and Ground Cover WILLAMETTE NURSERIES Anderson Die & Mfg. Co. Inc...... 2 PACIFIC CREST Specialist YOUR SOURCE FOR Biringer Nursery...... 12 GROUNDCOVERS, INC. ORNAMENTAL SEEDLINGS, Kinnikinnick, Fragaria, FRUIT TREE ROOTSTOCK, Cascade Trees...... 31 Growers of CUTTING LINER VARIETIES Gaultheria, Mahonia, Crop Production Services...... 14 Liriope, Vinca and more. Quality, Healthy, & MORE. 3.5” and #1’s. Ready-to-Sell Plants. We specialize in understock D-Stake Mill Inc...... 11 for flowering, fruiting Dayton Bag & Burlap...... 20 Call or email for availability list: Phone: 503-632-4787 and shade. 503-784-4925 or F & L Lumber Inc...... 20 www.willamettenurseries.com [email protected] Fax: 503-632-5412 GK Machine...... 3 10895 S. Heinz Rd, CONTRACT GROWING Excellent quality. Canby, OR 97013 YEAR ROUND Outstanding service. Hostetler Farm Drainage...... 31 21200 S. Ferguson Rd. 25571 S. Barlow Rd. Lane Forest Products...... 12 Beavercreek, OR 97004 Liners Canby, OR 97013 www.beaverlakenursery.com Leonard Adams Insurance ...... 6 503-263-6405 Marion Ag Service Inc...... 29 Toll-Free: 1-800-852-2018 Marr Bros...... 17 Rhododendrons E-Mail: [email protected] McPheeters Turf Inc...... 31 BIG RHODODENDRONS GRAFTED LINERS PREMIUM QUALITY Motz & Son Nursery...... 31 100 Varieties of Maples Acres of rhododendrons – OREGON ROOTSTOCK OBC Northwest...... 14 Fir, Cedar, Cypress, Larch, instant privacy available. THE FOUNDATION Obersinner Nursery...... 31 Spruce, Pine, Sequoia 5'-10' (make offer). OF YOUR ORCHARD WINDY RIDGE Also in cans. STARTS HERE! OHP Inc...... 5 TRECO® Oregon Valley Greenhouses ...... 27 Hidden Acres Nursery NURSERY Oregon Rootstock & Tree Co. Inc. 19615 SW Cappoen Rd. Pac West Transport Services...... 26 1918 SE 302nd Avenue P.O. Box 98 Sherwood, OR 97140 Troutdale, OR 97060 Woodburn, OR 97071 503-625-7390 Pacific Industrial Auctions...... 24 503-667-7037 www.treco.nu Fax: 503-661-7315 Reardon Nursery...... 29 Availability on website www.hiddenacresnursery.net p: 1.800.871.5141 www.wrntrees.com f: 503.634.2344 Rickel’s Tree Farm...... 31 Schurter Nursery...... 31 Spring Meadow Nursery Inc...... 32 3 WAYS TO SUBSCRIBE TO T & R Company...... 3 Weeks Berry Nursery...... 26 PHONE ONLINE EMAIL Willamette Nurseries...... 11 503-682-5089 www.oan.org/publications [email protected]
DIGGERMAGAZINE.COM MARCH 2018 23 24 MARCH 2018 DIGGERMAGAZINE.COM GROWING An ongoing series provided by Oregon State University in collaboration with the United KNOWLEDGE States Department of Agriculture Series content is coordinated by Dr. Jay Pscheidt, professor of botany and in partnership with the and plant pathology at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. Oregon Association of Nurseries
Heroes and villains Research identifies harmful and beneficial microbes in nursery soil
BY JERRY WEILAND, CAROLYN SCAGEL, NIK GRUNWALD, ZACHARY FOSTER, VAL FIELAND, AND LUISA SANTAMARIA
OUR YEARS AGO, we received funding from the Floriculture and Nursery Research Initiative toF study the interaction of soil-borne pathogens and environment on nursery plant health and disease control (Digger, July 2015). Since then, we have made significant progress in identifying the beneficial and pathogenic microbes (microscopic fungi and oomycetes like Phytophthora and Pythium) found in rhododendron roots and in assessing how pathogen diversity affects disease development and control. Our initial research focus has been on rhododendron because it is a com- mon ornamental crop here in the Pacific Northwest nursery industry and because many of the soil-borne pathogens that affect rhododendron also affect other plant species. Rhododendrons with root rot in a low-lying area of the field. PHOTO BY JERRY WEILAND What we learn about these patho- gens on rhododendron will help us solve root diseases on other horticultural crops agement and soil health for nursery pro- tral decomposers of organic matter, and affected by the same pathogens. duction in the Pacific Northwest. Here, we some are plant pathogens (e.g., Pythium Our research team consists of experts will summarize what we have discovered and Phytophthora species). in nursery production, plant pathol- so far about microbial diversity and how By comparing the rhododendron ogy, mycorrhizae, plant physiology, and soil-borne pathogen diversity might be microbiome at several different nurseries extension services from the Horticultural affecting disease control. from both field-grown and potted plants, Crops Research Laboratory (USDA-ARS), we expect to identify organisms that are Oregon State University, and Oklahoma Microbial diversity research consistently associated with plants and State University. Together, we hope to pro- We are using a technique called might be candidates for biological control vide a comprehensive approach to iden- metabarcoding to study the diversity of or provide plant growth promoting effects. tifying the key beneficial and pathogenic microscopic fungi and oomycetes (the We also expect to identify common root microbes that affect nursery plant produc- microbiome) that occur in the roots of pathogens, as well as previously unrecog- tion and to evaluate how that microbial healthy rhododendrons from different nized pathogens, that are important play- diversity impacts disease control. nurseries. Some of these microbes are ben- ers in reducing root health. Our goal is to improve disease man- eficial (e.g., mycorrhizae), some are neu- Our preliminary results suggest
DIGGERMAGAZINE.COM MARCH 2018 25 Heroes and villains
that each nursery has a distinct communi- ty of fungi and oomycetes, although a few specific organisms are common among all nurseries, including fungi typically thought to be mycorrhizal, the fungus Trichoderma (sometimes used as a biocontrol agent), and several saprophytic species that decompose organic matter. Pathogens were detected, but none were consistently found across all nurser- ies. Although we found that field-grown plants had different microbial communi- ties than potted plants, those communities were not necessarily more diverse. We keep your We also looked to see whether there were any differences in community diversity between three rhododendron cultivars, but did not find any. This is business surprising because similar studies on other crops have revealed differences in the root microbiome between closely related cultivars. moving. Finally, we tried to assign the organ- isms we found to different ecological lifestyles and estimated that most were decomposers, some were pathogens or had multiple possible lifestyles (mixed), and relatively fewer were beneficial. However, the beneficial organisms, while not as diverse, were some of the most commonly found organisms in our study.
Soil-borne pathogen diversity In addition to our microbiome work on healthy plants, we are surveying dis- eased rhododendrons to find out which soil-borne pathogens are the most com- mon and cause the most damage. From 2013 to 2017, we sampled rhododendrons with symptoms of root Transportation Brokers rot from seven cooperating nurseries that grow rhododendron. So far, Phytophthora cinnamomi, Phytophthora plurivora, and Intermodal | Refrigerated | Van | Flatbed Pythium cryptoirregulare are the most common pathogens isolated. The only pathogen we found at all seven nurseries 503-641-8828 was Pythium cryptoirregulare, so it was 800-333-4434 important that we assess the ability of this P.O. Box 91220, Portland, OR 97291 pathogen to cause disease. pacwesttransport.com The good news is that, although Pythium cryptoirregulare is common, it does not appear to be very aggressive
26 MARCH 2018 DIGGERMAGAZINE.COM 35
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0 0 i Decomposer Pathogen Mixed Beneficial a ea a ra p e p p p vor om vor ou um ar ou ou ou cum i og bi spo gr or ul gr ocum gr ur am ypt a act eg ot e gr lvati Ecological lifestyle pl inn am ydo c rr ss y h. c cr c h. oi di ular um . s P h. h. h. am P pt . ridi Py P P P chl asperm y Py eg . cr osporum irr he Ph. eg y acr y. ant Left: Inferred lifestyles of fungi and oomycetes found in m P m P tr Ph. y. . at roots of healthy looking rhododendron nursery plants. P Py Right: Common soil-borne pathogens associated with root Phytophthora (Ph.) and Pythium (Py.) species rot in rhododendron nursery plants. on rhododendrons with established root both of these Phytophthora species caused print for each individual. Current results systems. We tested the ability of Pythium extensive root rot in the same amount suggest that although P. plurivora popula- cryptoirregulare to cause root rot on 6- to of time, especially when there were high tions are moderately diverse, they tend to 8-month-old rooted rhododendron cut- amounts of inoculum in the soil. However, be very similar across different nurseries. tings and found that, after three months, even at low levels, P. cinnamomi was This indicates that P. plurivora is common it was only occasionally able to cause able to reduce growth in inoculated in the nursery industry and likely moves enough damage to reduce plant size. rhododendron plants. readily among nurseries on infected, but P. cinnamomi and P. plurivora, on the To better understand the variability asymptomatic nursery stock. other hand, were also common, but were within these three pathogens, we are using We are also studying the genetic only found at six of the seven nurseries. a technique called genotyping-by-sequenc- diversity in P. cinnamomi and Pythium In contrast to Pythium cryptoirregulare, ing to provide us with a genetic finger- cryptoirregulare. This work will form
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DIGGERMAGAZINE.COM MARCH 2018 27 Heroes and villains Roots often fail to grow out of the original root ball with Phytophthora root rot. PHOTO BY JERRY WEILAND
the basis for developing detection assays diversity affects disease control efficacy. cide was effective in controlling root rot, to help diagnostic laboratories identify We compared the ability of regardless of how they were applied. these pathogens. Results will also reveal mefenoxam and phosphorous acid These results must be viewed with whether the pathogens reproduce clonally to control root rot caused by either caution. We may have, by chance, inad- or sexually, which can help us understand P. cinnamomi or P. plurivora on R. vertently selected a fungicide-resistant iso- how likely the pathogens will be able catawbiense cultivars. We applied the late of P. plurivora. While the isolate of P. to overcome fungicide or cultivar fungicides to either the leaves as a foliar plurivora used in our research came from resistance, and how pathogens move spray or to the roots as a soil drench. a diseased nursery plant, and our diver- among nurseries. For P. cinnamomi, only the fungicide sity studies suggest P. plurivora has low soil drenches were effective at reducing population diversity in Oregon nurseries, Disease control root rot. Foliar applications of either other P. plurivora isolates may be more We have started to evaluate chemical product were ineffective. This makes sense sensitive to these fungicides. Therefore, we options for managing root rot, including because the soil is where these root patho- are evaluating a larger number of P. cin- fungicides and gypsum. For the fungicide gens are located and causing damage. namomi and P. plurivora isolates to gain work, we are investigating how pathogen However, for P. plurivora, neither fungi- more confidence in our findings. With gypsum, we evaluated whether application (0, 1, 5 or 10 percent) to soil was able to control root rot in young Rhododendron ‘Looking Glass’ H-2 plants inoculated with P. plurivora or P. cinnamomi. In this preliminary trial, no significant visible symptoms of root rot were present on plants, possibly because the cultivar may be resistant to the patho- gen isolates we used. Gypsum application at 5 and 10 percent did, however, improve plant growth compared to plants grown in substrate with 1 percent or no gypsum.
Future research The next stage of our research is to continue to evaluate the effect of environ- ment on the development of root rot. We have ongoing studies to evaluate the effect of irrigation and plant nutrition on root rot severity. In addition, using the tools we have developed to assess microbial diver- sity, we will be evaluating how cultural practices and disease control measures alter the soil microbial community in nursery systems. We are currently conducting an experiment to test the effect of common root rot pathogens on the composition of fungal communities in the roots of rhodo- dendron. Is the non-pathogenic commu- nity involved in pathogen establishment or is disease purely an interaction between the host plant and the pathogen? Do dif- ferent pathogens interact with the non- pathogenic community differently? We are also considering an experi-
28 MARCH 2018 DIGGERMAGAZINE.COM ment testing the effect of common fungi- cides on the non-pathogenic community. It has been demonstrated in many studies that members of the non-pathogenic com- munity can provide nutrients (e.g., mycor- rhizae) or protection from disease (e.g. Trichoderma). Do common fungicides kill these beneficial organisms as well as the pathogens? Could protecting plants with Broadacres North Farm Store fungicides that also kill symbionts make 9400 St. Paul Highway, Aurora, OR 97002 20160 Main Street, St. Paul, OR 97137 them more susceptible to pathogens in the 503-633-4562 503-633-4281 future and therefore disease control would Home of the St. Paul Rodeo become more reliant on continued fungi- cide application? Discovering interactions between beneficial/neutral organisms and pathogens could inform future disease control strategies. The results from our studies will be used to establish criteria for implementing disease control strategies in nursery production systems. One continuing challenge for nursery growers in effectively managing disease is proper pathogen identification. We are hoping to address this challenge in future research by developing simple diagnostic tools which Our team has the knowledge and experience can be used by growers and plant disease to assist you in making sound decisions. diagnosticians to better target disease control measures. www.marionag.com
Dr. Jerry Weiland (Plant Pathology), Dr. • Custom Blending • Nutrition Programs Nik Grunwald (Plant Pathology), and • Dry Fertilizer • Pest Management Dr. Carolyn Scagel (Plant Physiology) are research scientists with the Horticultural • Liquid Fertilizer • Testing & Analysis Crops Research Laboratory, USDA • Organic Fertilizer • Seed Cleaning Agricultural Research Service in Corvallis, • Lime & Dolomite • Sand Blasting OR and are also affiliated with the Application • Paint Shop Departments of Botany and Plant Pathology or Horticulture at Oregon State Marion Ag Service is proud to partner ™ University. They can be reached at Jerry. with Harrell’s, LLC to bring you Polyon controlled release fertilizer [email protected], Nik.Grunwald@ ars.usda.gov, and Carolyn.Scagel@ars. usda.gov). Zachary Foster is a Ph.D. student and Val Fieland is a Biological Sciences Technician in Nik Grunwald’s laboratory. Dr. Luisa Santamaria (Botany and Plant Pathology) is an associate professor at Oregon State University and the North Willamette Research and Get the longevity you pay for Extension Center. She can be reached at [email protected].
DIGGERMAGAZINE.COM MARCH 2018 29 DIRECTOR’S DESK Excitement in the air The nursery and greenhouse of Florida. Researchers modified a multi- rotor craft, giving it the ability to count, industry is known for identify and detect pest and disease issues. adopting new technology. Many in the industry see the practicality, even as questions remain about the When it comes to exploring value proposition for small versus advanced production larger growers. Jeff Stone technologies, we’re not The legal limits of drones OAN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR exactly wallflowers. There are some pretty sensible rules OAN members have invested their around drones. For example, you can- Drones with cameras have the oppor- time in the development of smart-sprayer not shoot them out of the sky if they tunity to detect pests earlier than tradi- technology by serving as testers. They’ve annoy you. tional scouting methods allow. It would embraced the OAN’s Nursery Guide, a Obviously, everyone should operate be easier to send a crew out to address a searchable hub that brings buyers and sell- a drone in a careful manner. The opera- smaller area for treatment than have them ers together online. tor must be able to see it without the use cover the entire farm. And now, members are on the of binoculars. You can’t drive and fly at Another potential advantage is to forefront of using unmanned aerial the same time unless you are in a sparsely record a visual history of what a grower vehicles — UAV’s, more commonly called populated area, and the drone cannot has produced over time, and be able to drones — for a number of purposes. exceed 400 feet above the ground or that identify how the plant is looking in a cer- When I think of a tech geek (which I same distance above a structure. tain field at a particular time. Drones can mean in a nice way), one person is fore- The most challenging rule is that also be used to document new tile and irri- most in my mind. I have known Rod Park, drones can be only used during the day. gation lines so that the grower may find who owns Park’s Nursery in Gresham, for That’s problematic because the drones are them more easily in the future. Drones can 20 years, which predates my time at the technologically capable of operating at monitor crop growth and fertilizer needs OAN. He has always been a gadget guy any hour, day or night. The FAA will not along with more precise measurement of — a perfect counter balance for my suspi- allow us to use a drone inside the Oregon crop planting rows for calculations of the cious, Luddite and tech-phobic ways. Convention Center during the Farwest number of plants per row. Leave it to Rod to use drone technol- Show for marketing purposes. I guess that According to Rod and some other ogy as a marketing vehicle. He filmed makes sense to protect our exhibitors, growers, drone technology is a boon for footage of his farm, then played the video though it’s a bit of a buzzkill. marketing. It is dynamic, provides a tour at his Farwest Show booth this last year. In rural areas, the privacy and safety of the nursery through high-resolution But there are many more ways in which concerns are less prevalent and the poten- video, and demonstrates for customers nurseries are starting to use drones. The tial uses for drones are more promising, the clean, pest-free growing conditions of possibilities are exciting to contemplate. especially on large-scale farms. Oregon’s nursery industry. The larger the nursery operation, the Nursery applications of drone Past decade of research and more cost-effective this tool may be. The technology is growing technology cost of a drone has come down dramati- Robust investments in drone technol- It’s no secret that Amazon wants to cally over the past several years, but it ogy have opened up applications for dif- deliver its packages with drones, but the remains a tool that must be justified by ferent field uses. Soil and field analysis can best and most impactful use of drones the cost/benefit to the operation, depend- be digitized into 3D maps, and used for may be in more rural farm communities. ing on the needs of the grower. irrigation and nitrogen-level management To some, a drone looks like a fly- Oregon has three FAA-approved test- as well as planting. ing spider — around the size of a turkey ing ranges and use by agricultural opera- While there still are concerns about — and looks like a toy. Some drones are tions is growing. With greater acceptance using drones for pesticide application, toys, but the ones a nursery would use are of this tool, I hope authorities will relax there is the potential ability to identify and serious. Outfitted with GPS technology the regulations on drones for appropriate surgically treat for weeds, thus reducing with pre-programmed points and elevation field use by Oregon growers. It will be the necessity (or current practice) of treat- parameters, today’s drone can fly over exciting to see what the future holds for ing the entire field to ensure the weeds are the top of crops with inches to spare and the use of drones to manage crops and all gone. The ban on daylight use comes zoom higher to give a true bird’s eye view. market the nursery industry. Several years ago, researchers were into play here — it may well be more in Oregon testing potential applications practical to fly and treat at night, when after a breakthrough by the University the wind is down.
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