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About Capital press. (Salem, OR) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 19, 2016)
August 19, 2016 CapitalPress.com 5 Fessler Nursery branches out For the Capital Press The modest azalea nursery Ken and Marie Fessler start- ed on their Woodburn, Ore., farm in 1960 has grown to over 500,000 square feet of greenhouse space with 35-45 employees. Though the azaleas upon which Fessler Nursery was founded will be cut from pro- duction this year, lush fuchsia plants and baskets are still a mainstay at the second-gener- ation business. Some 20,000 fuchsia baskets leave the gates each year. Ken and Marie’s sons Dale and Marvin run the nursery; sister Debbie Farrell heads propagation and Katy Fessler manages seasonal retail and special projects. Though “retired,” Ken is there nearly every day plant- ing, pruning or irrigating. The linchpin of the nurs- ery’s staying power is its di- versiication and mastery of four distinct markets — hang- ing baskets, bedding plants, houseplants and propagation. In addition to their own veg- etative cuttings, the nursery re- ceives up to 100,000 cuttings in a day from Selecta One, a subsidiary of Ball Horticultur- al Co. and a leader in breeding, producing and marketing veg- etatively propagated ornamen- tal plants. The cuttings come from all over the world. “We stick over 3 mil- lion cuttings,” Katy Fessler said. “It’s hard to say how many plants and baskets we sell; Marv estimates around 700,000 4-inch pots and about 80,000 baskets a year.” The nursery has also be- come a wide area’s go-to for plant sale fund-raisers, wheth- er Mother’s Day hanging bas- kets or Christmas poinsettias. Last year the nursery add- ed a new section of green- houses dedicated to the spring fund-raiser baskets. Poinsettias join the vast array of tropical plants the Fesslers propagate and grow in more than 30 greenhouses. The houseplants are shipped all over the Western United States. April through June Fessler Nursery opens its doors to the public, generating a brisk retail trade that includes a crush for Mother’s Day hanging baskets. “Since we are the grower and reseller, we can charge less and sell in mass quantities,” Katy Fessler said. “It’s a Cost- co model: low margin, high quality, low price, self-service for the most part and a high volume of product. Where else can you go and ind 10 full beds of geraniums?” Retail season ended June 30 and with the premises clear staff is redoubling its improvement efforts, starting with replacing old greenhouse siding and roof- ing with more energy-eficient materials. The nursery is also continu- ing its ive-year exploration into the use of beneicial soil microbes and predatory insects toward cleaner and more spe- ciic pest control. “Our baskets are on drip and fertilizer injectors,” Katy Fessler said. “A new lat-iller sticking line improved eficien- cy in our cutting division and a programmable watering boom lets us custom water our cutting beds. “Though managing labor, keeping up and putting up with government-mandated regu- lations and inding the fami- ly-work balance is a continual challenge, we love being able to provide a product people re- ally enjoy,” Katy Fessler said. “We also like being able to stay close to home — there’s no commute.” Brenna Wiegand/For the Capital Press Debbie Wiesner of Silverton, Ore., gathers lowers for a summer landscape. The lowers are among 700,000 4-inch annual plants Fessler Nursery produces per year. TICULTURAL PERLITE R O H • PROPAGATION, SOIL MIX AND PLUG GRADES • • 100% natural • light-weight • in bags or bulk aids drainage • and aeration holds moisture • SUPREME PERLITE COMPANY for distributor information call 360.414.9663 swansonbark.com N16-2/#8 www.perlite.com (503) 286-4333 info@perlite.com N16-2/#8 By BRENNA WIEGAND A TRAILER FOR EVERY NURSERY’S NEED Brands and models to provide your trailer solutions.. Diamond Your All Trailer Sales Service Dealer OVER OVER 350 350 UNITS UNITS IN IN STOCK! STOCK! View our entire inventory: diamondksales.com N16-4/#5 541-369-2755 • 541-953-7548 • 541-740-5135 • Halsey, OR N16-4/#18