Welcome to 'Sprout,' American Nurseryman's e-newsletter published on the first and third Thursdays of each month. For even more, be sure to read our March issue.

National Invasive Plant Pest and Disease Awareness Month
Well, that’s a mouthful, isn’t it? But the USDA’s APHIS—Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service—is serious about stopping invasive pests, and it has launched a new, multi-state public education initiative dubbed “Hungry Pests.” Complete with very cool web site and a rather creepy dude in a bug mask, the campaign urges the public to “leave hungry pests behind.” Make it part of your spring campaign, too—it’s something that will last all year long. Read more>

Boxwood blight funding is needed
Since its discovery in the U.S. last fall, boxwood blight appears to have spread like wildfire: It’s now been positively identified in 10 states and two Canadian provinces. But we still don’t know a lot about it—most importantly, how to stop the spread. So the ANLA and its research arm, the Horticultural Research Institute (HRI), are working with experts to tackle the disease, and to get to the root of the problem, they’ve established the Boxwood Blight Fund. A very informative webinar is available online; it’s well worth your time (the link is included below). Plus, you can donate to the fund. Hint, hint. Read more>

IGC founders take over GCA
Garden Centers of America recently approved an exclusive agreement with IGC founders Jeff and Cheryl Morey to operate the organization’s programs and activities under the auspices of IGC. The new Garden Centers of America LLC will operate independently as a separate entity under the GCA name; its board will act as the group’s leadership council. Read more>

P. Allen Smith to simplify water gardening
Is there nothing this guy can’t do? TV and web personality P. Allen Smith has teamed with Laguna Water Gardening to “demystify water gardening and encourage gardeners everywhere to create their own backyard oases.” Smith will utilize Laguna products to show his audience how installing a pond or water feature can transform a back yard from average to exceptional, often in less than a weekend. Read more>

Everris opens American offices
Just a year after the sale of Scotts Professional to ICL—and the name change to Everris—officials from the company opened Everris’ new offices, including research and development facilities, in Dublin, Ohio. Everris will formulate its new and existing plant protection products at this lab, as well as coat and blend its new and improved controlled release fertilizers. Technical specialists will also benchmark release profiles for products from Everris and its competitors at these facilities. Read more>

TrynEx celebrates 15 years
TrynEx International, manufacturer of SnowEx, TurfEx and SweepEx product lines, is celebrating 15 years in business. TrynEx is known for multiple breakthroughs, including offering the first spreader with a roto-molded polyethylene hopper, developing the first pivot mount swing-away spreader and engineering the first auger feed system for spreaders. Read more>

Hug a landscape architect!
April is National Landscape Architecture Month, and for all of April, the American Society of Landscape Architects’ publication is available online for free. Plus, LAs across the country will host a variety of activities. The observation coincides with Earth Day on April 22, as well as Frederick Law Olmsted’s birthday on April 26. (In case you were wondering, he’d be 190.) A list of events and activities can be found if you click on the handy link below. Read more>

People News

Knudson and Pinnell join FX Luminaire
Shawn Knudson, a 30-year green industry veteran, joins Hunter Industries’ FX Luminaire as sales manager for the Pacific Northwest region. His territory includes Washington, Oregon, northern Idaho, western Canada and Alaska; Knudson will be based in Olympia, Wash. Ron Pinnell, a 20-year landscape lighting expert, joins the company as sales manager for the Great Plains region. This new territory includes the Dakotas, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, southern Illinois and Oklahoma; Pinnell will be based in Overland Park, Kan. Read more>

Fischer joins STIHL
Bjoern Fischer has joined STIHL Inc. as the company’s vice president of finance, overseeing financial operations as well as human resources and information services departments. Read more>

Whitt joins Becker Underwood
Charles Whitt has joined Becker Underwood as communications manager for United States and Mexico based operations; he will focus on several product lines, including beneficial nematodes, inoculants, seed enhancements, and turf and horticulture. Read more>

Web News

Bill Moore & Co.
Young plant broker Bill Moore & Co. Inc. has redesigned its website to include easier navigation and a blog. Read more>

Conard-Pyle Company
Conard-Pyle has launched a gardening blog featuring four writers: Steve Hutton, homeowner Kyle McKean, Jacques Ferrare and Kristen Nemeth. Read more>

Hines Growers
Hines Growers unveiled its new web site, including a dealer finder, enhanced plant-search features and information on the company’s Bloomtastic plant brand. Read more>

Nelson Irrigation
Nelson Irrigation’s new worldwide web site includes specific product pages and videos that feature how sprinklers truly operate. Read more>

Benary
Benary has launched its updated website with a fresh new look and useful tools and information for growers, brokers and customers as well. Read more>

Hot Products

Band options
No, not wedding or punk; these are two new version of Anderson Die & Manufacturing’s 2 ½-inch Anderson Bands for perennial and bedding plant use. The 2 ½-inch square by 2 ½-inch deep container now comes in both Anderson’s traditional cross bottom style and in a full bottom, bottom drain style that is being promoted as the Anderson Bandpot. With both versions, 32 containers fit in the Anderson 10/20 Polyflat. Read more>

STIHL Cutquik
Cut though the nonsense with STIHL’s new TS 500i Cutquik, complete with a low-emission engine and no carburetor. The electronically controlled fuel-injection system increases power by 17 percent over previous models, yet remains lightweight. The STIHL computer-mapped fuel injection system continuously and precisely determines fuel mixture, injected quantity, injection and ignition timing. The standard electronic water control feature allows for easy and efficient water flow adjustment while cutting. Read more>

BioFogger
BioSafe Systems introduces the new BioFogger, a compact, vertical, rotomolded, 15-gallon plastic tank mounted on heavy duty wheels and a built-in handle. The fogger uses compressed air to generate a 15-micron fog through three air/water nozzles mounted on a stainless steel adjustable mast. The BioFogger is available with a programmable time to allow the unit to pulse on and off, maximizing both efficacy and the use of most air compressors. This easy to use Fogger produces a high volume of fog that may be used for both humidification and chemical applications of BioSafe Systems products such as AzaGuard Broad Spectrum Insecticide/Nematicide, ZeroTol 2.0, and StorOx 2.0. Read more>

Echinacea ‘Secret Glow’
Terra Nova Nurseries had added to its Secret Series with the release of Echinacea ‘Secret Glow’, featuring school-bus yellow, double anemone flowers in an unusually high flower count that averages 25 large blooms per plant in the first year. ‘Secret Glow’ blooms from summer to fall; at an average 2-foot spread and 2-foot height, it performs well in zones 4 to 9. Read more>

Penstemon ‘Pocahontas’
Burgundy-red new foliage and pink flowers make Penstemon digitalis ‘Pocahontas’ a stunner. New from Intrinsic Perennial Gardens, the clumping plants have red stems that reach about 3 feet tall in moist to well-drained soil and full sun. Hardy to zones 4 to 9, ‘Pocahontas’ is a U.S. native and is friendly to Amsonia ‘Halfway to Arkansas’. Read more>

Finally: Already?