Waynesboro Nurseries: One-stop shop

Waynesboro Nurseries grows, sells and ships nursery stock to landscape contractors and garden centers throughout the Mid-Atlantic States. With customers from Connecticut to Georgia, the nursery offers groundcover, ornamental grasses, evergreens and large shade trees.

The business was founded by E.M. Quillen. Currently, the nursery is owned and operated by members of the third generation of the Quillen family: Ed, Kirk, David and Tim.

Kirk says the company’s location in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia plays a key role in its success.

“Growing in a cooler climate for Virginia means our plants are hardier for shipping into the north than plants from further east and south of us,” he says.

The company manages about 30 acres of container-grown material and 1,000 acres of field production.

Waynesboro grows a full line of material, something that is often advantageous compared to specializing in certain crops, Quillen says.

“Our customers can do more one-stop shopping. Rather than buy one container from one source (and trees from another), they don’t have to do as much running around,” he says.

The Quillen family didn’t quit planting during the recession, but they did cut back. With 1,000 acres of B&B, it takes a few years to make up for a tree shortage. Luckily, the container business has helped them weather the storm.

“Since we’ve been in business more than 80 years, we’ve seen a lot of changing with demand and what our customers need and we have had to change many times over the years,” he says.

For more: www.waynesboronurseries.com