Going Green: How Devil Mountain Nursery Is Applying Sustainability in Horticulture

At Devil Mountain Nursery, sustainability isn’t a trend, it’s a rooted commitment.

Tucked into California’s rich horticultural landscape, the nursery is enthusiastically implementing eco-conscious growing, according to the company’s SoCal Operations VP Aaron Ryan, whose passion for environmental responsibility is as deep as the nursery’s rootstock.

“We source about 85% of our plant material from within a 100-mile radius,” Ryan explains, noting the dramatic reduction in transportation emissions this strategy achieves. “That’s one of our biggest points of pride, we grow local for locals.”

Water conservation is another area where Devil Mountain leads. The company has installed drip irrigation systems across most of its growing fields, reducing water usage by up to 60% compared to traditional methods. The addition of moisture sensors has made irrigation even more efficient. “We only water when the plants actually need it,” Ryan says. “Not just on a timer.”

But what about plastic containers, the issue always top of mind for Healthy Pots, Healthy Planet? Here the company is as innovative as it is on other sustainability fronts. And Ryan emphasizes that the nursery’s progress is very much a partnership with its customers.

“Honestly, it’s really based on our customers helping us by returning used containers from their jobsites after install,” he explains. “Over 90% of our customer base are landscapers, who span the spectrum from maintenance gardeners to landscape contractors and landscape architects and designers. They are always looking for an outlet to relieve them of excess containers at the jobsite, and many landfills, even with recycling capabilities, charge them for dropping off plastic containers in California. So, it’s a win-win.”

Through this closed-loop pot recycling program, the nursery reused more than 300,000 plastic containers last year alone. To protect plant health, Ryan notes that reuse requires strict safeguards.

“We have to sterilize these upon return to assure there are no plant pathogens or pernicious insect eggs residing in these containers. There is a shelf-life for these, so any plastic that is brittle or beyond re-use is discarded.” Anything that can’t be reused is sent to a recycler that specializes in horticultural plastics.

Reducing plastic use starts well before containers are reused. “In order to mitigate how much plastic we use, we actually use more paper products at the propagation level for plant production,” Ryan says.

Devil Mountain made the switch to paper-based propagation at a client’s request and soon discovered that the change streamlined their production processes and delivered consistently strong results.

“We utilize a machine that produces soil media wrapped in biodegradable paper that lasts 9–12 months (we need them to hold up until time to plant) and [is] certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. The company we work with is a distributor of these products called the Blackmore Company.”

That approach aligns with the nursery’s broader shift toward biodegradable solutions. Devil Mountain has been using Ellepots, a biodegradable container made of paper, for starting perennial seeds.

The Ellepots function as liners in plastic trays made of recycled plastic and can be reused multiple times. To dress up starter plants for marketing, they are placed in another paper sleeve that displays branding and product information.

For trees and shrubs, they use a similar system called Pioneer Pots.

Devil Mountain has found that this system produces better root growth than plants grown in traditional plastic pots. The liners are easy to remove from the trays and are plantable as-is.

The process has lowered production costs and reduced waste. It’s now their preferred system for handling. This is exactly what advocates want to see: reduced plastic use, a successful transition to biodegradable containers, and excellent performance and plant health.

Devil Mountain's propagation in Ellepots

Ellepot machine

“It’s not just about saving the planet,” Ryan says. “It’s smart business, too.”

That mindset is resonating with customers. Ryan notes a 40% increase in people asking about the company’s environmental practices over the past two years. “People care. They want to know they’re buying from somewhere that’s doing the right thing.”

Click HERE to watch a video of Devil Mountain Nursery’s process!