Gardening grants us solace – research bears that out. Digging in the soil is good for our mental health and we need that more than ever as we follow Gov. Kate Brown’s order to “stay home, save lives.” Even weeding helps keep anxiety at bay, said Brooke Edmunds, Oregon State University Extension Service horticulturist. A […]
Author: Kym Pokorny
Kym Pokorny is a garden writer with more than 20 years of experience writing for The Oregonian and other publications. She is currently a communications specialist with Oregon State University Extension Service. Kym can be reached at kym.pokorny@oregonstate.edu.
Divide and conquer plants to keep them healthy and productive
While you’re weeding and seeding and planting and pruning, there’s one more thing to put on your plate: dividing. Dividing is a matter of digging up plants, prying them apart with your hands, spades, knives or an ax and replanting them in new holes, said Weston Miller, a horticulturist for Oregon State University’s Extension Service. […]
Straw bale gardens work where others won’t
A lack of space needn’t keep you from a bounty of fresh produce if you turn to straw bales for planting edible gardens. Straw bales take up little space and produce almost anything you can grow in an inground garden, said Brooke Edmunds, a horticulturist with Oregon State University Extension Service. The rectangular straw bales […]
Fight ‘big four’ rose problems with prevention strategies
Charmingly mild weather this winter will most likely coax roses into bloom early, which means dealing with the usual diseases and pests earlier, too. When it comes to one of the country’s most popular perennial plants, the “big four” vexations are powdery mildew, black spot, rust and aphids, according to Jay W. Pscheidt, a plant […]
Maintaining a moss-free roof takes some effort
In the moist Pacific Northwest, moss on roofs is inevitable. The ubiquitous plant clings to shingles, causing damage that can lead to expensive repairs and replacements. There’s nothing to be done about the moisture, but moss also needs shade to grow. The key to keeping it at bay is to trim trees so sunlight filters […]
Time to perform winter maintenance on apple trees
From newly minted gardeners to avid urban farmers, everyone with a patch of land wants to grow an apple tree. Other fruits – pears, cherries, figs, plums – are desirable, too, but there’s something about apples that call to us the loudest. That leads to people impulsively and ill-advisedly purchasing trees without putting in the […]
Save some bucks by gardening frugally
Any time of year is a good time to start a budget, so why not now? You haven’t forgotten those frugal resolutions, have you? Since the gardening season is still a few months away, there’s a good stretch to set financial priorities. “Gardening is like any other hobby,” said Brooke Edmunds, a horticulturist with Oregon […]
Study shows some urban gardens contain too much organic matter
If you’re a gardener, you’ve heard it a thousand times: Add compost to improve the soil, feed the microbes that release nutrients and grow better plants. But what if that isn’t always the case? Believe it or not, research by Oregon State University found too much organic matter can have a negative effect. Wait. What? […]
Set seeds on the right path with homemade planting medium
While you’re battling the winter blues, make your own seed-starting mix and plan for the gardening days ahead. Home gardeners can start vegetable and flower seedlings indoors from four to 12 weeks before the last average spring frost in their area, which means it’s time to get started. Making homemade planting medium can be more […]
When planning next year’s garden, turn to popular native plants
As you look back at last year’s garden and begin to plan next year’s, consider the benefits of native plants. “There’s a new aesthetic,” said Weston Miller, horticulturist with Oregon State University’s Extension Service. “Gardeners want to connect to nature and the heritage of plants that grow in the Pacific Northwest.” Part of the draw […]