Gardeners hear it often enough: right plant, right place. It’s a fundamental rule of gardening, said Heather Stoven, a horticulturist with Oregon State University Extension Service, and one that applies to houseplants just as much as outdoor ones. “Make sure you buy for location,” she said. “That will help solve many problems that can come
Snipping some cuttings from the garden this time of year will produce your own private nursery of plants by spring. Whether you plant the results of your “snip and stick” project or give them away, propagating by cuttings can be a rewarding process. Although some sources of information can be intimidating, Neil Bell, a horticulturist
As we begin the slide into winter and summer’s bounty recedes, birds welcome the extra nutrition offered by backyard feeders. When putting out a banquet of supplemental food, high quality is essential, said Dana Sanchez, a wildlife specialist for Oregon State University Extension Service. Mixes with red millet, golden millet, flax seed, rape seed and
Mild days and cool nights this fall promised a spectacular show of color, and the promise came true. “This fall has been the best year for color in recent memory,” said Neil Bell, a horticulturist with Oregon State University Extension Service. “The weather has been perfect for the brilliant show we’re enjoying.” It takes a
Hazelnut, walnut or chestnut trees in your home orchard can keep you supplied with nuts for months if you know the best ways to harvest, handle and store them. Harvesting hazelnuts means gathering them as they fall from the trees – before autumn rains, if possible, said Ross Penhallegon, a horticulturist with Oregon State University’s
Ten years ago, the Clackamas chapter of the Oregon State University Extension Service Master Gardeners came up with the idea to offer gardeners research-based information in small, digestible pieces. The result was 10-Minute University, which was unveiled at the annual Spring Garden Fair where gardeners are hungry for guidance. “We thought maybe we should do
When it comes to plants, bulbs are about as easy as it gets. “You plant spring-flowering bulbs in fall, they grow over winter, flourish in spring and go dormant in summer,” said Heather Stoven, a horticulturist with Oregon State University’s Extension Service. “Once they’re in the ground, they do quite well over multiple years with
As the gardening season winds down and you pick the season’s last vegetables, here’s a tip. Consider letting some plants go to seed so you can harvest them for planting next year. “Saving seed can be really fun and is a great way to learn about plants,” said Weston Miller, a horticulturist with Oregon State
Gardening is one of the more therapeutic things a person can do — emotionally, mentally and physically — but for some it seems out of reach. Good design and practices can make gardening accessible for everyone. “We all have challenges if we live long enough,” said Corinne Thomas-Kersting, a retired speech-language pathologist and five-year Oregon
Seeing rats in the backyard — or, worse yet, in the house — can send people into panic mode, and for good reason. “There are definite social norms that say if you have rodents living near you it’s associated with dirtiness, garbage and waste products,” said Dana Sanchez, wildlife specialist for Oregon State University Extension