When winter comes and the menu for birds shrinks in urban backyards, they rely on the kindness of humans. That doesn’t mean just a bird feeder of seeds and nuts. “Different birds are attracted to different foods and it’s good to have a variety,” said Dana Sanchez, a wildlife specialist for Oregon State […]
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.
Wisteria care: Take out clippers twice a year and go to town
Wisteria delivers a beautiful spring display, but this vigorous vine needs plenty of pruning to keep it from swallowing the garden. “Wisteria are very vigorous vines and can climb easily to 30 to 40 feet,” said Neil Bell, a horticulturist with Oregon State University Extension Service. “They can be quite heavy and should be grown […]
Get a leg up on fruit tree problems with dormant oils
Just when you’re ready for a long winter’s nap, it’s time to tend your fruit trees. If you don’t, chances are they’ll struggle in the coming season. Giving them attention now helps ward off insects and diseases, said Steve Renquist, a horticulturist for Oregon State University Extension Service who has taught hundreds of gardeners the […]
Turn to gardening books for comfort and inspiration
If you can’t garden, why not read about it? Books bring us comfort when the gloomy weather of winter is upon us. Even gardeners who love winter enjoy a good read. Add a fire and a cup of tea and relax with one of these 11 books recommended by Oregon State University Extension Service horticulturists. […]
New OSU volunteer program tackles statewide native bee inventory
Oregon is the first state in the nation to form a Master Melittologists program of trained community scientists dedicated to preserving and cataloguing bees that are native to the state. Like OSU Extension Master Gardeners, the Master Melittologist program intensively trains volunteers on the meticulous work of locating and cataloging the bees that no one […]
Some U-cut Christmas tree farms closed but supply adequate
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the landscape of Christmas tree sales in Oregon this year, according to Oregon State University Extension’s Christmas tree specialist. Supply should still be adequate — even better than the last few years – but some U-cut farms will bow out this year, said Chal Landgren, a professor in OSU’s College […]
Take one more go at the garden before retiring for winter
We’re running right into the holidays, daylight is in short supply and rain comes down days at a time, but if you can get out in the garden or at least the garage, you’ll be happier come spring. A perennial question is whether to cut down plants now or in spring. The answer is not […]
What’s the real story? Garden myths debunked
Reality can get skewed when there are so many sources of information – books, magazines, newspapers, nurseries and, most of all, the internet and social media open up lots of room for contradiction. So, how do you find the right answer for gardening questions? Nine experts from Oregon State University Extension Service stepped up to […]
10 trees for fiery fall foliage
When trees get dressed with the colors of fall, it’s time to go shopping. “If you’re specifically interested in fall color, it will soon be the time to start looking,” said Neil Bell, a horticulturist with Oregon State University’s Extension Service. “There are already some trees starting to display color.” First, though, Bell recommends doing […]
Pot up some bulbs and dream of spring
In fall, gardeners settle bulbs under a blanket of soil and wait for spring to watch them flaunt their beauty. “It’s easy to create a stunning display that bursts into bloom in the spring or early summer,” said Heather Stoven, an Oregon State University Extension horticulturist. “But bulbs don’t have to be in the ground […]