Gardens key to supporting pollinators
CORVALLIS, Ore. – From a bee’s-eye view, cities aren’t the biological deserts experts once thought, thanks in large part to gardeners. “Many studies show that gardens and gardeners are the […]
Bringing color back to your poinsettias
Holding onto poinsettias after the holidays is good for the pocketbook but hard on the ego when you can’t get them to color up the next year. To get you […]
Dropped needles not necessarily bad
Watching trees turn bewitching shades of orange, red and yellow is part of the magic of autumn, but seeing the needles on conifers fade to yellow and fall to the […]
Natural enemies attack invasive ash whitefly
The ash whitefly that threatened plants and annoyed residents up and down the Willamette Valley last year has returned in force. This time, though, there’s a difference. Two natural enemies […]
Storing squash and pumpkins
As pumpkins and winter squash reach harvest time, gardeners wonder how and where to store them. Since they won’t survive the first frost, now’s the time to plan a strategy. […]
Draw the line against deer
A garden is like a box of bonbons to deer, and homeowners fill it with the candy they love most. “Deer are looking for the highest quality food and our […]
Pick, dry and store seed for planting next year
As the garden winds down and you pick the season’s last vegetables let some plants go to seed and harvest them for planting next year. “Saving seed can be really […]
Establish a lush lawn by renovating or planting in early fall
Lawns languish in the heat of summer unless showered with the water they require to thrive. But not to worry, the grass isn’t dead. Come fall when the rains start […]
Cover crops benefit vegetable beds
No one wants to think of harvest’s end as the garden reaches peak, but now’s the time to plan for cover crops. If you’re not acquainted with cover crops, here’s […]
Sunflowers burst onto scene with new personalities
As a child Harry Olson tended sunflowers in his parents’ garden, watching them sprout and stretch twice as big as his small frame. In more than 65 years since, he’s […]