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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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

The clouds of smoke and raining ash are over, but for some common evergreen plants the damage has been done. Don’t worry, it’s most likely temporary. “With the heavy smoke that pushed air quality off the charts, we have seen unusual defoliation in plants,” said Jay Pscheidt, Oregon State University Extension Service pathologist. “Much of […]

Just as we begin to think about wrapping things up in the garden for the season, slugs slither out of their homes underground to lay their eggs for next year. That means it’s time again to slug it out with one of the gardener’s most familiar, frustrating and certainly slimiest pests. “What slugs want is […]

Originally appeared at National Gardening Bureau Written By: Janice Cox Author of: Beautiful Lavender Three simple recipes for cooking with lavender Lavender is so much more than a relaxing scent or a closet sachet. Lavender’s pretty purple buds and green leaves are a highly sought-after culinary ingredient. You will find it in restaurants around the world […]

Originally appeared at National Gardening Bureau Written by Lesley Fleming, Nova Scotia Horticulture for Health Network Therapeutic gardens, typically seen at healthcare facilities, are “designed for use as a component of a treatment, rehabilitation, or vocational program… to meet the needs of a specific user or population…to accommodate participant’s goals and to facilitate people-plant interactions” (American Horticultural […]

In this unprecedented period of a COVID-19 pandemic, several forest fires with lingering air pollution, and a very dry summer that has stressed all our plants, garden centers have also had to make many adjustments to retain their current customer base. On top of that, they also need to attract new customers. Some garden centers […]

Originally appeared at National Gardening Bureau Shrubs are some of the most reliable and hardworking plants in the garden. They are long-lived, big enough to make an impact while still fitting into gardens of any size (even container gardens!), and some offer the same flowers, fragrance, leaf color, or pollinator appeal as your favorite annuals and perennials. […]

These fall bulb planting tips will pay off beautifully in the spring. “When the future seems either very bleak, or people are too depressed to imagine one, gardening gives you a toehold in the future”, Sue Stuart-Smith, author, The Well-Gardened Mind One of the bright spots of this year has been the resurgence of interest […]