Adding organic matter is the best way to improve nearly all kinds of soils. If you’re unsure if your soil needs amendments, take note if it dries and cracks in summer, drains slowly or is difficult to dig whether wet or dry. Adding organic materials improves the ability of sandy soils to hold nutrients and […]
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Year of the Hyacinth
Hyacinths are spring-flowering bulbs that are treasured by gardeners for their heavenly fragrance. Overview and History Flower lovers began cultivating hyacinths more than 400 years ago. During the 18th century, they were the most popular spring bulbs in the world, and Dutch growers offered more than 2000 named cultivars. Today, there are less than 50 cultivars […]
How to Grow Spring Blooming Hellebore Flowers
How to Grow Spring Blooming Hellebore Flowers Plants for Shade How to Grow Spring Blooming Hellebore Flowers in your Shade Garden Hellebores, oh hellebores, let me count the ways I love you! I must admit up front, I have a longstanding love affair with hellebores. You might know them as Lenten rose or Christmas rose, […]
Tips for Improving Garden Soil Quality
Building Your Garden from the Ground Up: Basic Tips for Improving Garden Soil Quality You’re dreaming of spring, eager to grow a gorgeous garden filled with fresh food and beautiful blooms. But before you sow your first seed or order perennials from your favorite nursery, take the time to dig deep into your soil. Understanding your […]
Offer robins what they need and they’ll stick around
American robins are a favorite harbinger of spring, but most people take this ubiquitous Oregon native for granted. Though still abundant, robins are on the decline in urban settings and could use some help from homeowners. Oregon State University Extension Service wildlife experts encourage Oregonians to learn more about these underappreciated native birds. They’ve developed […]
Top Ten Reasons to Garden
National Garden Bureau’s Top Ten Reasons to Garden Gardening as Therapy Get Gardening…Top Ten Reasons To Start! Mobile phones, tablets, and apps have become the tools of our modern lives. But it wasn’t that long ago that a shovel, a patch of soil, and a bag of seeds were the only tools needed to provide […]
OSU Extension gives away free seeds for Grow This! Garden Challenge
Almost 38,000 free seed packets will be distributed by Oregon State University Extension Service to Oregonians who show no signs of losing the enthusiasm for gardening generated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Grow This! Oregon Garden Challenge kicks off March 1 when people can sign up and start preparing to collect their seed kits at the […]
Virtual gardening festival set for March 19
Some of the biggest names in gardening are joining forces to empower the 16 million new people who took up the hobby in 2020 and ensuring they become lifelong gardeners. The Great Grow Along is a three-day online event, March 19-21, 2021, designed to connect with this sizeable and diverse audience. Lifestyle taste-makers, plant gurus, […]
With the right care, asparagus beds will last decades
Growing asparagus requires patience – from planting to harvest takes two to three years, but the wait is well worth the reward. Homegrown asparagus is one of the earliest vegetables of spring. Its quality is much better than store-bought spears, and it’s less expensive. Once established, this vegetable easy to grow. And asparagus is beautiful. […]
Gateways and Gathering Spots: Your Guide to Garden Gates, Gazebos, and More
Originally appeared at National Gardening Bureau Impress your visitors with gates, gazebos, and other graceful garden structures that create warm welcomes and cool resting spots. Weary winter months make us long for spring, but chilly days serve a perfect purpose: planning garden additions. Walking in the winter garden helps you assess its bones—the structural elements of your […]