Originally appeared at National Gardening Bureau. 1. Plant for a succession of blooms throughout the growing season. Different pollinator species emerge at various times of the year and have different lifespans and periods of activity. Create an ongoing pollinator buffet throughout the growing season by planting a succession of overlapping blooms. 2. Include some native plants […]
Category: Blog
OSU Extension Master Gardener discovers novel way to control cabbage white worm
Jesse Garcia likes kale – he really likes kale. So, when his crop got infested with cabbage worms, he came up with a novel approach to pest control. Garcia, an Oregon State University Extension Service Master Gardener, moved to the Willamette Valley in 2016 and planted a substantial vegetable garden two years later. Late that […]
Plants for a better planet
Great Plant Picks program highlights selections that perform consistently in the Pacific Northwest Over the last several years, many areas around the country have experienced prolonged droughts, excessively hot temperatures, and a noticeable decline in the population of pollinators. No one can deny that planting to increase insect diversity and lower water use is a […]
5 Tips on Creating Your Own Raised Garden Bed
Originally appeared at National Gardening Bureau. Today’s gardeners have more options for where and how to start their gardens than the original Victory Gardeners. Of course, in-ground is always an option, as are container gardens for your Victory Garden 2.0. Raised beds are another option. Don’t be intimidated, we’ll explain how easy it is to […]
Carefree succulents continue to grow in popularity
About 10 years ago, succulents began an extraordinary rise in popularity. They turned up everywhere – on windowsills, in wreaths and centerpieces, arranged in frames, even dyed. Nowadays, succulents are hipper than ever. Everyone seems to have at least one. Marcia Sherry, an Oregon State University Extension Service Master Gardener since 1999, has many more […]
Wildflowers give the garden a charming, informal look
Annuals live a short, sweet life. They bloom, make seed and die. Fortunately for us, they return year after year if left to go to seed. Besides being lovely to look at, annuals attract pollinators that sip their nectar and/or cart off their pollen, feeding the insects, butterflies and hummingbirds who, in turn, pollinate the […]
Join the Mid-Willamette Earth Challenge
Sometimes, the best place to defend the earth is from your own back yard. The Mid-Willamette Earth Challenge offers families and gardeners the chance to celebrate Earth Day all month long, by completing fun, earth-related challenges of their choice. By participating, adults and kids alike can discover unique, specially chosen activities and resources to help […]
Add strawberries to the garden for a sweet harvest
Now that many people are staying home, interest in gardening – especially edible gardening – has skyrocketed. Strawberries are a no brainer for both beginning and experienced gardeners and you’ll find nurseries well stocked in spring with potted plants. Recognizing how important gardening is in times of crisis, many nurseries have remained open, at least […]
Look to the garden to keep you busy and quiet your mind
Gardening grants us solace – research bears that out. Digging in the soil is good for our mental health and we need that more than ever as we follow Gov. Kate Brown’s order to “stay home, save lives.” Even weeding helps keep anxiety at bay, said Brooke Edmunds, Oregon State University Extension Service horticulturist. A […]
Divide and conquer plants to keep them healthy and productive
While you’re weeding and seeding and planting and pruning, there’s one more thing to put on your plate: dividing. Dividing is a matter of digging up plants, prying them apart with your hands, spades, knives or an ax and replanting them in new holes, said Weston Miller, a horticulturist for Oregon State University’s Extension Service. […]