Make the McKenzie Connection!
Make the McKenzie Connection!
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Saying that the Butterfly bush (Buddleia) is a magnet for pollinators is an understatement. It’s no wonder that The National Garden Bureau has declared 2024 the year of the Buddleia. In Oregon, Buddleia davidii was taken off the market in 2008 because of its invasive nature, but the Oregon Department of Agriculture has approved varieties for sale in Oregon that are seedless. The seedless forms have common names like Summer Lilac, Nectar Bush, Seedless Buddleia, or Seedless Butterfly Bush, accord...
New research from the Oregon State University Extension Service found that slugs and snails are strongly attracted to bread dough. This discovery could lead to better ways of controlling these severe pests in agriculture, nurseries, and home gardens. Since the beginning of recorded history, slugs have ravaged crops and today are responsible for billions of dollars in damage – including between $60-$100 million to Oregon’s valuable grass seed industry alone, according to Rory Mc Donnell, ass...
Embarking on the journey of planting a garden can be a significant milestone, a testament to the home you’ve created, even if it’s a rented house or apartment. Your new space can transform into a canvas for container, vegetable, or ornamental gardening, a testament to your green thumb and creativity. Many rental homes have witnessed the birth of passionate gardeners. Despite the temporary nature of their living arrangements, people strive to infuse their space with a personal touch, and for man...
The COVID-19 pandemic inspired millions to grow vegetables, but many don’t have room for traditional gardening. Don’t let a lack of yard space keep you from gardening this spring and summer. Many vegetables grow well on patios, porches, balconies, or windowsill containers. According to Brooke Edmunds, an Oregon State University Extension Service horticulturist, small spaces make it hard to grow some of the larger vegetables. For instance, growing corn on a balcony may not be practical. But a w...
Continued From Last Week Rototilling Assuming your existing soil is acceptable for planting your new lawn, the first step normally is rototilling (Figure 1). Rototilling serves two basic functions. First, it loosens the soil to a depth of 6 to 8 inches. Second, it breaks up the soil into smaller pieces so it can be graded. With those two purposes in mind, it is clear that you need to go over the site only enough times to achieve the depth you want and a clod size you can grade. A common mistake...
Planting a new lawn or renovating an old one can be very frustrating experience if you’ve never done it before. The key to avoiding frustration is to understand the process well enough to be able to make the right decision. This publication will take you through the steps needed to successfully plant a new lawn or renovate an old one. If you follow these steps, you will get it right the first time! Seasonal timing In general, the best time to plant a lawn from seed is when temperatures are favor...
Herbs include some of the easiest plants to grow. In addition to culinary uses, herbs offer fragrance, oils that deter pests and flowers that support pollinators. While a few herbs are hardy enough to be perennial in cooler climates such as in the Klamath Basin, others will be annuals in those areas, to be enjoyed primarily in the warm months. Some tender herbs can be overwintered indoors, but the results are often disappointing, especially when attempted without supplemental lighting. Most...
Not every yard is suited for in-the-ground gardening. Sometimes containers or raised beds are better options. In rental situations or areas with poor or thin soil, garden space must sometimes be “created.” Internet articles often make both sound incredibly easy, possibly because the content creators were gardening in a different climate. Like many horticultural dilemmas, no one answer fits every situation. Considering the pros and cons from a variety of gardening perspectives may help the ind...
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 to gardening questions? Nine experts from Oregon State University Extension Service stepped up to bust some common gardening myths. Read on to get some research-based answers to 10 common misconceptions. MYTH: You should top a tree to control its height. R...
Growing asparagus requires patience—from planting to harvest, it 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 less expensive. Once established, this vegetable is easy to grow. And asparagus is beautiful. A member of the lily family, its fern-like foliage turns from green to gold in fall and can be a backdrop to chrysanthemums or other late-season flo...
American robins are a favorite harbinger of spring, but most people take this ubiquitous Oregon native for granted. Though still abundant, robins are declining in urban settings and could use some help from homeowners. Oregon State University Extension Service wildlife experts encourage Oregonians to learn about these underappreciated native birds. They’ve developed the following information to help people foster robins in their landscape. * Robins (Turdus migratorius) seen in the winter months...
When it comes to picking gardening tools, there’s one rule that rises to the top. “You pay for what you get,” said Cindy Jeffers, manager of Landsystems Nursery in Bend. “There are a lot of tools out there that are inexpensive, but you get what you pay for when you buy quality tools,” she said. “Shop for quality rather than quantity,” said OSU Master Gardener Priscilla Robinson, who presented at a recent seminar. “Metal parts should be made of hardened steel or aluminum. These materials stay...
Himalayan blackberry has become a common weed that chokes out native vegetation from Northern California to British Columbia. Blackberries are well adapted to our region – a single blackberry plant can grow into a six-square-yard thicket in less than two years. Blackberries keep popping up because of their tremendous and effective dispersal potential," said Brooke Edmunds, Oregon State University Extension Service horticulturist. "Blackberry canes can produce hundreds of berries, each full of s...
Change is inevitable. Whether we like it or not, change is constantly with us and the nurseries are no exception. Sometimes the change can be a step forward with the result either creating a better environment or perhaps the change could be keeping a business, like a garden center, alive. We, as gardeners, have very little, if any, input into these matters and can only hope that the change will be beneficial for our gardening needs. Several years ago, Joy Creek Nursery, a specialty nursery in...
In the early 2000s, I was very much involved in gardening, both my own and visiting other gardens, but I did not know olive trees being planted in Oregon. Not only were they not seen in local gardens, but they were also not readily available in local garden centers. Olive trees were considered a Mediterranean plant that could grow in California and Arizona, but not in Oregon. Our winters were too cold and too wet — those were the commonly heard objections. My opinion on growing olive trees in O...
Some houseplants seem unhappy no matter how much care and nurturing they get from their owners. Often, our homes do not provide the preferred environment — bright light and high humidity. Many plants have growth cycles attuned to day length and slow down during winter — even with artificial light. As with people, understanding the particular needs of some plants contributes to the difference between thriving and merely existing. Phalaenopsis orchid Beautiful, long-blooming and affordable in rec...
If conifer tree planting is on your late winter or early spring to-do list, there are some things you can do to improve your success. When it comes to planting conifers, timing is everything, according to John Punches, Oregon State University Extension Service forester and associate professor in the OSU College of Forestry. Punches recommends planting when the upper 10 inches of soil is moist, the soil is not frozen more than a half-inch deep, the snow cover is less than two inches and air...
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 is easy to grow. And asparagus is beautiful. A member of the lily family, its fern-like foliage turns from green to gold in fall and can be a backdrop to chrysanthemums or other late-season flower...
Beautiful seed catalogs hit mailboxes every January, tempting gardeners with full-color photos and glowing descriptions. Before you buy, though, read those enticing seed packets. Nichole Sanchez, Oregon State University Extension Service horticulturist, tells gardeners to plan before choosing seed. It’s so easy to go overboard. Of course, if you do there’s always someone happy to take them off your hands. Understanding terms associated with seeds will help you pinpoint which selections best ser...
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 University's Extension Service. "In addition to bird feeders, which people sometimes forget to fill, they need plants to forage on." This time of year, you'll notice winter wrens, pine siskins,...
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 on a strong structure.” When people see the jaw-dropping blooms erupt in mid-spring, they covet wisteria for their garden. But, they should first know that in addition...
If you’re a gardener, you’ve heard it a thousand times: Add compost to improve the soil, feed the microbes that release nutrients, and grow better plants. But what if that isn’t always the case? Believe it or not, research by Oregon State University found too much organic matter can have a negative effect. Wait. What? There are the environmental consequences of fertilizer leaching and runoff, the expense and time to buy and apply the compost or other organic matter and, in some cases, plant...
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 basics of managing fruit trees. Applying dormant sprays – such as Superior dormant spray oil, copper, and sulfur – helps control nasty pests and diseases, inc...
Ignoring moisture and insect damage in the home leads to serious problems down the line. An annual inspection is essential to head them off. Whether you do it yourself or hire someone, start your inspection by checking out this article from the Oregon State University Extension Service on home moisture problems to help solve many problems you might encounter. If you plan to inspect, maintain, or repair yourself, begin by taking a tour around the exterior of the house. Does water wick up the...
While you’re battling the winter blues, make your own seed-starting mix and plan for the gardening days ahead. Home gardeners can start vegetable and flower seedlings indoors from four to 12 weeks before the last average spring frost in their area, which means it’s time to get started. Making homemade planting medium can be more economical than buying a sterile mix at the store, said Brooke Edmunds, a horticulturist with Oregon State University’s Extension Service. A good germinating mix must...
