Make the McKenzie Connection!
Make the McKenzie Connection!
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For mole control, go underground By Denise Ruttan Mole emerging Have moles or gophers attacked your yard or garden? Maybe you sympathize with Bill Murray’s travails in the movie, "Caddyshack." But Chip Bubl, a horticulturist with the OSU Extension Service, has a soft spot for moles. "I've caught a few moles by the tail [with traps]," Bubl said. "Because I admire them, I put them in a bucket and take them to a canyon area on my property and release them." Moles leave a trail of destruction in the Willamette Valley, the coast and the St. H...
Oregon tree names keep people guessing By Judy Scott Douglas fir cone Douglas-fir cones have pitchfork-shaped bracts that are longer than the scales. Many people are aware that despite its name, Douglas-fir is not a true fir. It's also not a pine, not a spruce and not a hemlock. Outside of the United States, it is often called Oregon pine, also a misnomer. What is a Douglas-fir, then? It's a unique species, in a class by itself, according to the newly revised Oregon State University publication, "Understanding Names of Oregon Trees," (EC...
No space for vegetables? Try vertical gardening. By Denise Ruttan Hankering for fresh tomatoes this summer but don’t have space for a vegetable garden? Save room by training your veggies to grow up. Literally. Just grab some containers, and you're ready for "vertical gardening." Steve Renquist, a horticulturist with the Oregon State University Extension Service, recommends big containers with good drainage. Whiskey or wine barrels that are cut in half are suitable sizes for most vegetables, he says. You'll need to water and fertilize them more...
Leaves in compost By Denise Ruttan Photo by Tamara Hill-Tanquist Leaves are one material that can be used in the "brown layer" of a lasagna garden. Unlike its name suggests, "lasagna gardening" is not about pasta. Also known as sheet mulching, it's a no-till, no-dig gardening method that turns materials like kitchen waste, straw and newspapers into rich, healthy compost. "It uses up stuff that you would normally put out at the curb to say goodbye to and makes it valuable to grow on," said Larry Steele, a master gardener with the Oregon State...
Asparagus berries By Judy Scott 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 the spring. Its quality is much better than store-bought spears, and it is less expensive. Once established, it is easy to grow and in a well-prepared garden patch can last for decades. 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...
Compost in a wheelbarrow Compost pile from student organic club Photo credit: Tiffany Woods Q: What process is used in the winter to enable composting to continue outside and in very low temperatures, some below freezing? - Josephine County, Oregon A: In weather such as we are having right now, (sustained temperatures below freezing), you will have to exert more effort to keep your compost active. I was outside checking compost at home about an hour ago - the outer 2-3 inches are frozen solid. Probably not much active composting going on at...
By Denise Ruttan Growing hops at OSU Photo by Lynn Ketchum Oregon State University's hops breeder, Shaun Townsend, prepares hops for drying at OSU's hop yard in Corvallis. With craft beer and home brewing becoming more popular, interest is fermenting among gardeners in backyard hops. Oregon State University's hops breeder, Shaun Townsend, said he regularly fields questions from the public about growing hops. He also teaches workshops on "hops growing 101" to prospective hops farmers and gardeners. "Typical questions are: 'How do I fertilize, wa...
By Denise Ruttan A greenhouse in Newport Judie Rickus' greenhouse in Newport. (Photo by Judie Rickus) Do Oregon's short, dark winter days have you dreaming of the sunshine of exotic lands? Jazz up your windowsill with glamorous orchids. The bold beauties are not as finicky to care for as their reputation claims, according to Master Gardeners who were trained by the Oregon State University Extension Service. An orchid that is properly watered can brighten your home for years. Lisa Long of St. Helens, a Master Gardener since 1994, has grown...
Bird feeder image By Denise Ruttan Photo by Betsy Hartley As you're welcoming wild birds into your yard this winter, be sure to keep your bird feeder clean and keep an eye on the health of your feathered diners. "Sick birds will either be found dead or perched, often with feathers in disarray, eyes squinted or wings held out," said Dana Sanchez, a wildlife specialist with the Oregon State University Extension Service. "Healthy birds are alert and mobile, whereas sick birds stand out because they are neither of those." Birds can get salmonella...
By Denise Ruttan Rain garden Photo by Derek Godwin Rain gardens feature hardy, drought-resistant plants in a landscaping design with a purpose. Oregon's winters are a good time to observe how water flows on your property so you can later create a rain garden. These landscapes with a purpose are dug-out areas where storm water from a hard surface like a roof or driveway can soak into the soil instead of flowing into a storm drain or sewer system, said Weston Miller, a horticulturist with the Oregon State University Extension Service. One...
By Denise Ruttan Bird feeder Photo by Betsy Hartley As you're welcoming wild birds into your yard this winter, be sure to keep your bird feeder clean and keep an eye on the health of your feathered diners. "Sick birds will either be found dead or perched, often with feathers in disarray, eyes squinted or wings held out," said Dana Sanchez, a wildlife specialist with the Oregon State University Extension Service. "Healthy birds are alert and mobile, whereas sick birds stand out because they are neither of those." Birds can get salmonella from bi...
Snow & Woody Plants Trees broken by snow "Snow is both friend and foe to trees and shrubs," says Tchukki Andersen, staff arborist with the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA). "Snow causes its share of damage, as we all know, but in many cases it also protects plants and their roots against extreme fluctuations in temperature that could damage or even kill them." Snow does cause four kinds of damage to trees and woody shrubs: bending; breaking; splitting; and falling or uprooting. Whether woody plants will be damaged in one of these ways...
By Denise Ruttan Poinsettias Poinsettias make popular holiday gifts. When you bring one indoors, keep a consistent temperature for the heat-loving plant. (Photo by Hannah O'Leary.) A traditional holiday centerpiece, bright poinsettias bring cheer to many homes in the short, dark days of winter. But should you put the south-of-the-border plant in the ground after the holidays? It depends on whether you're a gambler, said Ross Penhallegon, a horticulturist with the Oregon State University Extension Service. A few brave Oregon gardeners have succe...
Interior tree decay Tree failure is a major cause of residential property damage, as well as the leading cause of power outages nationwide. An ice storm can overload all the branches on a tree, a hurricane or high wind can blow down a tree if its roots are compromised, or a cracked tree can fail under its own weight. "Homeowners who are worried about trees falling and damaging property should call a professional arborist for an on-site inspection," advises Tchukki Andersen, CTSP, BCMA*, staff arborist with the Tree Care Industry Association....
Spruce up your Christmas tree with these tips By Denise Ruttan Christmas tree needles Christmas tree needles - Look for trees with firm needles that bounce back when you bend them. (Photo by Lynn Ketchum.) After Thanksgiving, most tree lots are busy welcoming the crowds for a festive annual tradition – choosing the Christmas tree that will warm your home this December. After you find that perfect tree, you’ll want to keep it fresh for the holiday season. Chal Landgren, a Christmas tree specialist with the Oregon State University E...
Tree Pruning 101 Illustration of tree pruning The objective of pruning is to produce strong, healthy, attractive plants. By understanding how, when and why to prune, and by following a few simple principles, this objective can be achieved. Reasons For Pruning The main reasons for pruning ornamental and shade trees include safety, health, and aesthetics. In addition, pruning can be used to stimulate fruit production and increase the value of timber. Pruning for safety involves removing branches that could fall and cause injury or property...
Guidebook identifies good bugs and the bad bugs they love to eat By Judy Scott With a hand lens and photo-illustrated guide by Oregon State University Extension and Oregon Tilth, you can teach yourself to identify beneficial insects that prey on crop pests. The guide is called “A Pocket Guide: Common Natural Enemies of Crop and Garden Pests in the Pacific Northwest” (EC 1613-E). It includes macroscopic photos of many natural predators and parasitoids in their life stages, along with identification and observation tips. It is available onl...
An organic field By Judy Scott Gardening resources often recommend chemical fertilizers with N-P-K (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) ratios, but for organic gardeners, the numbers can be frustrating. Manure and other organic materials often don't come with N-P-K ratings, especially if purchased in bulk. Organic gardeners are in luck. Ross Penhallegon, horticulturalist with the Oregon State University Extension Service, collected information about the nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content of many organic substances commonly used as...
Are pesticides hazardous? That’s up to you! Don't spray pesticides like this" src="http://mckenzieriverreflectionsnewspaper.com/sites/default/files/small_No%20pesticide.png" style="width: 180px; height: 178px; margin: 5px; float: left;" By Tim Stock Pesticides can harm humans, animals, birds, fish, insects, and plants if used carelessly. They also can pollute the air, water, and soil. You can reduce these hazards if you use pesticides properly. Before buying any pesticide, make sure you’ve identified the pest correctly and that you’re choos...
A dead tree or shrub? Learn from a post-mortem analysis OSU tips for not killing trees By Judy Scott Often we discover in the spring that a tree or shrub just didn't make it through the winter. There are many reasons for a woody plant to succumb and a "post-mortem" analysis can point out clues. The weather is the first possible culprit, said Barb Fick, home horticulturist with the Oregon State University Extension Service. A stressful winter, with heavy snow and ice, can break a lot of limbs. "Rapid temperature fluctuations from warm to cold al...
Tree full of apples By Carol Savonen There are hundreds of varieties of apples grown in Oregon, from old heirlooms to modern disease resistant cultivars. But often apple tree owners don’t know what kind of apple tree they have, much less recognize when their specific type of apple is at its peak of perfection and ready to harvest. Here are some hints to help those with apple trees figure out what to do, from the Oregon State University Extension Service. Any given variety of apple reaches harvest maturity at about the same time each year. So k...
Giant pumpkin by Scott Culley By Judy Scott Pumpkins and other winter squash can grow like weeds, and as they trail out between raised beds and down rows of corn, gardeners often ask how and where to store them all. Giant pumpkin carved by Scott Cully Now is a good time to ask, because pumpkins and other winter squash won't survive the first frost. Tried-and-true storing techniques, however, can keep winter squash for several months. "Most squashes and pumpkins are warm-season crops and are susceptible to injury at temperatures less than 50...
BIRDS OF WALTERVILLE CANAL AND POND By Dan Gleason Tentative list as of 2/19/07 (Includes birds in habitat visible across the canal and orchard not part of EWEB property) Notes: (C) = Confirmed sightings (P) = Possible species to look for ANSERIFORMES (Geese, Ducks & Swans) ANATIDAE (Geese and Ducks) Branta canadensis Canada Goose (P) Aix sponsa Wood Duck (P) Anas americana American Wigeon (P) Anas platyrhynchos Mallard Anas cyanoptera Cinnamon Teal (P) Anas clypeata Northern Shoveler (P) Anas crecca Green-winged Teal (P) Aythya collaris...
See plants turn fall colors before you buy them Fall leaves By Davi Richards & Carol Savonen Northwest gardeners are blessed with many evergreen plants that keep the landscape looking alive all year. Even so, a vibrant splash of color in the garden can ease the loss of summer. Perennials, especially asters and chrysanthemums, may be the most familiar plants for fall garden color. There are also trees and shrubs that can brighten up your surroundings when summer's over, some of them familiar and some unusual. You can plan ahead and look in...
See plants turn fall color before you buy them By Davi Richards & Carol Savonen CORVALLIS, Ore. - Northwest gardeners are blessed with many evergreen plants that keep the landscape looking alive all year. Even so, a vibrant splash of color in the garden can ease the loss of summer. Perennials, especially asters and chrysanthemums, may be the most familiar plants for fall garden color. There are also trees and shrubs that can brighten up your surroundings when summer's over, some of them familiar and some unusual. You can plan ahead and look in...
