Emerald ash borer – Pest threatens Oregon’s ash trees, ecosystems

August 2022 Posted in Gardening, News | Comments Off on Emerald ash borer – Pest threatens Oregon’s ash trees, ecosystems

By James Day The emerald ash borer (EAB), a forest pest that has been targeting ash trees in the United States since 2002, has been found in Oregon. An infestation discovered June 30 in Forest Grove means that concerns of state and ...

‘Citizen science’ – ODA enlists help to combat invasive pests

August 2022 Posted in Community, Gardening | Comments Off on ‘Citizen science’ – ODA enlists help to combat invasive pests

[caption id="attachment_11751" align="alignright" width="214"] The leaves of a tree of heaven.[/caption] By Melissa Wagoner When it comes to keeping invasive pests from spreading, Beth Myers-Shenai – a specialist in Noxious Weed Control for the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) – knows observation ...

Old-world goodies – Silverton Hills farm raises, preserves chestnut trees

June 2022 Posted in Gardening, Outdoor Life | Comments Off on Old-world goodies – Silverton Hills farm raises, preserves chestnut trees

By Brenna Wiegand Paul’la Allen used to accompany her husband Jack to the cemeteries where he conducted graveside services. [caption id="attachment_11581" align="alignright" width="335"] Paul’la Allen in her chestnut orchard atop the Silverton Hills. She and her husband, Jack, founded Shadow Mountain Ranch ...

‘Sudden Oak Death’ – Not so sudden… Not infecting oaks

May 2022 Posted in Gardening | Comments Off on ‘Sudden Oak Death’ – Not so sudden… Not infecting oaks

By Melissa Wagoner The term Sudden Oak Death (SOD) is really a bit of a misnomer,  according to Sarah Navarro, the Regional Sudden Oak Death Pathologist for the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). “Tanoak is the tree species most affected because it’s readily killed,” Navarro said. Noting that ...

What to plant for a fire-resistant landscape

May 2022 Posted in Gardening | Comments Off on What to plant for a fire-resistant landscape

This is a good time to look at rearranging the landscape for future fire resistance in the urban/forest boundary. Fire-resistant plants often have supple leaves without waxy or resinous surfaces, are higher in moisture content, low in oils and/or they wear thick barks that do ...

ODA Kicks off Statewide Tree-of-Heaven Tally

May 2022 Posted in Gardening | Comments Off on ODA Kicks off Statewide Tree-of-Heaven Tally

 The Oregon Department of Agriculture’s Noxious Weed, and Insect Pest Prevention and Management programs are kicking off a six-month statewide tally of invasive tree-of-heaven locations thanks to funding from the U.S. Forest Service. To help with the tally join the iNaturalist project at https://www. inaturalist.org/projects/oregon-treeof-heaven-tally. There is a mobile app that makes ...

Working in soggy soil

May 2022 Posted in Gardening | Comments Off on Working in soggy soil

It’s been raining a lot lately. It’s not unusual for late spring, and we need the water for an expected dry summer that will eventually happen. The soil is soggy and cold, though. Seeds are slow to grow and, in some gardens, are simply ...

Some plants like to be in shade

May 2022 Posted in Gardening | Comments Off on Some plants like to be in shade

  Our sunny growing season is barely long enough for tomatoes to ripen, but there are plenty of things we can grow and enjoy while waiting for tomato time. Flowers usually require warmth of the sun to open and bear fruit. There are many plants that will ...

OSU Gardener’s June Chores

May 2022 Posted in Gardening | Comments Off on OSU Gardener’s June Chores

First week: Spray cherry trees for cherry fruit fly and brown rot if fruit is ripening. Spray for codling moth and scab in apple and pear trees. Continue use of pheromone traps for insect pest detection. Apples and crabapples that are susceptible to scab disease ...

Not So Heaven Sent – The Invasive Nature of the ‘Tree of Heaven’

April 2022 Posted in Gardening | Comments Off on Not So Heaven Sent – The Invasive Nature of the ‘Tree of Heaven’

By Melissa Wagoner When Pam Russell and her husband purchased their home in Silverton in May 2021, they were excited to have a place of their own for the first time in 15 years. Newly retired empty-nesters, the couple thought they ...

Your Garden – Herbs

April 2022 Posted in Gardening, Outdoor Life | Comments Off on Your Garden – Herbs

Need a flavor boost in your cooking without adding salt? Try growing favorite herbs in your garden, a porch container or in a sunny window. Many herbs, like rosemary and thyme, are perennials that will thrive in our “Mediterranean” climate. ...

OSU Gardener’s May Chores

April 2022 Posted in Gardening, Outdoor Life | Comments Off on OSU Gardener’s May Chores

Oregon State University Extension Service encourages sustainable gardening practices. Always identify and monitor problems before acting. First, consider cultural controls; then physical, biological and chemical controls (which include insecticidal soaps, horticultural oils, botanical insecticides, organic and synthetic pesticides). Always consider ...

Counterpoint: Grasses provide both aesthetic and practical benefits

April 2022 Posted in Gardening, Other | Comments Off on Counterpoint: Grasses provide both aesthetic and practical benefits

An article in the April 1 issue of Our Town [specifically in Your Garden] didn’t have a lot of good things to say about lawns. While we believe the author is entitled to her opinion, as grass seed growers in ...

Removing Lawns – The how and the why

April 2022 Posted in Gardening, Outdoor Life | Comments Off on Removing Lawns – The how and the why

By Melissa Wagoner A lush, green lawn looks beautiful, feels fabulous under foot and can serve a real purpose as the backdrop for picnics, sporting events or just lounging in the sun. But it can also have some real drawbacks.  “An irrigated, ...

OSU Gardener’s April Chores

April 2022 Posted in Gardening | Comments Off on OSU Gardener’s April Chores

Oregon State University Extension Service encourages sustainable gardening practices. Practice preventive pest management rather than reactive pest control. Identify and monitor problems before acting, and opt for the least toxic approach. Conserve biological control agents such as predators and the ...

Dealing with slugs

April 2022 Posted in Gardening | Comments Off on Dealing with slugs

By Diane Hyde As we pick up wind-blown debris and pull up weeds, clusters of slug eggs are found. Some species of slugs bury the eggs underground so they are not found until the little slime-makers emerge. Slugs live under or ...

Tips on Spring Garden Planting

April 2022 Posted in Gardening | Comments Off on Tips on Spring Garden Planting

By Diane Hyde To plant a garden is to believe in the future. Believe those seeds will sprout and mature in reasonable time. Believe your effort will be rewarded. Believe, but be wise in helping it happen. The spring solstice signals ...