Gardening

Flower garden in the afternoon. Photo by: Bob Rost

Hydrangeas in the garden. Photo by: Bob Rost

Potted bedding plants. Photo by: Bob Rost

Spider and a bee on a flower. Photo by: Bob Rost

Flower garden at the base of a house. Photo by: Bob Rost

Using sustainable and research-based techniques, learn how to grow your own vegetables, connect with other gardeners, or use Ask an Expert to seek gardening advice. Watch a video about the OSU Master Gardener program in Newport, Oregon.

Things to do in June

Harvest thinnings from new plantings of lettuce, onion, and chard.
Fertilize vegetable garden 1 month after plants emerge by side dressing alongside rows.
Pick ripe strawberries regularly to avoid fruit-rotting diseases.

Gardening Tips

Prune and fertilize hedges this time of year

The best time to trim is after the flush of spring growth, late April through early June, depending on your growing season and the vigor of the hedge materials, according to Ross Penhallegon, horticulturist with the Oregon State University Extension Service.

Oregon gardeners can help manage spotted wing drosophila

If you grow cherries, mulberries and peaches or berries such as strawberries, raspberries and blueberries, you can help reduce the effect of spotted wing drosophila with a new online OSU Extension publication, EM 9026.

Three requirements to grow clematis vines

Clematis need a little special handling at the start, but once established they grow and flower year after year.

Garlic expert: Fertilize and weed garlic in the spring

Fertilize garlic in the spring if you want a large and healthy crop of bulbs by summer, advises Chip Bubl, garlic expert and agricultural agent at the Columbia County office of the OSU Extension Service in St. Helens.

Some vegetables require less water than others

Some vegetables, such as beans, are adapted to drought conditions at a very basic, cellular level.

Gardening Courses

Master Gardener Online

Learn the art and science of growing and caring for plants, and even become a Master Gardener, through this two-option online course.

Learn more...

Become a water-wise gardener

Plant an economical and environmentally friendly and garden with the help of the WaterWise Gardening online course series.

Learn more...

Popular Publications

An Educator's Guide to Vegetable Gardening

A new publication from OSU Extension shows a full-circle approach to gardening on school grounds

Grapevine Nutrition

Use this self-guided learning module to find information on grapevine nutrient needs and how to diagnose problems with disease, insects, drought, sunburn, and herbicides.

How to Build Your Own Raised-Bed Cloche

Learn how to create a "cloche" that can be used to protect your plants from cold weather.

Container Gardening

If you lack space for a garden, consider raising vegetables in containers.

Improving Garden Soil

Making a poor garden better often begins with the soil. If your garden soil is poor, consider giving it some help.

Don’t Let the Bugs Beat You To It

Strategies to to keep the bugs out of your garden.

Building Raised Beds

Improve your soil by adding organic matter and creating raised beds.

Training and Pruning Your Home Orchard

Basic instructions on how to prune your trees.

Question of the Week

I would like to get a rain barrel to collect the water from the down spouts and want one that can function year 'round here in the Willamette Valley. Most of the ones I have seen are plastic and must be drained and taken in for icy temps. Can you advise me on what kind of rain barrel I am looking for that can be left out and used all year in our area.

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