Gardening Techniques

Featured Resources

Monthly Garden Calendars

Produced by OSU Extension, each month provides reminders of key garden chores, such as fertilizing, pest control, planting, and maintenance.

May 2018 | Collection

Raised Bed Gardening

Gives step-by-step instructions for building a raised bed. Discusses special considerations for growing plants in raised beds as well as long-term maintenance of beds.

Brooke Edmunds | Oct 2016 | OSU Extension Catalog

Improving Garden Soils with Organic Matter

This publication will help you understand the importance of soil organic matter levels to good plant performance. It also contains suggestions for suitable soil amendments. Any soil, no matter how compacted, can be improved by ...

Neil Bell, Dan Sullivan, Linda Brewer | May 2003 | OSU Extension Catalog

A Guide to Collecting Soil Samples for Farms and Gardens

Laboratory soil tests help you develop your soil and increase crop production by providing information on available nutrient content. Soil testing helps you select the correct kind and amount of fertilizer and liming material. ...

Melissa Fery, Jeff Choate | Oct 2018 | OSU Extension Catalog

Latest Resources

Five ways to improve soil

Soil: the literal and biological foundation upon which all gardens are built. Healthy soil provides nutrients, structure, and moisture holding capacity that contribute to plant growth. Ideally, it also contains a healthy microbiome ...

Nicole Sanchez | Mar 2019 | Article

Five tips for using holiday greenery

For those seeking to “spruce” up their interior spaces during the holidays, fresh evergreens are a great place to start. In addition to the natural feel and fragrance, evergreens are especially forgiving to work with. Even ...

Nicole Sanchez | Dec 2019 | Article

Five common houseplant issues

Houseplants are easy to grow, and come in an increasingly wide range of colors, leaf shapes, and “habits”, making them an enjoyable addition to many homes. In winter months, houseplants may be the only gardening outlet ...

Nicole Sanchez | Nov 2019 | Article

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Latest News

With the right care, asparagus beds will produce for decades

Asparagus is a hardy perennial and should be planted as soon as the soil can be properly prepared in the spring.

Kym Pokorny | Feb 12, 2021 | News story

Free virtual Master Gardener education series open to the public

The classes include topics as far-ranging as Dazzling Dahlias to Adapting Your Garden and Landscape to Climate Change.

Kym Pokorny | Jan 29, 2021 | News story

Learn the terms on seed packets to make the right selection

Understanding terms associated with seeds will help you pinpoint which selections best serve specific gardens and practices.

Kym Pokorny | Jan 22, 2021 | News story

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Upcoming Events

Mar 6

Beevent 2021

Online

Mar 9

What is the environmental impact of your garden? A life cycle analysis approach

7:00 pm - 8:00 pm PST Online

Mar 22

Weed Control and Soil Development Using Tarping and Solarization

6:00 pm - 7:30 pm PDT Online

Meet Our Experts

Signe Danler

Master Gardener Online Program Instructor

Contact for questions about Online Master Gardener and Home Horticulture program

Amy Jo Detweiler

Horticulture

Brooke Edmunds

Community Horticulture, Master Gardeners

Contact me with gardening questions from Linn or Benton counties

Gail Langellotto

Master Gardener Statewide Coordinator

Have a Question? Ask an Expert!

Ask an Expert is a way for you to get answers from the Oregon State University Extension Service. We have experts in family and health, community development, food and agriculture, coastal issues, forestry, programs for young people, and gardening.

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Will mushroom or worms help remediate herbides?

Q: We garden as organically as possible and endeavor to avoid persistent herbicides and pesticides in the compost we add to our gardens. I make most of our compost, but we have access to a large amount of spent mushroom ...

A: View answer | View all featured questions

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