Gardening techniques

OSU Extension provides practical, research-based gardening techniques to help Oregonians grow healthy plants and productive landscapes. From seed starting and watering to pruning and pest control, we offer tips and tools for gardeners of all experience levels. Find the science-based techniques and answers to some of your gardening challenges or to help meet your gardening goals.

Growing Your Own

By Gail A. Langellotto

Learn about composting, container gardens, fall/winter gardens, fertilizing, insect pests, plant diseases, planting guidelines, raised beds, site selection, slugs, soil improvement, tilling, warm-season crops, watering, and weeds. This publication includes regional tips for various parts of Oregon.

Growing Your Own is now available as a bilingual publication in Spanish and English!

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Photo Credit: Patrick Daxenbichler - Adobe Stock (Cropped from original)

Featured Resources

What's in a name? Useful definitions for reading plant labels

Plant labels can be difficult to read, even for the most experienced gardener. From wild-types to ecotypes and varieties to subspecies, this guide is designed to teach you about the botanical Latin and abbreviations seen on plant labels across the nursery trade.

Jen J-M. Hayes | Oct 2023 | Educational gallery Peer reviewed (Gray level)

Gardens Are For Everyone

Accessible gardens for home and community garden locations allow everyone to reap the benefits of gardening.

Corinne Thomas-Kersting, Weston Miller | May 2023 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Sweep wood ash from the fireplace to the garden

As you clean the fireplace, do your plants a favor and sprinkle the ashes in the garden instead of throwing them in the garbage.

Kym Pokorny | Oct 22, 2021 | News story

Pruning with the pros

This video series covers a variety of pruning challenges associated with older trees and mature landscapes. Pruning of mature trees that have not seen ideal care in the past can present unique challenges. In these clips, tree ...

Nicole Sanchez | Feb 2022 | Collection

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Become a Master Gardener!

The Master Gardener™ program educates Oregonians about the art and science of growing and caring for plants. This program also facilitates the training of a highly educated group of volunteers, who extend sustainable gardening information to their communities through education and outreach programs.

Learn more

Latest Resources

High Desert Garden Tour

Come and explore several gardens at this self-guided event. The High Desert Garden Tour is July 19th, 2025 in Bend area featuring several sites. Click here for more information.

May 2025 | Educational document

Watering Basics

May 2025 | Food Hero gardening tip

How to get rid of tree-of-heaven: Solve Pest Problems

Tree-of-heaven is an invasive tree that spreads quickly and is difficult to control. It is a preferred food source for the invasive insect species spotted lanternfly. Learn how to identify and take action to control this aggressive weed.

Weston Miller, Jessica Green, J. Jeremiah Mann | May 2025 | Online resource

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Best Tools to Use in your Garden with Mike Peters

This talk will show examples of some of the best garden tools to help make landscaping projects easier and tips for keeping the tools sharp and clean.

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Photo Credit: Crystal Jo - Unsplash.com (Cropped from original)

Latest News

How to protect yourself and your plants during extreme heat

Keep hydrated. Carry a water bottle – and use it! You need water as much as your plants do.

Kym Pokorny | Jun 18, 2025 | News story

Melons can thrive in Western Oregon with the right varieties and care

Cooler conditions require more attention to variety selection and cultivation methods.

Kym Pokorny | May 16, 2025 | News story

Fall in love with colorful, dazzling dahlias

Pompoms, collarettes, mignons, waterlilies: The names are as colorful as the blooms they describe.

Kym Pokorny | Apr 2, 2025 | News story

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Berries and fruit

Flowers, shrubs and trees

Garden soil and compost

Garden vegetables and herbs

Lawn and turfgrass

Nuisance wildlife

Upcoming Events

Jul 17 - Jul 19

Master Your Garden - A Hands On Traveling Gardening Event at Linn County Fair

9:00 am - 1:00 pm Albany, OR

Jul 19

2025 High Desert Garden Tour

8:30 am - 3:30 pm Bend, OR

Jul 21

Dish Garden & Bird Feeder Workshop

11:00 am - 12:00 pm Dallas, OR

Jul 21

Dish Garden & Bird Feeder Workshop

11:00 am - 12:00 pm Dallas, OR

Meet Our Experts

Cindy Brown

4-H/FCH-SNAP Program Coordinator

Contact me for questions on 4-H youth development and healthy living programming in Sherman County as well as healthy living topics such as MyPlate, gardening, food preservation and food storage!

Signe Danler

Home Horticulture Online Program Instructor

Contact for questions about Home Horticulture online. Submit other questions to Ask Extension, link below.

Amy Jo Detweiler

Horticulture

Brooke Edmunds

Community Horticulture, Master Gardeners

Contact me about the Master Gardener Program or gardening questions from Marion or Polk counties

Have a question? Ask Extension!

Ask Extension 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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Does a greenhouse in Eastern Oregon need auxiliary heat in the winter?

Q: Our new greenhouse faces south. Does it need auxiliary heat in Eastern Oregon winter?

A: View answer | View all featured questions

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