Gardening techniques

OSU Extension can provide you 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 | Extension Catalog publication 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.

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Latest Resources

Growing Gardens Summit: Part 2

Join Rick "on assignment" as he travels to the Growing School Gardens Summit, in San Diego California. Rick interviews a dozen people with amazing stories. This is part TWO of a four-part series.

Michelle Markesteyn, PhD, MSEL, Rick Sherman | Apr 2024 | Podcast episode Peer reviewed (Gray level)

Lincoln County Gardeners Resource Guide

Resources for gardeners in Lincoln County, as prepared by the Lincoln County Master Gardeners.

Stormi Dykes, Cathi Block | Mar 2024 | Article

High Desert Garden Tour

Come and explore several gardens at this self-guided event. The High Desert Garden Tour is July 20, 2024 in Powell Butte area featuring several sites. Click here for more information.

Mar 2024 | Educational document

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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

High Desert Garden Tour educates gardeners on growing conditions

Annual Extension event helps gardeners successfully navigate the unique soils and extreme climate of central Oregon.

Amy Jo Detweiler | Apr 2024 | Impact story

Early spring is the best time to plant strawberries

Once you’ve decided on the type of strawberry to grow, you’ll want to choose a variety and decide which method to plant them.

Kym Pokorny | Mar 29, 2024 | News story

Klamath County Master Gardeners design and deliver ‘DIY’ irrigation program

Oregon State University Extension Service Master Gardeners in the county researched alternative lawns and sought ways to help gardeners understand drip irrigation better.

Nicole Sanchez | Mar 2024 | Impact 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

Apr 20

Free Compost Workshop

10:00 am - 12:00 pm Eugene, OR

Apr 20

Trees for Small Spaces

10:00 am - 11:30 am Independence, OR

Apr 24

Ten Proven Ideas for a Bird-Friendly Garden

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm PDT Online

May 4

Benton County Master Gardener Association Annual Plant Sale and Clinic

9:00 am - 3:00 pm Corvallis, 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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What can I plant in my garden for fall and winter harvest?

Q: I would like to plant some fall and winter crops from seed in my garden. Do you have any recommendations for what will grow best on our area?

A: View answer | View all featured questions

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