Neil Bell

Horticulture , Academic Wage Appointment

Locations: Marion County , Polk County

Content by Neil Bell

Grevillea for Western Oregon gardens

The top 5 performing plants of Grevillea for western Oregon landscapes.

Heather Stoven, Neil Bell | Apr 2025 | Educational gallery Peer reviewed (Gray level)

Training and pruning your home orchard

A visual guide to training and pruning apple, pear, sweet cherry, sour cherry, peach, plum, apricot, fig, persimmon, walnut, hazelnut and chestnut trees.

Jeff L. Olsen, Neil Bell | Feb 2025 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Orange level)

OSU research enhances efforts to make olive farming viable in Oregon

The goal is to grow as many olive cultivars as possible in a field evaluation and to select cultivars best adapted to the region.

Heather Stoven, Neil Bell | Jan 2025 | Impact story

Most valuable Oregon agricultural commodity benefits from OSU plant trials

Development of genuinely low-input landscapes for Western Oregon will require use of drought-tolerant, evergreen ground covers, few of which are currently used in local landscapes because data on their adaptability to local conditions are not available.

Heather Stoven, Neil Bell | Jan 2025 | Impact story

Saucy shrubs strut their stuff in fall

Colorful shrubs can compete with trees when it comes to fall color.

Kym Pokorny | Oct 18, 2024 | News story

Manzanitas for Western Oregon Gardens

The top 5 performing plants of manzanita for western Oregon landscapes.

Heather Stoven, Neil Bell | Oct 2024 | Educational gallery Peer reviewed (Gray level)

Six stellar shrubs to brighten the winter garden

Winter doesn't have to be dark and dreary in the garden if you use plants that bloom in winter.

Kym Pokorny | Sep 5, 2024 | News story

Rockroses for Western Oregon gardens

The top 5 performing plants of Cistus for western Oregon landscapes.

Heather Stoven, Neil Bell | Aug 2024 | Educational gallery Peer reviewed (Gray level)

Slime mold looks ugly in the garden but does no harm

Primitive substance appears overnight during a rainy spring.

Kym Pokorny | Jul 31, 2024 | News story

Top 5 plants for unirrigated landscapes in Western Oregon

Drought-tolerant landscape plants for Western Oregon, including California lilac (Ceanothus), Rockrose (Cistus and Halimium), Manzanita (Arctostaphylos), Spider flower (Grevillea) and ground cover shrubs.

Heather Stoven, Neil Bell | Jul 2024 | Collection Peer reviewed (Gray level)

Evergreen Hebes perform colorfully in the garden

Most Hebes flower in the summer, but others bloom in late fall.

Kym Pokorny | Jul 21, 2024 | News story

California Lilac (Ceanothus) for Western Oregon gardens

The top 5 performing plants of Ceanothus for western Oregon landscapes.

Heather Stoven, Neil Bell | Jul 2024 | Educational gallery Peer reviewed (Gray level)

Drought-tolerant landscape plants for Western Oregon: site selection and preparation

Western Oregon gardens and landscapes can flourish without summer irrigation - when you choose the right plants. This series, based on decades of on-farm research, can provide some ideas and go-to plants to help create a ...

Heather Stoven, Neil Bell | Jul 2024 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Gray level)

Drought-tolerant Ceanothus makes a beautiful addition to the garden

Ceanothus plants start blooming early in spring and continue until July, depending on the cultivar.

Kym Pokorny | May 25, 2024 | News story

Wisteria care: Take out clippers twice a year and go to town

Before planting one, people should realize the effort involved in keeping them in bounds.

Kym Pokorny | Jan 8, 2024 | News story

OSU’s Olea Project responds to grower interest in producing olives

The project began in earnest in 2017 to determine if olives could be a viable alternate crop in Oregon.

Kym Pokorny | Dec 8, 2023 | News story

Fire-resistant plant profiles: Shrubs

Choose the right shrubs for your fire-resistant landscape with this comprehensive list for the Pacific Northwest.

Amy Jo Detweiler, Stephen Fitzgerald, Ariel Cowan, Neil Bell, Thomas Stokely | Nov 2023 | Educational gallery Peer reviewed (Gray level)

Fire-resistant plant profiles: Broadleaf evergreens

Choose the right broadleaf evergreen plants for your fire-resistant landscape with this comprehensive list for the Pacific Northwest.

Amy Jo Detweiler, Stephen Fitzgerald, Ariel Cowan, Neil Bell, Thomas Stokely | Nov 2023 | Educational gallery Peer reviewed (Gray level)

Fire-resistant plant profiles: Groundcovers

Choose the right groundcover plants for your fire-resistant landscape with this comprehensive list for the Pacific Northwest.

Amy Jo Detweiler, Stephen Fitzgerald, Ariel Cowan, Neil Bell, Thomas Stokely | Nov 2023 | Educational gallery Peer reviewed (Gray level)

Fire-resistant plant profiles: Perennials

Choose the right perennial plants for your fire-resistant landscape with this comprehensive list for the Pacific Northwest.

Amy Jo Detweiler, Stephen Fitzgerald, Ariel Cowan, Neil Bell, Thomas Stokely | Nov 2023 | Educational gallery Peer reviewed (Gray level)

Fire-resistant plant profiles: Trees

Choose the right trees for your fire-resistant landscape with this comprehensive list for the Pacific Northwest.

Amy Jo Detweiler, Stephen Fitzgerald, Ariel Cowan, Neil Bell, Thomas Stokely | Nov 2023 | Educational gallery Peer reviewed (Gray level)

Snip some stems and have new plants in spring

Whether you plant the results of your “snip and stick” project or give them away, propagating by cuttings can be a rewarding process.    

Kym Pokorny | Nov 1, 2023 | News story

Fire-resistant plants for home landscapes

Home landscaping is an important part of a community's resistance to wildfire. Learn what plants can help you create an attractive environment and reduce the risk of fire.

Amy Jo Detweiler, Stephen Fitzgerald, Ariel Cowan, Neil Bell, Thomas Stokely | Oct 2023 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Winter Vegetable Production on Small Farms and Gardens West of the Cascades

The mild climate west of the Cascades allows farmers and gardeners to grow many winter-hardy crops in the field for winter and spring harvest. A wide range of alliums, leafy greens, brassicas and root crops do...

Nick Andrews, Heather Stoven, Heidi Noordijk, Lane Selman, Kelly Streit, Brooke Edmunds, Neil Bell, Victoria Binning | Jun 2022 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Arborvitae stands tall as easy-care hedge

When finding a location for arborvitae in the garden look for full sun and well-drained soil.

Kym Pokorny | Nov 19, 2021 | News story

Ten trees for fiery fall color

When choosing a tree, first do some research. Walk around neighborhoods, parks and public gardens to get ideas.

Kym Pokorny | Aug 27, 2021 | News story

Are fresh avocados possible here?

Q: Can an avocado tree grow and bear fruit in the Willamette Valley?

A: View answer | View all featured questions

How to Control Slugs in Your Garden

Practical tips on how to deal with slugs in your garden, given in both English and Spanish.

Neil Bell, Amy J. Dreves | Jun 2023 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Enhancing Urban and Suburban Landscapes to Protect Pollinators

The way we garden can help promote the health of bees and other insects. This guide offers detailed plant lists, garden designs and advice on creating pollinator habitat.

Andony Melathopoulos, Neil Bell, Signe Danler, Amy Jo Detweiler, Iris Kormann, Gail Langellotto, Nicole Sanchez, Heather Stoven, Dave Smitley | Dec 2024 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Trees and Shrubs for Fall and Winter Bloom

Fall and winter flowers add cheer in the Pacific Northwest's rainy season. Flowering shrubs are also a boost to pollinators, providing nectar and pollen when little is available. Learn what shrubs and trees to plant now to brighten your garden in the months to come.

Neil Bell, Heather Stoven, Andony Melathopoulos | Jun 2023 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Pokeweed identification?

Q: My dog has been sick a few times and I found this plant with berries in my back yard. I am trying to identify it, but having trouble. Think it is a nightshade type but just does not look like examples on internet. Can you help?

A: View answer | View all featured questions

Pruning Ornamental Shrubs

What is pruning?, Pruning principles, Identifying flowering and growth habit, Directing growth, Principal pruning cuts

Neil Bell | Jan 2019 | Presentation

Diagnosing plant problems

Ten questions to ask in diagnosing problems and resources to turn to for expert advice.

Neil Bell | Mar 2024 | OSU Extension Catalog

Grow your own tomatoes and tomatillos

Learn how to grow tomatoes and tomatillos in your home garden. Topics include site and soil preparation, propagation, planting, pruning, harvest and storage.

Neil Bell, Amy Jo Detweiler, Heidi Noordijk, Chip Bubl | May 2024 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Community Horticulture in Marion County

See how Extension's research and education services help develop plant varieties that are successfully adapted for use in the mid-Willamette Valley and help residents raise their own food and plants to beautify their landscape.

Mary Stewart, Neil Bell, Michael Calcagno | May 2024 | Video

How OSU Extension Forestry connects in our communities

How Extension teaches best practices that enhance the soil, air and water quality, and how the program is important to family and community success.

Mary Stewart, Neil Bell, Michael Calcagno | Apr 2024 | Video

Ten questions to ask to diagnose a plant problem

You may immediately want to know "What's wrong with my plant?" when your tomatoes or azaleas appear wan. But don't stop there.

Oct 25, 2013 | News story

Mulching woody ornamentals with organic materials

Using mulch around trees and shrubs has many benefits including improved soil quality and reduced water consumption. Learn about the types of mulch, how to use it and how to maintain its benefits.

Neil Bell, Dan M. Sullivan, Tom Cook | Apr 2024 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Improving Garden Soils with Organic Matter

Soil organic matter is important to good plant performance. Adding organic matter can improve any soil, no matter how compacted. Learn how to check your soil for organic matter and improve its quality with amendments.

Neil Bell, Dan M. Sullivan, Linda Brewer, John M. Hart | Jul 2021 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Acidifying Soil for Blueberries and Ornamental Plants in the Yard and Garden: West of the Cascade Mountain Range in Oregon and Washington

This publication explains the importance of soil acidity to plant growth and discusses how to modify it to ensure that rhododendrons, blueberries, and other acid-loving plants thrive in your garden.

John M. Hart, Donald A. Horneck, Robert G. Stevens, Neil Bell, Craig G. Cogger | Jul 2021 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Orange level)

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