This publication provides direction on estimating soil moisture by the "feel and appearance" method; taking a some soil and rolling it up in a ball then squeezing it between your thumb and forefinger to form a ribbon and noting how it appears and feels. Compare what you see with photographs and/or charts to estimate percent water available and the inches depleted below field capacity.
Not every yard is suited for in-ground gardening. In rental situations or in areas with poor soil, garden space must sometimes be “created.” That's when raised beds and containers come into play.
Independent of which system or mix of systems a grower uses, irrigation management can be challenging. An irrigation program must match the changing demands of the crop with the water supplied.
The jumping worm, an invasive species new to Oregon, harms the soil by reducing it to granules, making it more porous and less able to retain water. Here's how to identify jumping worms and help stop their spread.
From the myth of collapsing root balls to the myth of compost tea - learn the facts about a range of tips you may have heard through the years about healthy soil, pretty mulch, and more.
Feb 2014 |
Article
Photo Credit: evgenyb - Adobe Stock (Cropped from original)
There are lots of gardening tasks to complete in April, including fertilizing your lawn and preparing soil and raised garden beds. Learn more in this guide.
Mar 2021 |
Article
Photo Credit: Danita Delimont - Adobe Stock (Cropped from original)
For Oregon gardeners, May is a busy month. It's time to check soil temperatures, establish irrigation systems, and to start planting flowers and vegetables. Learn more in this guide.
Choose the right containers, soil and plants to keep your flowerpots blooming all season long. When choosing plants for container gardening, go for "thrillers," "fillers" and "spillers."
Amy Jo Detweiler |
Mar 2014 |
Article
Credit Wyatt Williams, Oregon Department of Forestry (Cropped from original)
Currently, the emerald ash borer has been found in trees only in Washington County, where a quarantine prohibits moving ash (Fraxinus) or fringe tree (Chionanthus) wood in or out of the area.