Paying attention to the interactions among plants is important for gardeners. Building a successful plant community – whether it's an ornamental garden, grass lawn or annual crop – requires knowing when to take steps to ensure an optimum growing environment.
Consider the variety of fertilizers at any garden center: It’s apparent that fertilizer is not one size fits all. Understanding fertilizer basics helps gardeners avoid mistakes and get the most from their plants.
Beans of all kinds are a good crop for beginning gardeners because they're easy to grow. Still, some knowledge about how beans grow best will increase the chances for a bountiful harvest.
Poisonous plants are a major cause of economic loss to the livestock industry. Two poisonous plants common to Oregon are poison hemlock and Western water hemlock. Ingestion of either by humans or livestock typically results in death.
Scott Duggan |
Jun 2018 |
Article
Photo: Oregon State University (Cropped from original)
Poison oak plants contain a chemical that causes a severe rash. Learn how to spot a plant, safely remove, and clean your clothes, gear and skin afterward to prevent a rash.
Silage-making has been used to reduce the concentrations of toxins in a variety of crops. But in the case of poison hemlock, the opposite is true — making silage out of it actually increases one of its toxic alkaloids.
When it comes to information about growing plants from kitchen scraps, the internet can be an unreliable source. Questionable online tips often lead experimental repurposers to abandon their efforts prematurely.