LAWN
MUSHROOMS
December 2, 2006
We always get questions this time of year about the mushrooms in lawns. Are they dangerous? William talked about the conditions that cause the mushrooms. They are caused by decomposing matter in your yard and that there is no way to remove the mushrooms from a lawn. They will continue to occur where organic matter exists. To be on the safe side they should be removed if you have small children or pets, they could be poisonous. If you don’t have pets or small children, you can choose to let them be and enjoy nature at work!
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PRESERVING FRESH CUT GREENS
November 25, 2006
Fresh
cut greens are a staple of the holidays. Unfortunately,
they can dry out quickly once we get them indoors. Judy
gave us some tips for preserving them throughout the
holiday season. First, give your greens a fresh cut and
put them in water for a short time before using them for
decorating. If you can keep them in water, you can add
a preservative to the water to keep them fresh longer.
If they can’t be in water you can use a product like
‘Wilt-proof’. It is a spray that seals in the moisture
and helps keep them fresh. The final thing you can do
is to have your greens flocked. The flocking totally
seals in the moisture. A little work on your greens
while you are decorating will ensure that they will be
around until Christmas and beyond.
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STAKING TREES
November 18, 2006
The
cold, wet, winds of winter are blowing. If you have
landscape trees you may want to consider staking them to
prevent damage to them and the rest of your landscape.
William showed us how to use a single stake and also a 3
stake method to help a small tree stay stable. The main
rules to follow include using wide, loose bands around
the trunk to prevent girdling the tree. Also allow a
little bit of play in the cords. A slight movement is
good and will promote root growth. If you have a larger
tree and you feel it might not have a solid root system,
you can contact a certified arborist for help.
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LEAF MULCH
November 11, 2006
Tired
of bagging your leaves? Here is a quick tip that will
help your plants and save your back! Rake your leaves
into your garden beds. This will help the plants by
protecting them from the bitter cold, plus it will also
keep the rains from compacting your soil during the wet
months ahead. This spring you can compost the leaves to
finish the job that nature started or you can put them
in your yard debris container where they will take up
less room than they do now.
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CLEANING YOUR INDOOR PLANTS
October 28, 2006
If you
have indoor plants that have been enjoying the nice
weather, now is the time to clean them up and get them
ready to bring back indoors. First, give them a good
rinsing, even under the leaves. This will knock off
most of the pests that can harm your plants. Then apply
a granular systemic insect control at the base of the
plant. This will control the sucking insects and you
don’t have to spray. Finally, you may want to use a
little leaf shine spray to give your foliage a glossy
glow. Doing this will give indoor plants a healthy
start for the upcoming season.
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RIPE SQUASH
October 21, 2006
The
number one question that Bauman Farms receives this time
of year is ‘How can I tell when my squash is ripe?’
Brian Bauman from
Bauman Farms (503-792-3524) joined us to share the
answer for our ‘tip of the week’. There are 2 things
you should look for if you are wondering if your gourd
is ripe. First, look to see if the foliage is dying
back. If the foliage is brown and crispy, then check
the spot where the squash is in contact with the
ground. The spot should not be white. If it has
changed color to a cream or orange color then it is
ready to harvest.
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MOVING YOUR POTS
October 7, 2006
With
colder days on the way it is time to start thinking
about moving some of your tender plants to protected
areas. Judy and William moved a couple pots up under
the eaves of a house. The eaves will help keep the
frost from forming on the plants and it will keep the
plants warmer as well, with the radiating heat from the
siding. If you have plants that are ‘touchy’, now is
the time to move them. One thing to remember; you will
need to water them. The eaves that protect them from
the cold will also prevent water from reaching the
plant.
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FALL SLUG CONTROL
September 30, 2006
Slugs
are not just a spring time problem. Fall, with its
increasing rains, can bring them back into your garden
when you thought they were under control. Remember to
bait now so they don’t destroy your beautiful fall
flowers. We recommend a quality bait like Corry’s, but
if you have pets or small children you can use a product
like Worry Free from
Lilly Miller. It is an organic product that is safe
to use in any garden setting. Some people say that if
you bait now you will reduce the amount of slugs you get
next spring because they are not around to lay eggs.
Always remember to read and follow the label directions
with any garden product.
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PLANTING GARLIC
September 16, 2006
A few
minutes now will lead to a flavorful future. Judy gave
us tips for planting garlic for the fall. Planting now
will allow the bulbs to create the roots that will make
for a bountiful harvest next fall. First dig a trench
about 4 inches deep. Get some garlic from your local
garden store. Don’t use the garlic from your local
grocery store; it is treated to keep from sprouting.
Break apart the cloves and plant the individual parts
about 3-4 inches apart. Top dress with a bulb food and
water well. Garlic is one of the easiest bulbs to grow,
so this could be the start of a successful garden for
next year.
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MOSQUITO DUNKS
September 9, 2006
With
the warm days of the late summer the mosquito population
can become unbearable. One way to help control these
flying pests is to eliminate the standing water in your
yard. If you have anything in your garden where water
is allowed to set, mosquitoes will lay their eggs. Our
tip for this week is to add a mosquito dunk to the
water. The dunks contain Bacillus thuringiensis,
which kills the larvae before they hatch
into adults. Because it is a bacterium that targets the
larvae it is safe to plants, fish, people or wildlife.
Another tip, if the water is moving, like in a fountain
or bubbler, they can’t land to lay their eggs so the
dunk is not necessary.
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STEAMING DAHLIAS
September 2, 2006
The
dahlia festival at
Swan
Island Dahlias, (1-800-410-6540) in Canby, is in its
final week and we stopped by to get our tip from Nick
Gitts. He showed us how to make your cut dahlias last
longer. They do it at the dahlia farm by ‘steaming’ the
stems of the dahlias. They immerse the cut stems in 160
degree water and leave them there. By doing this it
opens the vascular system of the plant and they don’t
seal back up. That means the plant continues to take up
water longer and stays fresher longer. There is one
thing to remember: Make sure the flowers are above the
edge of the container when you steam them, you don’t
want the flowers steamed as well!
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DOG SPOTS
August 26, 2006
If you
have seen big green spots in your lawn it means you have
a pet (or a frequent visitor). These green circles are
from your pet’s urine and it is caused by the salts that
occur in the urine. You may also notice that there is a
dead spot in the center of the green; this is the grass
dying from too much salt. You are seeing it more now
because of the summer stress that the grass is under
from all the heat and the lack of water. To get rid of
the spots you have to flush them with water as soon as
the animal is done. This will dilute the salts and
reduce the problem areas. You can also train your dog
to use a specific area of the lawn or set up a dog run
to limit their movement. If you can’t flush the area,
try to keep your lawn in good shape. That will
minimize the stress and help the spots blend in.
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SUMMER VEGGIE
FERTILIZING
August 12, 2006
Our
tip of the week comes from the
OSU Master Gardeners. When your cucumbers and
squashes start to bear fruit you can apply a general
‘all-purpose’ fertilizer to extend the growing
season. Not all your garden fruits and vegetables
will respond to this type of care. Some of your
plants will respond to additional fertilizer by
growing more foliage, but cukes and squashes enjoy the
extra boost!
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WASP TRAPS
August 5, 2006
August means Bar-B-Que’s
and outdoor fun. It also means wasps and yellow
jackets. As the summer comes to a close the wasps and
yellow jackets become more aggressive. Now is the time
to get those traps up in your yard for the remaining
days of summer. There are a number of traps out there
for the home gardener. Some of them can be used and
thrown away. Others are meant to be re-used. Those
require the addition of some kind of attractant. Check
at your local garden center to find the trap that works
for you.
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POOL PLANTS
July 29, 2006
The heat makes us all
thirsty! Our garden tip of the week helps quench the
thirst of your hanging baskets and small container
gardens. We found a small ‘kiddie’ pool, filled it ½
full of water and set our driest plants in the water.
During those days that have excessive heat, the plants
really like the extra water and we don’t have to worry
about constant watering. There are a couple of
precautions you have to follow. Don’t leave them in
there for more than a day or two; they can get too much
of a good thing and that may create mold, fungus or
disease problems. And don’t over fill the pool.
Allowing the plant to take what it needs from the pool
is good, drowning it is not!
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PRUNING HARDY GERANIUMS
July 22, 2006
If you
have hardy geraniums they are looking pretty bad right
now. The blooms have long since passed and the seed
heads are starting to form, but you can still get more
bloom before the season is over. Judy showed us how to
cut the plants back to the base. They will look a
little bare for a couple of days but soon you will see
new growth and a whole new set of blooms!
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IRIS
CLEAN-UP
July 15, 2006
Those
wonderful irises of the late spring are looking pretty
bad right now. Dry, dead leaves are mixed with
sad, damaged leaves. Now is the time to clean them
up. First, pull all the dry leaves out of the
clump. Then cut back the green leaves to about 2-3
inches from the ground. Later this fall you can
dig, divide and replant them, but for now this will take
care of them and make your beds look much better.
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SUNBURNED
HOSTAS
July 8, 2006
Like
one of our previous stories, our tip of the week also
deals with hostas. Thomas from
Sebright
Gardens (503-463-9615) told us how to freshen up a
sunburned damaged hosta. By using an ordinary
scissors he was able to trim off the sunburned edge of a
hosta and make it look like a normal leaf. For the
ones that saw heavy damage he took off the whole leaf at
the base. You can remove up to one-third of the
damaged leaves without harming the plant. If you
have more questions you can always give them a call and
Thomas can help you out.
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DEADHEADING
ROSES
July 1, 2006
By now
most of your roses have seen their first flush of
blooms. That means it is time to give them a
haircut! By pruning your roses now you will ensure
a quicker and more prolific second bloom.
Christine Williams from
Heirloom
Roses (503-538-1576) gave us some pointers for getting the job
done. After the rose has finished blooming, follow
the stem down past the second five-leaf set. At
the base of that set, make a 45-degree cut. This
will force the plant to send up a new flower stalk and
within 6 to 8 weeks you should have second flush of
blooms. At that time you can choose to make the
cut again and see if you get a THIRD flush. If you
have any questions, feel free to call or visit Heirloom
Roses for more tips.
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BAD
GAS
June 24, 2006
Our
tip of the week comes to us from our friends at Stihl
Tools. Wayne Sutton from Stihl told us about the
importance of keeping fresh gas in our power tools and
equipment. He recommended 89 or higher octane
rates fuels that are not more than 30 days old.
Gas gets weaker as it ages and weak gas creates most of
the problems a homeowner will encounter in their power
equipment. For other power tool tips check out the
Stihl
website.
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PLANTING ANNUALS
June 17, 2006
We’ve all seen wonderful waves of annual color. William
showed us that planting them in a triangular pattern
close together will create a blanket of color that will
last all summer and into fall. Don’t skimp, buy extra
plants. For the cost of a couple of lattes you can have
a garden that will be the envy of the neighborhood.
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DEADHEADING FUCHSIAS
June 10, 2006
If you have a hanging fuchsia basket you may
notice that, as the summer goes on, the flowers don’t seem
as prolific as they were when you bought it. The
problem may be the fruit. Like most other plants, once
the fuchsia is done blooming it starts to create a seed
or fruit. This takes energy away from new flowers and
sends it to those seeds. To keep your fuchsia blooming
longer just remove the seeds and give it a shot of
fertilizer. Then you can enjoy those wonderful blooms
all summer long!
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PAINTBRUSH ROUNDUP
June 3, 2006
We have all had the
problem: We have a wonderful groundcover in one of our beds and right in
the middle is a huge weed! So we bend down to pull it out and the top
snaps off, we know the root is still there and we will see that weed
again. Here is a way to do the weeding only once! Take some full
strength Round-up or other weed control and using a small paint brush,
paint the weed killer on your unwanted visitor! In a week to 10 days you
will see your opportunistic friend disappear.
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CLEANING YOUR BIRDBATH
May
27, 2006
With the recent hot
weather, your bird bath may be starting to attract more wildlife than
birds. Bacteria and algae may be starting to build up and that can cause
health problems for the local bird populations. Judy walked us through the
steps for keeping your bird bath nice and clean. It starts with a good
scrubbing with a 10-to-1, water-to-bleach, solution. Once you have scrubbed
out the bird bath, rinse it a couple of times to remove all the bleach, and
then add about a teaspoon of ProTec water treatment. That will keep it nice
and clean and your local birds healthy!
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DEADHEADING RHODIES
May
20, 2006
So your early blooming rhododendrons are starting to lose their bloom. Here
is a tip to help you get more bloom out of them next year. Take the spent
bloom at the base and snap it off. Be careful not to damage the new growth
coming out at the base of the bloom. By removing the old bloom you are
telling the plant to not produce seed heads and to spend its energy on the
bloom for next year. We got our tip from Dick Cavender to
Crystal Springs Rhododendron Gardens (503-771-8386) in SE Portland. He
knows what he is talking about! The gardens look spectacular right now!
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WINTER BURN
May 13, 2006
Spring is
here. If you notice browning on the tips of your evergreens, don’t assume
they are dead. It may be winter burn from strong winds or cold. It doesn’t
kill the plants. Prune it off or let nature take its course and it will
grow over.
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CANDLING CONIFERS
May 6, 2006
People often wonder how
they can prune their conifers. It can be hard if your trees and shrubs get
away from you and get too big. There is one way you can keep them in
check! It is called "candling." When your conifer starts showing new
growth, those are called "candles." You can regulate the growth of your
conifers by removing some or all of these candles. It is a great way to
avoid unnecessary pruning as your plants get older.
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DEADHEADING DAFFODILS
April
22, 2006
Now is the time to
deadhead your early spring blooming plants. By removing the seed heads, you
are telling the plant to send the energy to the bulb or tuber to make it
stronger for next years bloom. Don’t cut back the foliage yet! That part of
the plant is putting the ‘gas’ in next years engine. When the foliage dies
back in a couple of weeks your can just pick it up and clean up your garden
bed then.
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PLANTER
FEET
April
15, 2006
Actually, we are talking about plant
stands or anything that keeps your planters up and off your deck. By
using these plant feet you are preserving and extending the life of your
deck or patio. It also allows for increased air circulation and that
means healthier plants!
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DECK PREP
April
8, 2006
Our
tip of the week has us at
Parr
Lumber (503-644-1178) to visit Chris
Erskine for tips about cleaning your deck. Chris showed us 3 products for
cleaning your deck. The one you choose will depend on your type of deck.
When you are done cleaning you need to seal your deck. By leaving your deck
exposed you could be creating more problems in the future. Picking the
right sealer is very important and could extend the life of your deck.
Check with your local
Parr Lumber location to find the product
that works for you.
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