Food
Plant annual flowers between bulbs
Did you enjoy the color provided by your spring bulbs such as daffodils and tulips? You can continue to have color in those same beds by planting annual flowers between […]
Simplify fertilzation
Garden stores and departments offer numerous brands and types of fertilizers. Gardeners have been trained to think that each type of plant needs its own fertilizer. Since our soils contain […]
Can we plant tomatoes yet?
I was beginning to wonder if it would ever warm up enough to plant summer flowers and vegetables. Were we going to have another spring like last year? The forecast […]
Ground Covers Reduce Maintenance
One way to reduce landscape maintenance time and cost is to plant ground covers, especially in problem areas. Ground covers do not require weekly mowing, although some benefit from occasional […]
No phosphorus fertilizer for lawns
The new law passed by the Washington legislature limiting phosphorus fertilizers will change the content of lawn fertilizers. How will that affect us lawn owners? Lawn fertilizers contain 3 major nutrient […]
Average Last Frost Date
Frost on my lawn on April 22. I thought the average last frost date was April 17. That just tells me that our spring season is late this year. I […]
European grass varieties grow well in our area.
I picked up some grass seed last week from Hobbs & Hopkins on Ankeny Street in Portland. I had a visit with Keith Hopkins, the owner, about some of the […]
Which Style of Pruning Do You Prefer?
Below are pictures of two mature Upright Yews (Taxus bacatta) with different styles of pruning. The top plant has been pruned one branch at a time using my natural pruning […]
Moss Control in lawns and beds
The moss problem has been worse than usual this year because of the continuous rainy weather. Moss loves shade and wet areas. Moss Control products for plants contain a natural […]
Is It Too Late To Prune My Trees?
Question: Is it too late to prune my trees? No, most trees and shrubs can be pruned at any time of year in the Pacific Northwest. However, it is easier to […]