Gardening in Oregon – Flower, Shrub and Tree Planting with the USDA Plant Map Gardeners, especially those new to the hobby, want nothing more than to see their flowers, shrubs, and trees thrive. Sometimes choosing plants can be overwhelming, as there are some many varieties from which to select. While many factors come into play when considering the suitability of a particular plant, the Oregon USDA plant hardiness information should always be considered first....

Do Plants Need Water Over Winter? If your location isn’t prone to heavy snow or is prone to drying winds, supplemental winter watering is vital. Although your plants are dormant, they’re not dead during dormancy and still have some basic metabolic functions that must be driven with water collected from the soil. Roots are prone to drying in the winter, causing permanent damage to perennials. Watering plants and near freezing temperatures send many gardeners into fits, worrying that the newly wet soil will freeze and injure roots....

What are Calopogon Orchids? Calopogon, also known as grass pink orchids, is a group of orchids that are native to North America. They produce pink blooms that range from more white to brighter magenta, and that are upside down compared to other orchids. The labellum is at the top instead of the bottom of the flower. These orchids do not have nectar, so they use deception to get pollinators. They mimic flowers that do produce nectar and are able to attract pollinators that way....

What Causes Citrus Sunscald? Citrus sunburn occurs when soft, vulnerable parts of the tree are exposed to too much intense sunlight. While it also affects fruit and leaves, the problem is the most serious when it reaches the bark, since it cannot be replaced and may never completely heal. Citrus sunburn usually appears as irregularly shaped, brown, raised lesions in spots that are hit by direct sun. As well as being unsightly, these lesions open up a direct pathway for diseases and pathogens to enter the tree....

What Causes Plant Mutations? When a grower notices a favorable plant mutation, he or she can duplicate the effect through cuttings, grafting, or division. Many variegated plants were cultivated from a mutation in a pure green tree or shrub, for example. Most gardeners can relate to finding solid green shoots in a variegated plant when new growth reverts to solid green. Removing the new green shoots can help keep the variegation intact....

What is a BHN 1021 Tomato? As mentioned, BHM 1021 tomato plants were developed to address the needs of southern gardeners whose tomatoes were plagued by tomato spotted wilting virus. But developers went even farther and this flavorful determinate tomato is also highly resistant to fusarium wilt, nematodes, and verticillium wilt. BHM 1021 tomatoes are closely related to BHN 589 tomatoes. They produce high yields of 8-16 ounce (up to just under 0....

About Tuberous Geranium Plants The familiar scented geraniums are actually not true geraniums; they are pelargoniums. Tuberous geraniums, also known as hardy geraniums, wild geraniums, or cranesbill, are their slightly wild cousins. The pelargoniums growing in a container on your patio are annuals, while tuberous geranium plants are perennials. Although the two plants are related, they are very different. For starters, tuberous geranium plants vary substantially from pelargonium in color, shape, and blooming habits....

What is an Oriental Plane? You may be familiar with the popular London plane tree (Platanus x acerifolia), with its maple-like leaves and small spiky fruit. It is a hybrid, and the oriental plane tree (Platanus orientalis) is one of its parents. The oriental plant has very lovely maple-like leaves as well. They are a rich green and more deeply lobed than the London plane tree. The trees can grow past 80 feet (24 m....

What is Corn Brown Spot? This is a fungal infection caused by Physoderma maydis. It is an interesting disease, although it can be destructive, because it is one of few that produce zoospores. These are fungal spores that have flagella, or tails, and can swim around in the water that pools in corn whorls. The conditions that favor the infection are warm and wet, especially when water collects in whorls. This is what allows the zoospores to spread to healthy tissue and cause infection and lesions....

What is Green Manure? Green manure is a term used to describe specific plant or crop varieties that are grown and turned into the soil to improve its overall quality. A green manure crop can be cut and then plowed into the soil or simply left in the ground for an extended period prior to tilling garden areas. Examples of green manure crops include grass mixtures and legume plants. Some of the most commonly used are:...

Growing Showy Jasmine Showy jasmine plants can be trimmed to form a neat shrub or hedge, but they are at their best when left to sprawl across the ground or climb over a wire fence. Use showy jasmine plants to stabilize the soil on a difficult slope, or plant one in a large container where the arching vines will cascade over the rim. Showy jasmine plants reach mature heights of 3 to 4 feet (1 m....

St. Andrew’s cross plant is named for the bright yellow, cross-shaped flowers that appear from early summer until autumn. This is a lovely choice for a semi-shady woodland garden. Growing St. Andrew’s cross in gardens isn’t difficult. Read on and learn how to grow St. Andrew’s cross wildflowers. Growing St. Andrew’s Cross in Gardens St. Andrew’s cross wildflowers are suitable for growing in USDA plant hardiness zones 5 and above....

Flaxseed Harvesting Time So when do you harvest flaxseed in the garden? As a general rule, flaxseed is harvested when approximately 90 percent of the seedheads have turned tan or gold, and the seeds rattle in the pods – about 100 days after planting seeds. There will probably still be a few green leaves, and the plants may also have a few remaining blooms. How to Harvest Flaxseed Grab a handful of stems at ground level, then pull the plants up by the roots and shake to remove excess soil....

Should I Deadhead Marigolds? Deadheading is the practice of removing a plant’s spent flowers. This procedure is said to promote new flower growth. Gardeners debate its utility since plants in nature deal with their own faded blossoms without any assistance. So it’s no surprise you ask, “Should I deadhead marigolds?”. Experts say that deadheading is largely a matter of personal preference for most plants, but with highly modified annuals such as marigolds, it is an essential step to keep the plants blooming....

What is a Bulb? A bulb is typically a sphere-shaped bud. All around the bud is a fleshy membrane called scales. These scales contain all the food the bulb and flower will need to grow. There is a protective coating around the bulb called a tunic. There are different types of bulbs with a few differences, but the one thing they all have in common is they produce a plant from an underground food storage supply....

What are yellow wax bells? These are unusual plants and rather unforgettable. If you’d like more information on these interesting ornamental plants, read on. We’ll also give tips on growing yellow wax bells. What are Yellow Wax Bells? The yellow wax bells plant is a unique beauty. Its dark green leaves resemble large maple leaves, deeply lobed and larger than your hand. The yellow wax bell flowers are small and pendulous, hanging in dainty yellow clusters....

When is the Last Frost Date? The first thing you need to know about frost dates is that they vary from place to place. This is because last frost dates are based on information gathered from historical meteorological reports. These reports may go back 100 years or so. The last frost date is the latest date that a light or hard frost was recorded 90 percent of the time. What this means is that while the last frost date is a good indicator of when it is safe of put out plants, it is not a hard and fast rule but an approximation....

How Much Water Do Apple Trees Need? Apple tree water requirements depend on rainfall. In general, for an established tree, you won’t need to water it unless you are not getting much rain or there is a particularly dry spell or even drought. About an inch (2.5 cm.) or so of rainfall every week to ten days is adequate for most apple trees. Trees in their first growing season may need a little more than this....

About Mouse Tail Plants Mouse tail plants have extremely unusual, chocolate-colored flowers that are cylindrical and sit below the leaves with only little “tails” visible. When flowers bunch together, they give the appearance of a family of mice, hence the name. Leaves are arrow-shaped and a glossy, green color. Mice appear in very early spring and reach a mature height of just under 6 inches (15 cm.) with an interesting mat-forming habit....

What Causes Wilting Asters? Aster fusarium wilt is a fungal issue that is soilborne and may remain in your beds indefinitely. It may also come in with soil your plants are potted in. Aster wilt most often attacks those in bloom. Leaves on the bottom or one side yellow and buds and blooms drop from the infection. A brownish fungal discoloration of vascular tissue is present on the stem near the base....