In January and February, Western Oregon is often one of the mildest locations in the country with daytime high temperatures in the 50’s while most of the country is frozen solid. Now flash forward to the end of April and our daytime high temperatures are still in the 50’s, while the rest of …
Question: I love seeing amaryllis at Christmas time. Can other bulbs be “forced”? Can you do it any time of the year?
Question: Large beetles were hitting our windows in the early morning, apparently attracted by the lights inside. We have never seen them before and found a couple dead on our driveway later that day. Any idea what they are?
Most expectant mothers and fathers of any age experience a range of emotions: fear, excitement, anxiety, joy, uncertainty. It is no different for most teen mothers and fathers.
Roseburg Public Library has had a great first Summer Reading Program and first year of programs with kids and youth. You might have known about the summer programs, but did you know there are also programs for children and teens all year long? The Library has some fun new programs happening …
Question: I’ve recently moved here and my property has a huge old apple tree on it. It looks like it’s been neglected for years. How do I get it back into shape so it’s producing good fruit?
Question: Can you give me some tips for growing lilacs, and recommend varieties that will do well in our area?
WINCHESTER — Natalie and Hannah Regan made sure worms, roly-polies, caterpillars and other bugs would find a new home, while other volunteers spent Monday morning digging up the grass at Winchester Elementary School to make room for an outdoor garden classroom.
Question: I have been gardening for a few years now, but I am never quite sure how to decipher all the information on the back of seed packets. What does the gardening terminology mean and what should I keep in mind as I read the back of the seed packets?
TODAYSaturday Morning Breakfast — 8 a.m. to noon, Roseburg Senior Center, 1614 SE Stephens St. $5 per person, all you can eat. 541-671-2634.
As we all know, babies don’t come with instructions. For support, we often rely on self-help books, family members, friends, health care providers and anyone else who knows a thing or two about diapers, bottles and infant safety.
Question: I have always wanted to have a vegetable garden and now that I have the room, I don’t have a clue on how I start. And I don’t want to fail. Could you help me get started?
Question: We’ve found some odd-looking larvae and tunnels that indicate insect activity in our split firewood. What kind of insects might these be?
Parenting is a challenging, yet rewarding role that many adults take on lovingly. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau indicates that there were 73.7 million children under age 18 living in families in 2016. Canadian Census results found roughly 5.8 million children living in private households …
Question: Now that my oak trees have dropped their leaves, I’ve noticed that they seem to be covered with mistletoe. Is this harmful to the trees, and if so, what can I do about it?
Question: I was gifted a Christmas cactus for the holidays. Can you give me some advice on its care, maintenance, and especially, on how to make it re-bloom?
Question: I have been reading about vermiculture and am interested in raising worms in order to use the worm castings to improve the quality of my garden soil. Would you provide some insight into this topic?
Question: I have a home in the country that borders other homes and agricultural land. I need to control invasive weeds on my property but want to be a good neighbor. Please share a few tips on how to safely use herbicides.
Question: The soil in my garden beds appears old and tired — it’s hard to dig in and the plants didn’t grow very well this past summer. What can I do to improve the soil for the next growing season?
Each and every year, we as a family try to take the entire month of November to show and share our gratefulness and thankfulness to those around us.
Question: My goodness! I found the most disgusting bug lying on my patio this morning! I called my neighbor over and she said it was a potato bug. Is it? Can you tell me about it?
Question: I can’t believe how many acorns are in my yard this year! Never seen anything like it! Does this have some kind of ominous meaning, like we’re going to have a harsh winter?
Question: When is the best time to plant peonies? Do you have any tips for growing them?
One of the most important steps in home orchard care is making dormant sprays to control overwintering insect pests, and tree fruit diseases. Dormant sprays with orchard crops are generally applied from about 50% leaf fall in November to bud break in late February, depending on the type of f…
Question: I’m an avid gardener who just moved from a property with a large garden space to an apartment with a very small, limited garden space. I’ve been thinking about using containers to plant my garden but would like to know more about it. What suggestions can you offer?
Question: I love the look of cut flowers in my home but don’t want to destroy the look of my landscape. Any tips or ideas for having my cake and eating it too?
Question: I really enjoyed growing my own fresh herbs and vegetables this summer. Is it possible to grow them indoors during the winter? And if so, can you provide information on how to go about it?
EDITOR’S NOTE: The columns of Bill Duncan are being reprinted in The News-Review. Duncan, who died in November 2011, wrote a weekly column for The News-Review and The Capital Press of Salem from 1981 to 2011. Duncan wrote the following column in November 1991. His thoughts are still pertinen…
Question: My doctor has informed me that I need to add more vegetables to my diet. I went to the Farmer’s Market Saturday morning and found the most odd-looking green vegetable called Kohlrabi. Can you tell me about it?
Tis the season for fake spiders, light-up ghosts, tiny candy bars, and tacky costumes. All that Halloween stuff can make your bank account balance look downright scary!
Question: I planted a whole row of Leyland cypress trees to act as a screen. They’re quite large now, but one by one, they are turning brown and dying. What is causing this and what can I do to save them?
No one will ever know how many trees were flattened or ripped apart by the snow storm this past February. Nearly every homeowner with a yard in Douglas County lost trees.
Question: I’m new to gardening and would like to try raised-bed gardening. What should I know to get started?
A few years ago I wrote about the challenge of pruning landscape plants. It is a complicated subject since one pruning style does not apply to all plants.
Question: My coleus plants die every winter. Is there a way to enjoy coleus all year round?
