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 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?
Question: In spring I planted cilantro and lettuce. Both were doing really well, but now the cilantro is just producing flowers and the lettuce is getting really tall and the leaves have become tough and bitter. Can you tell me why these plants are doing this and what can I do to make them g…
Question: My friends tell me that Asian vegetables are healthy and easy to grow. I’d like to experiment with my garden and am looking for some fun alternatives. What can you tell me?
Question: What is eating my rhododendron leaves? They have all these notches along their edges. What can I do about it?
Question: Can you give me some information on easy to grow vegetables for the fall garden?
Question: I bought a home that has an established garden spot, flower beds and a few fruit trees. This was my first year of managing these spaces, and I’ve experienced enough success to make me feel like my hard work has paid off. Even though summer is not over yet, I’m thinking ahead to wha…
Question: This has been a year of extreme weather events from January with temperatures in the 60s, a late February snowstorm, a March freeze with temps in the teens, an April frost, 90 degrees in May and a few summer thunderstorms with hail. It seems odd to say this, but my vegetable garden…
Dallas Amer cracked open a beehive and knew immediately that there was something wrong with the hive.
Question: I’ve heard the flowers and berries of elderberry plants can be used in pies, syrups, juices, wines and jellies. Can you tell me more about elderberries and how to grow them in our area?
Question: I want to experiment growing peppers in my garden but don’t know which ones will be enjoyable in salads and which ones will light my mouth on fire!
I really thought that this summer would be the one; the summer I have dreamed of since moving out to the beautiful countryside of Douglas County. The big one. The infamous, rainbow-unicorn of motherhood bragging rights — the screen free summer!
Question: What is wrong with my camellia bush? It’s covered with these white fuzzy lumps and some of the leaves have turned black.
Question: Can you give me some information on growing asparagus?
Question: With these hot summer days, I am watering more than ever. I want to keep my vegetables well-watered so I can enjoy the fresh bounty, but my water bill is expensive.
Question: I love the colorful, abundant flowers of summer, but they never seem to last long enough for me. Is there a way to prolong this beautiful and colorful time of the year?
Question: I would like to have more bees, birds and butterflies in my yard. I’ve heard adding native plants will help attract them. Can you provide information about growing natives and suggest plants for our area?
Poisonous plants and Hügelkultur are just two of the features included in the eighth annual Spring Garden Tour, hosted by the League of Women Voters of Umpqua Valley.
Question: Help! My shrubs are yellowing. I think they get enough water, but they are looking worse by the day. How do I figure out what could be wrong?
Question: How can I eradicate invasive Scotch broom that’s taking over my property?
Question: A couple came into the plant clinic this month and asked if figs grew in the area and if we had any tips for growing them.
Weekend getaways in the great outdoors can be a great way for families to break from the norm and spend some quality time together while getting some fresh air. Such trips are popular, as the U.S. Travel Association notes that nearly three out of four domestic trips are taken for leisure purposes.
Finding time for hobbies can be difficult. Commitments to work and family take up the bulk of many people’s free time, making it hard to squeeze in a favorite hobby.
Question: Every year I spend lots of time and effort in preventing the weeds from overtaking my vegetable garden. What is an easy and effective way to weed my vegetable garden?
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 March 1991. His thoughts are still pertinent t…
Question: I love planting daffodils in the winter and having them pop up and cheer me in the summer, almost like a surprise. Any suggestions for a similar feeling and look for fall?
