Extension Service Site Publications

• (2022) Day-neutral Strawberry Production in Central Oregon Learn how to grow strawberries commercially in Central Oregon. The high desert region of Central Oregon can be a particularly challenging place to grow strawberries and other horticultural crops. Despite the challenges, strong demand for locally grown crops prompted some Central Oregon growers to explore using adapted cultivars and season-extension approaches to make strawberries a viable crop.
• (2022) Day-neutral Strawberry Production in Central Oregon
• (2021) Growing Kiwifruit in Your Home Garden This guide will walk you through all the details on planting, fertilizing, irrigating, pruning and training so you, too, can grow delicious kiwifruit.
• (2022) Pruning with the pros This video series covers a variety of pruning challenges associated with older trees and mature landscapes. Pruning of mature trees that have not seen ideal care in the past can present unique challenges. In these clips, tree care pros with decades of experience will guide the viewer through the decision-making process—and solutions—to pruning larger, established trees.
• (2021) Growing Blackberries in Your Home Garden Grow blackberries in your home garden with this step-by-step guide from OSU expert Bernadine Strik. Learn what varieties to plant and how to fertilize, prune and harvest your very own berry bounty. Home gardeners can enjoy a choice of cultivars with superior fruit.
  
• (2021) Spider mite on eggplant
• (2020) Growing Strawberries in Your Home garden Here's how to plant strawberries, fertilize them and solve the common problems that plague many gardeners. Learn which type bears fruit when.
• (2021) How to recognize and manage spider mites in the home garden Spider mites are microscopic pests that thrive in hot, dry weather and cause damage to a variety of plants. Learn the signs of spider mite infestation, how to eradicate them and how to keep them from coming back.
• (2021) Growing Blueberries in Your Home Garden
• (2021) Heat wave in the garden: How to identify and prevent heat stress in plants When a heatwave hits, plants may show the impact. Learn the signs of heat stress in plants and how to help them weather a heatwave with best practices for watering, mulching, shading, providing humidity and weeding.
• (2021) Growing Raspberries in Your Home Garden Learn to grow tart, delicious raspberries in your own garden. Choose which type of raspberry to grow, and learn how to plant, prune, fertilize and water your berry patch to keep it healthy and productive.
• (2021) Growing Kiwifruit in Your Home Garden
• (2019) Five ways that home gardeners can improve soil Soil is the foundation for all gardens. Home gardeners have several options to improve poor soil. Here's a look at five: adding organic matter, using fertilizer, tilling, changing the pH and creating raised beds.
• (2019) No expertise needed to create fresh holiday wreaths and arrangements For those seeking to “spruce” up their interior spaces during the holidays, fresh evergreens are a great place to start. In addition to the natural feel and fragrance, evergreens are especially forgiving to work with. Even those with little experience in floral design can effectively use greenery with just a little practice.
• (2020) Five ways to preserve fresh homegrown herbs Herbs are among the easiest plants for a home gardener to grow and preserving them is simple. Here's a look at five preservation methods: refrigeration, air drying, freezing, dehydrating and making herb vinegars.
• (2020) Five underused late fall bloomers This group of lesser-known perennials that can make your garden last longer and attract more pollinators. Here are five suggestions for attractive flowers to fill out the late-season bloom.
• (2019) Five weird things that happen to homegrown tomatoes Home gardeners love to grow tomatoes. But getting a tomato from seedling to fruit can be challenging, especially in Oregon where the weather isn't always cooperative. Here are five things that can ruin a home crop.
• (2019) Five things to watch to keep your houseplants happy Houseplants are easy to grow but they can fall victim to common problems, especially during the winter when light fades and temperatures drop. Here's a look at five things to watch to keep houseplants healthy year-round.
• (2019) Five cold-hardy herbs to grow at home There's nothing like home-grown herbs to add a shot of fresh flavor to a winter soup or stew. For home gardeners, these five herbs — parsley, rosemary, thyme, chives, oregano — are hardy enough to last over the winter.
• (2021) When is the right time for peach tree mulching?
• (2020) Box elder bugs are a harmless nuisance Box elder bugs can be a nuisance just by their sheer numbers in the late fall when their populations explode and they swarm structures and infiltrate homes. Here's how to play defense when the bugs come calling.
• (2020) Five home-garden plants that are suitable for overwintering Overwintering home-garden plants usually provides a good return on the time and space investment but it’s not a one-size-fits-all proposition. Here are some tips for keeping some popular plants alive during the winter.
• (2020) Five weird winter insects Now that winter is settling in, gardening questions to the Extension office have diminished - but haven’t disappeared completely. After questions about transitioning plants to indoors and overwintering, winter questions are often centered on insects that find their way into homes as outdoor conditions become inhospitable. Often, insects that overwinter as adults seek shelter for the winter, taking advantage of cracks and crevices under shingles, behind siding, and the like, or are brought inside in firewood. In other cases, the environmental change when we bring plants indoors triggers premature egg hatch.
• (2020) Five Weird Winter Insects Now that winter is settling in, gardening questions to the Extension office have diminished- but haven’t disappeared completely. After questions about transitioning plants to indoors and overwintering, winter questions are often centered on insects that find their way into homes as outdoor conditions become inhospitable. Often, insects that overwinter as adults seek shelter for the winter, taking advantage of cracks and crevices under shingles, behind siding, and the like, or are brought inside in firewood. In other cases, the environmental change when we bring plants indoors triggers premature egg hatch.
• (2020) Five ways to prepare now for gardening in 2021 Gardening in all forms- from window boxes to major landscape renovations- surged in 2020. Whether for mental peace, food security, or a meaningful “socially distanced pastime”, people turned to gardening this year. Increased interest in all things gardening led to temporary shortages in seeds and plants this year, causing a similar surge in interest in seed banks and seed saving.
• (2020) Five under-used late fall bloomers Night temperatures have hovered around freezing, but some gardens in the Klamath Basin are still showing signs of life. This late in the season, a few favorite late-blooming garden staples are in the palettes of most gardeners: fall mums, ornamental cabbages and kales, pansies every color of the rainbow and beyond. These tried and true ornamentals are some of the last to check out every garden season, with the kales and pansies often persisting into snow.
• (2020) Five Facts about those Annoying Box Elder Bugs Are the box elder bugs worse this year, or is 2020 just making everything seem “extra”? Gardeners in Klamath Falls are asking about these annoying home invaders, insects that congregate on and sometimes inside our homes as weather cools in fall.
• (2020) Five plants local gardeners are overwintering Evening temperatures are cooling: a hard freeze is coming soon. For tender plants that won’t survive a freeze, its time to decide whether overwintering is worthwhile. For larger plants, overwintering provides an advantage the following growing season, when larger root systems enable plants to regenerate more quickly. It’s also a way to preserve plants that have special meaning, such as grandma’s favorite geraniums. Often, the plants we overwinter are perennial in warmer climates, but
• (2020) Five Tips for Growing Blackberries Another richly detailed home fruit growing manual has been published by Oregon State University’s Extension service- this time on growing blackberries. A few gardeners with late-fruiting varieties may still be harvesting fruit here in the Klamath Basin: more likely, it’s time to prune back canes and winterize the berry patch. If you don’t have a berry patch yet, Growing Blackberries in your Home Garden will provide the information needed to help plan and prepare for next year, including choosing the best varieties for the growing climate and individual situation. Find the entire 24-page document, including well labeled photos here: https://catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu/ec1303.
• (2020) Five Garden Winterizing Tips Cool temperatures, shorter daylight hours- outdoor gardening season is reaching its conclusion in Klamath. On social media, new gardeners are asking about winterizing- positioning gardens for continued health and beauty over the winter months. For ornamental gardens and foundation plantings, it’s time to complete a few tasks, but heavy pruning of “woodies”- trees and shrubs- is best left to late winter. Pruning now might encourage new growth to later be damaged by frost. Exceptions include dead, damaged, or diseased material- the risks of not removing these are greater than that of potentially damaged regrowth. Most fall work in the ornamental landscape is focused on the maintenance of herbaceous material.
• (2020) Five Frequent Plant Clinic Submissions Late summer- harvest starts to roll in, so do insect and plant disease questions. The “magic” of 2020 has affected your local plant clinic as it has many other things: instead of a team of Master Gardeners inoffice most days of the week, the majority of horticulture questions are being handled by a single faculty member, resulting in some longer response times. For contactless question submission, one option is Extension’s “Ask an Expert” service: try it at https://ask.extension.org/ask.
• (2020) Five Signs of Verticillium Wilt One hidden benefit of gardening in the Klamath Basin is reduced disease pressure, a product of our low humidity. Standing water on leaf surfaces or prolonged, high relative humidity are often necessary for plant diseases to gain traction. By delivering water directly to the root system and avoiding wet leaves, the Klamath gardener can minimize opportunity for disease in the garden. One exception is Verticillium wilt, a fungal disease Common in Klamath Basin landscapes.
• (2020) Five Strawberry Growing Strategies Did you know that Klamath Basin growers produce many of the “daughter” strawberry plants that are shipped to California and other states to be grown out for fruit production? The climate in Klamath is conducive to growing healthy plants, though lack of produce distribution and cool springs with minimal pollinator activity contribute to making strawberry fruit production unreliable as a profitable crop. For home growers, understanding the needs of particular cultivars is possibly the biggest challenge for long term strawberry production: not all strawberries are cared for the same way.
• (2020) Five gardening topics to study right away Why study gardening info at the end of the gardening season? To win the first- ever Klamath Gardening Trivia Tournament, of course! Klamath County Libraries and Klamath County Extension have partnered to deliver the ultimate gardening edutainment experience, beginning Friday evening, September 11. A series of gardening themed trivia games will be held each Friday night at 7pm, with prizes for the top scorers each night. Points will also accumulate over the 6 weeks of the event, with additional prizes to the top cumulative scorers.
• (2020) Five Benefits in Klamath Basin Gardening Cold summer nights, frost any time, long summer droughts- gardening in the Klamath Basin entails a unique set of challenges that often catch transplanted gardeners off guard. Helping gardeners understand those challenges and how to work around them with research based, sustainable practices is what the OSU Extension’s home horticulture work is largely about.
• (2020) Five plants to try for Late Planting Staggered plantings several weeks apart, throughout the growing season, is one method of increasing yield from a small garden space that is heavily used in areas with a longer growing season. Applying the concept of staggered plantings is challenging in an area like the Klamath Basin, where the growing season is too short for some vegetables to even have one crop, let alone several. Best options for late-season plantings for Klamath gardeners will be vegetables that have short periods to maturity or can tolerate frost once mature. Many of the appropriate choices fall into the category of “leafy greens”- one of the best suited vegetables for our region.
• (2020) Five recent publications from OSU Back in 1862 when land grant universities were first established in the US, no one could have imagined the wealth of information that would one day be available to us, instantaneously, at our fingertips. Land grant universities were meant to establish bases of agricultural learning and research: in 1914, the Extension service was developed to help deliver the fruits of that agricultural research to the broader public. Even now, when information from all over the world is readily available, land grant universities and Extension play a very important role: providing site specific information relevant to the climate and conditions of that state.
• (2020) Five Strategies for Garden Deer Defense Klamath deer are hungry, hungry thugs that can destroy a garden overnight- a common conversation topic in recent gardening conversations on social media. Cases of deer mowing down veggies patches have increased in the last few weeks, a common progression this time of year- other native forages have dried up or been eaten since spring rains.
• (2020) Five plants to try for Late Planting Staggered plantings several weeks apart, throughout the growing season, is one method of increasing yield from a small garden space that is heavily used in areas with a longer growing season. Applying the concept of staggered plantings is challenging in an area like the Klamath Basin, where the growing season is too short for some vegetables to even have one crop, let alone several. Best options for late-season plantings for Klamath gardeners will be vegetables that have short periods to maturity or can tolerate frost once mature. Many of the appropriate choices fall into the category of “leafy greens”- one of the best suited vegetables for our region.
• (2020) Five recent publications from OSU Back in 1862 when land grant universities were first established in the US, no one could have imagined the wealth of information that would one day be available to us, instantaneously, at our fingertips. Land grant universities were meant to establish bases of agricultural learning and research: in 1914, the Extension service was developed to help deliver the fruits of that agricultural research to the broader public. Even now, when information from all over the world is readily available, land grant universities and Extension play a very important role: providing site specific information relevant to the climate and conditions of that state.
• (2020) Five Strategies for Garden Deer Defense Klamath deer are hungry, hungry thugs that can destroy a garden overnight- a common conversation topic in recent gardening conversations on social media. Cases of deer mowing down veggies patches have increased in the last few weeks, a common progression this time of year- other native forages have dried up or been eaten since spring rains.
• (2020) Five Challenging Fruit Tree Problems Tree fruits are one of the more challenging crops for the Klamath gardener: even when everything is done just right, there will be years when damaging frost and bloom time intersect, resulting in no fruit. Recognizing the issues common to fruit trees in our area can help gardeners harvest more fruit- through taking the right action at the correct time. In many cases, proper timing of any treatment or remedy is the key to success- a particular challenge when we don’t understand the problem until the “treatment window” has passed. A gardening journal can be a helpful tool- a place to store observations, dates, odd temperature and weather anomalies, and harvest information. A journal is also a good place to record whether treatments were successful... and to make reminders regarding timing treatments the following year. Following are some common tree fruit issues frequently encountered at your Extension office, and resources for addressing them.
• (2020) Five herbs that double as cut flowers For most culinary herbs, especially those used for their leaves, value for cooking is diminished when plants bloom. Plants undergo physiological changes as they transition from vegetative to reproductive phase, and in herbs this often negatively effects the flavor. Dill is one exception: since both the leaves and seeds of this plant are used, flowering just changes the part of the plant used in food preparation. Other herbs, like calendula and borage, have edible flowers, while both the leaves and flowers of chives are edible.
• (2020) Five Warm Season Herbs Herbs include some of the easiest plants to grow. In addition to culinary uses, herbs offer fragrance, oils that deter feeding pests, and flowers that support pollinators. While a few herbs are hardy enough to be perennial in the Klamath Basin, others will be annuals in our area, to be enjoyed primarily in the warm months. Some tender herbs can be overwintered indoors over winter, but the results are often disappointing, especially when attempted without supplemental lighting. Most culinary herbs perform best in full sunlight, difficult to replicate indoors.
• (2020) Five Ways to Encourage Pollinators in the Landscape Hot off the OSU press this month is “Enhancing Urban and Suburban Landscapes to Protect Pollinators”, a forty page guide for those seeking to convert yard and garden space into pollinator paradise. This publication, available free online (https://catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu/em9289) includes basic information on Pacific Northwest pollinators, with a heavy focus on native bees, factors that impact pollinators, creating and maintaining habitat for pollinators, principles for getting started, design suggestions, and a list of suitable plants. Also covered are pests, and how to manage pests with the least harmful effects on pollinators.
• (2020) Five Ways to Preserve Fresh Herbs Using fresh herbs in cooking adds layers of fragrance and flavor, and can make even simple recipes more interesting and enjoyable. For most herbs, the leaves are the part most commonly used. Cutting herb plants back mid- season is a tactic with multiple benefits- provides a harvest, contributes to strong, well-shaped plants, and delays flowering (flowering negatively changes the flavor of many herbs).
• (2020) Five annuals for cool spring nights Abundant warm, sunny days in the Klamath Basin may be luring uninitiated Klamath Gardeners into a trap that more seasoned area gardeners avoid: planting without a protection plan. Days growing consistently warmer and longer are prompting significant planting. However, nights are still cool- and heavy frosts are not unusual even in June. The trap of planting tender annuals and vegetables is easy to fall into – and causes disappointment later if appropriate precautions aren’t taken.
• (2020) Five Fertilizer Facts Consider the variety of fertilizer products at any garden center: it’s apparent that fertilizer is not a one-size-fits-all opportunity. Variants include nutrient strength, speed at which nutrients become available to plants, source of the raw nutrients, how the fertilizer is applied, and more, making fertilizer choices potentially difficult for the uninitiated. Understanding of fertilizer basics helps gardeners avoid mistakes like over or under application, or poor timing of the application.
• (2020) Five Warm Season Vegetables More than 2,000 local gardeners converse on the Facebook Group “Gardening in Klamath Falls Oregon”, trading plants, information, and suggestions. A common theme, especially among gardeners new to the area, is “when do you plant.......?” Gardeners with experience in our climate persistently point to the first week of June as the best time for planting warm season vegetables, those that need warm soils (above 55F) to thrive.
• (2020) Five ways to conserve water in the garden Recent sessions of much-needed rain have been a blessing to Klamath Gardeners. Rain typically becomes rarer as summer progresses in the Klamath Basin, and many readers are already aware of the drought predictions for the area this year. At the same time, gardening is enjoying a resurgence- it’s a fabulous way to spend some of our abundant time at home. How can home gardeners make the most of what water is available, or affordable, and still maintain a healthy garden?
• (2020) Five tips for choosing: Containers or raised beds Not every yard is suited to in-the-ground gardening: sometimes containers or raised beds are better options. In rental situations or areas with poor or thin soil, garden space must sometimes be “created”. Internet articles often make both sound incredibly easy, possibly because the content creators were gardening in a different climate. Like many horticultural dilemmas, no one answer fits every situation. Considering the pros and cons from a variety of gardening perspectives may help the individual gardenerfigure out the best solution for their own situation.
• (2020) Five tips for growing great lettuce Lettuce is one of the easiest and fastest vegetables to grow, a natural choice for both new and experienced gardeners. Lettuce is well suited to container gardening, and many varieties are attractive enough to be included in “edible landscaping”, intended to be of both aesthetic and culinary value. Because it grows so quickly, lettuce is a heavy feeder, and benefits from both rich organic soil and regular fertilizing. It’s also shallowly rooted: mulching can be beneficial after seedlings have become established to keep roots from drying out. Lettuce seed is very small, making it easy to overseed when directly seeding into the garden patch. Use restraint to avoid the need for thinning those seedlings later, and use the following tips to help grow great lettuce.
• (2020) Five root crops to try in spring Root crops are among the first that gardeners can put in the ground, and are typically direct seeded- not transplanted. Taproots like carrots, radishes, and beets are taproots don’t transplant well. In short growing seasons with cool spring soils, season extension techniques like cold frames, caterpillar tunnels, and high tunnels are often used to modify environmental conditions. For root crops, season extension can provide beneficial warmer soil temperatures. Root crops need loose, non-compacted soil. Soil compaction inhibits taproot development and results in slow and stunted growth. Root crops will benefit from deep watering. Shallow watering does not encourage good root development.
• (2020) Five tips for new Vegetable Gardeners Vegetable gardening is trending way, way up in response to changes in our world: Images of empty grocery store shelves have more people than ever considering growing some of their own food. The short growing season, and cool nights even in midsummer, make vegetable growing in the Klamath Basin particularly challenging, even to those who have successfully “grown their own” elsewhere, where conditions are more favorable. In addition to increasing food security, vegetable gardening is therapeutic, a valuable and soothing way to spend increased hours at home. A few tips tailored to the local growing area can help new, and newly transplanted, vegetable gardeners enjoy greater success in the quest for tasty vegetables fresh from the yard.
• (2020) Five Thoughts on Plant Viruses Current world events have people thinking about viruses. There are a few similarities, and some major differences, between viruses in people and those in plants. Plants can carry viruses asymptomatically. There are few, if any, treatments for viruses in plants- usually the recommendation for plants with virus issues is to destroy them. But occasionally, viruses in plants are considered so special and beautiful that we cultivate them on purpose. Fear not: people can’t catch plant viruses, although some studies suggest we may carry them and potentially spread them to other plants- tobacco mosaic virus, which affects several other plants besides tobacco, is one example.
• (2020) Five Houseplants with Particular Needs Alternative title choices: “Five houseplants that are easy to kill”, “Five houseplants not worth the extra trouble”, or, with a positive spin, “Five houseplants for the advanced caregiver seeking a challenge”. Some houseplants seem unhappy no matter what care and nurturing is attempted by their owners. Often, our homes do not provide the preferred environment: brightly lit and humid. Many plants have growth cycles attuned to day length, and slow down during winter- even with artificial light. As with people, understanding the particular needs of some plants contributes to the difference between thriving, and merely existing.
• (2020) Five Seed Packet Facts The Klamath Basin has an active gardening-themed social media community, in which recent discussions have centered on starting seeds. The warm (for here) sunny days have lots of gardeners itching to get their vegetable seeds started.
• (2020) Using IPM- Five Considerations for Chemical Use The final, last-resort tool in an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program is the chemical arsenal. IPM does not specifically require Organic, but recommends the chemical product that can achieve control with the least environmental impact. Knowledge of the specific plant-pest interaction informs the practitioner whether an Organic or conventional product is in order for that instance. Chemical controls are last in an IPM program in relation to other arsenals- bringing out the “big guns” after other methods have failed. Ideally, other control methods make chemical use unnecessary. In practice, rigorous use of the other arsenals reduces pesticide use, maintaining it as an option for true need. Let’s take a look at pesticide use in an IPM framework.
• (2020) Using IPM- Five thoughts on Natural Controls The “non- gardening” winter months are a great time to take a closer look at Integrated Pest Management (IPM) concepts and how they can be used in home gardens in the months to come. The primary arsenals used in an IPM program include Natural, Cultural, Physical/ Mechanical, Biological, and Chemical controls. A cold, hard winter is a perfect example of a natural control, this week’s topic. As the name implies, natural controls impact pest and plant disease issues from the natural world. Gardeners don’t often get to impact these, but understanding them lends valuable insight into pest management options. Consider the following examples.
• (2020) Using IPM- Five thoughts on Cultural Controls In an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach to gardening, cultural controls include a wide range gardening activities associated with the care of plants- the plant “culture”. Thinking of their gardens in terms of plant culture may be new to many home gardeners, but most of the practices contained under this umbrella are not new. Many are familiar- but with a tweak making them more effective at pest or plant disease management. This week, we’ll examine some common cultural controls.
• (2020) Five local ways to get your gardening fix Cold, snowy, and frozen January is a dreamy time for gardeners: snuggled into their homes with a warm drink, a fuzzy blanket and a stack of garden catalogs, they’re dreaming of plants to be in the coming months. Each gardening season offers a chance to learn from experience to create new success, enhance excitement about the wonder of nature, and surround ourselves with beauty and food. This annual opportunity for renewal and refreshment is one of the many attractions of gardening.
• (2020) Using IPM- Five thoughts on Mechanical and Physical Controls Mechanical and Physical controls among the most fascinating in an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program. This arsenal involves numerous physical barriers, traps, nets, and other mechanical devices. In Grandpa Coffey’s garden, where this author received her earliest garden training, physical removal included two hands and a jar of soapy water. Even a pesty kid can remove Japanese beetles from corn and drop them in a jar. More sophisticated techniques included pulling outermost leaves off a head of cabbage and laying them on the ground as a trap. The next morning, Grandpa Coffey would stomp on the leaves, crushing the snails and slugs he had lured underneath. The glimmer in his eye suggested pest control might even be a little bit fun.
• (2020) Using IPM: Five types of Biological Controls In an integrated pest management (IPM) system, biological controls might include predatory or parasitic insects, bacteria or fungi, and biopesticides. The huge biocontrol arsenal contains both tools forpurchase and some that can be supported in the garden through cultural practices. Five examples of biological controls will barely scratch the surface of this rapidly growing area of IPM, but can provide insight into the world of biological controls and products that, with additional development, will become more readily available to the home gardener.
• (2019) A closer look: five types of decorative greenery Traditional holiday arrangements are full of scented or berried evergreens, among the few garden items available to us in the winter months. Each of these greens performs differently, both in an arrangement and in the landscape. A closer look at some of the popular greens frequently used in these decorations provides insight into long-standing tradition as well as tips for using greenery in our modern homes. Records of bringing evergreens indoors during the winter months are recorded as far back as the Roman era, and over time have both pagan and Christian beliefs have been incorporated into the traditions surrounding these cheerful green reminders that spring is coming- eventually.
• (2019) Five things Master Gardeners will study next spring Master Gardener training is often compared to a college course in horticulture: there is a significant time requirement, and concepts are treated in great detail from a research- based perspective. In 2020, Master Gardener programs across Oregon are striving to be more similar in every county. In Klamath, that effort leads to a slightly shorter training period for incoming Master Gardeners. Trainings will still be day- long, but for fewer weeks. Inevitably, a few topics had to be trimmed away to fit the shorter course schedule- but those seeking quality, in- depth horticultural knowledge will not be disappointed
• (2019) Five tips for using holiday greenery For those seeking to “spruce” up their interior spaces during the holidays, fresh evergreens are a great place to start. In addition to the natural feel and fragrance, evergreens are especially forgiving to work with. Even those with little experience in floral design can effectively use greenery with just a little practice. Start by observing the difference between greens that drape, like pine and cedar, compared to those with stiffer ends, such as fir and spruce. These will serve different roles in an arrangement. Stiffer branches are the structure, providing shape and line, while branches that “drape” are usually added later. Paying attention to the natural shape and direction of branches will save a lot of frustration- the best results come from working with the lines and flow of the material rather than trying to control it.
• (2019) Five Reasons to consider the Master Gardener Program The Oregon Master Gardener Program is designed to provide science-based sustainable gardening information and techniques from Oregon State University in our communities. Master Gardeners participate in college-level horticultural training, then participate in volunteer activities in which they can share what they’ve learned in the community. Volunteers resolve plant concerns through Plant Clinics in the office, informal conversations at Farmers Markets, or in gardens as they advise novice gardeners.
• (2019) Five common houseplant issues Houseplants are easy to grow, and come in an increasingly wide range of colors, leaf shapes, and“habits”, making them an enjoyable addition to many homes. In winter months, houseplants may be the only gardening outlet available. Intensity and duration of available light diminish significantly this time of year: it may be necessary to move plants, add lighting, or open shades and blinds to insure that indoor plants get adequate light. Even indoor plants slow down their development during the winter months, so it is possible to “over- love” them by delivering too much water or fertilizer during the winter.
• (2019) Five good gardening reads for winter weather With snow and single digit temperatures predicted this week, gardening is low on the agenda as preparations for both a holiday and winter weather commence. Once all the feasting, dish washing, family visiting, and weatherizing is done, however, the gardeners’ mind is likely to drift towards next spring, possibilities, and gardens of the future.
• (2019) Five things Master Gardeners Accomplished in 2019 The Master Gardener program is a volunteer service and education program that seeks to share university- based gardening research within the community. In Klamath County, Master Gardeners support that mission in a variety of ways. Our local program strives to provide a range of both group and individual opportunities for volunteers to contribute, acknowledging that there are all types of personality types and volunteering styles. As we kick off our recruitment efforts for 2020 training, it’s a great time to take a look at the variety of ways Master Gardeners are spreading gardening knowledge and support throughout the community.
• (2019) Five Houseplant Trends “What’s old is new again”, horticulture edition: houseplants and all that accompany them- from foliage prints to macramé hangers- are figuring prominently in nursery and garden center trade magazines. Likewise, houseplants are frequent focal points in home décor and furnishing vignettes.
• (2019) Five insect pests that overwinter in structures Now that cool fall weather has arrived in the Klamath Basin, folks will be spending more time indoors to avoid the cold- and so will some of the insect normally found outside. Most of the insects prone to overwintering in structures in our region are nuisance pests- annoying to find in or on the home, but not causing real damage like termites, pantry pests, or clothes moths. Many of these insects are looking for a warm, dry place to spend the winter- like people. Most of the insects listed below overwinter as adults. They go into a resting phase in the winter, active only on really warm days outside, when they can be found on walls or rocks soaking up the warmth of the sun. In the home, the insects may put in more frequent appearances, found resting on walls or in window sills.
• (2019) Five reasons behind kitchen scrap repurposing failures The internet: abundant with DIY horticulture to be considered with skepticism. Besides geographic conundrums- tomato growing information from Georgia is useless in Klamath Falls- sometimes the information provided is just false. For instance, one perennially resurfacing meme promotes distinguishing between male and female bell peppers by the number of bumps on the bottom of thefruit- complete nonsense. Typically, there is some truth to the horticultural internet sensation, but important specifics are lost- from lack of knowledge, or through packaging information into tiny, easy to consume morsels.
• (2019) Five Reasons to (re) consider the Master Gardener Program The Oregon Master Gardener Program is a training and volunteer program designed to transfer science based sustainable gardening information and techniques from OSU into our communities. Typically, Master Gardeners participate in substantial college- level horticultural training, then choose from a variety of volunteer activities in which they can share what they’ve learned in the community, whether in formal settings, informal conversations at the Farmers’ Market, or in gardens as they help and advise novice gardeners.
• (2019) Five facts about wasps in fall Every September, Plant Clinic calls about wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets increase. These insects gradually build populations over the warm part of the year, resulting in the largest populations, and potential for stings, during late summer and fall. Technically speaking, “wasps” includes a huge number of insect species: typically with a narrow waist, yellow and black markings, and much less hair than their bee relatives. While wasps perform some minor pollination, they are much less efficient than bees, due to wasps’ sparse, non-forked hairs. Nobody knows exactly how many species of wasps there are in the world. From tiny parasitic wasps almost invisible to the naked eye, to velvety “cow killers” commonly confused with ants in the eastern US, to the giant hornets of Asia, there are numerous types and sizes of wasps adapted to nearly every ecosystem and plant habitat.
• (2019) Five Concepts in Integrated Pest Management Integrated Pest Management (IPM), a bland term for a hot agricultural topic, is a multi-faceted approach, applicable to home gardening and commercial production. IPM attempts to apply a holistic, environmentally friendly approach to pest management. IPM has existed as an area of study since the 1970’s, but is largely unfamiliar outside the industry: many gardeners are already practicing some IPM without awareness that their practices fall into an IPM framework.
• (2019) Five Integrated Pest Management Control Strategies Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an ecosystem based approach to insect and disease management. IPM seeks to create garden and farm environments conducive to healthy plant development and beneficial insects, and less hospitable to pests and disease. As in human health management, some key actions are preventative rather than responsive. Specific control actions employed will vary with crop type, season, amount of pest pressure, and environmental conditions, but generally fall into one of several categories.
• (2019) Five Ornamental Plants for Fall The rapidly shortening days of fall prompt many garden plants to shut down. Deciduous trees lose their leaves, vegetables stop producing, annual flowers fade. Other plants, fewer in number, thrive in cool weather and shorter days. There are a few reliable annual ornamental for extra pops of color in the garden as summer flowers fade, currently available in garden centers, familiar and dependable. Less familiar is the planting of trees in fall – counter intuitive to many, fall tree planting is a horticultural secret for success that many nursery professionals wish was not so secret. This week’s column will explore options for the fall garden.
• (2019) Five Reasons to Revisit Season Extension Season Extension (SE) is a collection of techniques enabling fruit and vegetable growers manipulate growing conditions for harvesting a longer period, and includes tools and activities from simple frost cloth over tender plants to high tunnel structures that resemble traditional greenhouses at first glance(and much between). For home gardeners who want to continue growing vegetables as late as possible in the season, season extension is an indispensable tool. Local vegetable producers rely heavily on SE, using high tunnels and row covers on a regular basis. From responses to the February column “Five ways to get a jump on spring planting” in this space and social media discussions about the article, it’s clear that SE is not widely used among home gardeners. SE is for serious gardeners seeking to maximize food production. SE also helps protect investments of tender ornamental plants, reducing chances of plants ruined by “unexpected” cold snaps and “freak” snow events- like that hard frost that happens every second week of June.
• (2019) Five Intersections of Trees and Drought Stress In climates that receive adequate rainfall during the growing season, or where trees can access a high water table, watering is primarily recommended only for new and establishing trees. For many areas of the Klamath Basin, access to water is a major consideration. Experienced nursery professionals caution that it takes longer for trees to reach full size in our region, a factor of both our cold winters and limited water during the growing season. Drought stress can also take a less obvious toll on landscape trees, making it more difficult to connect the dots between lack of water and the problem. Let’s take a look at some ways drought stress affects our landscape trees.
• (2019) Five Native Bees found at the Klamath County Museum The Oregon Bee Atlas is a multi –year study of native bee populations in Oregon. Currently in its third of five years, the Bee Atlas will help us gain insight into the variety and abundance of native bees across the state. With growing public interest in bees, gardeners and homeowners are more aware of the need to conserve bees, provide habitat, and use pesticides wisely to minimize impacts on beneficial insects. Yet without some kind of baseline population information, such as will be provided by the Bee Atlas, it would be difficult to tell if any of our conservation efforts were worthwhile in the future.
• (2019) Five Ways to Improve Soil Soil: the literal and biological foundation upon which all gardens are built. Healthy soil providesnutrients, structure, and moisture holding capacity that contribute to plant growth. Ideally, it also contains a healthy microbiome including a wide variety of microscopic insects, mites, bacteria, and fungi, which serve the function of breaking organic matter down into the elemental forms that plants can use. Many gardeners, well aware of the importance of good soil, seek various amendments to that end. Let’s take a look at some of the top ways that home gardeners can improve soils where plants are not thriving. Keep in mind that in some cases, a baseline measurement from a professional test (or soil pH test from your local Master Gardeners) will be necessary to determine how much amendment is needed to be effective. Each of the following soil amending techniques is complex enough to warrant its own discussion, but the following will serve as an introduction.
• (2019) Five Common Homeowner Landscaping Mistakes The many practices lumped under the umbrella of “landscaping” are varied and complex. There’s a vast difference between what some in the industry unflatteringly refer to as “Mow, blow, and go Joes”, and a landscape architect using wise plant choices to create a seamless connection between indoor and outdoor living spaces- yet both fall under “landscaping”.
• (2019) Five Earliest Vegetables for Spring Soil temperature is directly related to the length of time it takes a seed to germinate. Our climate in Klamath, with slowly warming (inaccessible under snow?) soils, makes indoor seed starting a more valuable tool than in other locations. When it’s time to move those seedlings outside, not all vegetables will respond to transplanting equally. In general, taprooted plants such as carrots, parsley, beets, and turnips don’t transplant as easily as plants with other types of root systems. Take this into consideration when you are determining your strategy for which seeds to start indoors and which you will direct seed- and therefore need to protect at some point in the spring. Plants started indoors will need to be acclimated for the colder temps when they are moved outside.
• (2019) Five easy houseplants worth trying For those not able, interested, or willing to start garden seedlings indoors or in protected settings, it’s still going to be a while before much gardening happens. When the ground is covered with snow, some with the gardening gene find themselves seeking to bring nature indoors. Following are five of the easiest houseplants to grow, and tips for success in growing them. These plants are not suitable for outdoor growing in our area, except maybe for limited use in summer outdoor “living areas”. Because many of these plants are tropical in their native environments, they will struggle with the cool, windy nights common to our summers. Houseplants often have many different common names, which can be confusing, scientific names are added for clarity.
• (2019) Five Cold- Hardy Herbs to Grow Nothing seasons up a savory winter soup or stew like fresh herbs. It is possible, even in a tough growing climate, to harvest herbs in colder parts of the year. The following five herbs are among the easiest to overwinter, and with cold protection, can result in expanded harvest windows. They are also adaptable to a wide range of cooking styles.
• (2019) Five Insights into Plant Cold Hardiness Cold hardiness is an important consideration in Klamath Falls and similar climates. According to the USDA cold hardiness map (https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/#), Klamath Falls is in Zone 6B. This tells us that the average annual winter minimum temperature here is -5 to 0°F. What does this mean for gardeners? A basic interpretation might be that if a tree rated hardy to Zone 6 is purchased, the buyer should expect the tree to not be damaged from cold. Yet experienced garden and landscape professionals in our area often recommend hardiness to Zone 5, or even Zone 4 in higher elevations. While the USDA Zone map is a helpful guide, there is more to the story.
• (2019) Five Abiotic Plant Issues that Mimic Disease Five Abiotic Plant Issues that Mimic Disease
• (2019) Five Pollinators Beyond Honeybees The plight of pollinators has been a common topic among both gardeners and non- gardeners for the last few years. An illegal application of pesticide on Linden trees (Eugene, 2014) in Oregon was the catalyst for writing, discussion, legislation, and increased awareness of how actions in our own gardens impact pollinators, in Oregon and nation-wid
• (2019) Five weird things that happen to Tomatoes Tomatoes are the most popular of all vegetables grown by home gardeners. About three quarters of the veggie growing public include tomatoes in their home-grown lineup. There’s no doubt that people prefer the flavor and freshness of tomatoes fresh from thegarden compared to those that must travel long distances, requiring harvest before peak ripeness.
• (2019) Five fast facts for growing beans Beginning gardeners are likely to have heard that beans are one of the easiest vegetables to grow in the garden. Beans are commonly used in classroom experiments because the seed is inexpensive and easy to grow. While these general statements are true, there are some details that if understood, will increase the likelihood that we are more successful in growing beans in our short growing season.
• (2019) Five finds at the Master Gardeners’ plant sale this weekend he Klamath County Master Gardeners are holding their second annual Mother’s Day weekend flower sale at Klamath Basin Research and Extension Center, 6923 Washburn Way, this weekend, Friday and Saturday May 10 and 11. Both days, the sale will be open from 9AM to 1:30PM. Not to be confused with the larger plant sale that happens with the opening of the Farmer’s Market in June, this weekend’s sale is for those die- hard gardeners who just can’t wait three more weeks to get a new plant in the ground- or those who just want to pick up a plant(s) for Mom and support a great local cause.
• (2019) Five tips for growing great squash Squash is a member of the Cucurbitaceae family, often called the “Cucurbits” for short. Like other members of the family- cucumbers, gourds, melons- squash plants like plenty of sunshine and nice warm soil. While in many growing regions indoor seed starting is unnecessary for squash, pre- planting indoors (or buying transplants ant the Master Gardener plant sale Saturday, June 1) will be beneficial in our short growing season. Following are a few tips that will help veggie gardeners with this summer favorite. There are many types of summer squashes to fit any size garden.
• (2019) Five Ways to Distinguish Insect Friend from Insect Foe Entomology is full of fascinating numbers and statistics. 300 pounds of insects for every pound of human (New York Times), three million individual insects in a single South American termite nest (Smithsonian). There are 91,000 known species of insects in the U.S. with another estimated 73,000 remaining to be described and named. With such amazing quantity, there is an insect for every conceivable habitat, plant, and situation on earth. But how many are pests?
• (2019) Five Considerations for Evaluating Plant Problems Determining what is causing plant problems is sometimes easy- but more frequently, a bit of detective work is in order. If the problem is insect damage and the insect is present in the sample, the detective’s work is easy. If only the damage is present, the detective may be able to determine the culprit from previous experience, or may need to do some research.
• (2019) Five Hot Topics at the Plant Clini April through October, Master Gardeners in Klamath County staff a Plant Clinic in the Extension office at 6923 Washburn Way in Klamath Falls. Staffed hours in 2019 are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10-2, but samples may be dropped off during any business hours to be examined by Master Gardeners upon their return. Master Gardener volunteers, supported by horticulture faculty, have hit the growing season running, addressing more than forty gardening questions in the first half of April alone. The following topics represent April’s most frequently asked questions at the Plant Clinic. Have a question of your own? Call 541-883-7131 (M,W,F) or inquire via email at KlamathMG@Oregonstate.edu.
• (2019) Five Plants with Long- Day Photoperiodism Photoperiodism is a plant response to night length, usually resulting in the initiation of flowers. There are several categories of plant response to photoperiod. Some plants absolutely must have a specific night length to bloom (obligate photoperiodic). For others, specific night length is more likely to lead to flowering (facultative photoperiodic plants). Some plants are day-neutral, their flowering unrelated to night length.
• (2019) Five Ways to use the Master Gardener Plant Clinic Gardening season is just around the corner. As days grow longer and warmer, those seeking to make the best of our short growing season will be busy in their gardens- and will inevitably encounter pests or problems of some kind. The Klamath County Master Gardeners hope that when pest problems happen, gardeners in the Klamath Basin will seek out reliable, research- based information from a reliable source- the Master Gardener Plant Clinic.
• (2020) Five Facts about those Annoying Box Elder Bugs Box Elder bugs are a frequent subject of inquiries to the Extension office and plant clinic. For bugs inside the home, the vacuum is the easiest, safest, and most reliable removal method. Many references suggest that removal of Box Elder (Acer Negundo) trees will eliminate the insects: in fact, a tree of the same species in a neighbor’s yard, or even other Maple species close by, can support the insects too. Often, Box Elder bugs cause alarm based on sheer numbers: on sunny fall days they congregate on rocks or the sides of houses in large numbers. They do no real harm to trees or homes.
• (2019) Five Considerations for Selecting seeds January, for gardeners, is a kind of second Christmas: mailboxes overflowing with seed catalogs, gardeners’ imaginations filled with visions of new varieties, bountiful flowers, and tasty produce. There’s a long road between the fantasy gardens of January and the harvest of summer. That road starts with seeds. Here are five things to consider when trying to narrow down the multitude of choices into selections that can reasonably fit into your yard, time, and budget.
• (2020) Five Ways to prep now for next years garden Gardening in all forms- from window boxes to major landscape renovations- surged in 2020. Whether for mental peace, food security, or a meaningful “socially distanced pastime”, people turned to gardening this year. Increased interest in all things gardening led to temporary shortages in seeds and plants this year, causing a similar surge in interest in seed banks and seed saving.
• (2020) Buzzing and Beautiful: Designing Pollinator Gardens with OSU Extension A recording of a webinar touring through two new OSU guides to help you garden for pollinators and then ask questions of all the authors. We covered everything from what shrubs to plant, how to use mason bees, shrubs and trees that bloom in winter and some garden designs that look great, attract a wide array of pollinators, but use plants that are readily available in local nurseries. 
• (2019) Five Tips For Using Holiday Greenery For those seeking to “spruce” up their interior spaces during the holidays, fresh evergreens are a great place to start. In addition to the natural feel and fragrance, evergreens are especially forgiving to work with. Even those with little experience in floral design can effectively use greenery with just a little practice.
• (2020) Enhancing Urban and Suburban Landscapes to Protect Pollinators
• (2019) Five Houseplant Trends Five Houseplant Trends
• (2019) Five Ways to Distinguish Insect Friend from Insect Foe Five Ways to Distinguish Insect Friend from Insect Foe
• (2019) Five Insights into Plant Cold Hardiness Five Insights into Plant Cold Hardiness
• (2019) Five weird things that happen to Tomatoes Five weird things that happen to Tomatoes
• (2019) Five Ways to use the Master Gardener Plant Clinic Five Ways to use the Master Gardener Plant Clinic
• (2019) Five Ways to Improve Soil Five Ways to Improve Soil
• (2019) Five ways to get a jump on Spring Planting Five ways to get a jump on Spring Planting
• (2019) Five Types of Transplanting Five Types of Transplanting
• (2019) Five tips for growing great squash Five tips for growing great squash
• (2019) Five Reasons to Want Worms in Your House Five Reasons to Want Worms in Your House
• (2019) Five reasons orchids are worth a try Five reasons orchids are worth a try
• (2019) Five Reasons to Revisit Season Extension Five Reasons to Revisit Season Extension
• (2019) Five Pollinators Beyond Honeybees Five Pollinators Beyond Honeybees
• (2019) Five Plants Long Day Five Plants Long Day
• (2019) Five Integrated Pest Management Control Strategies Five Integrated Pest Management Control Strategies
• (2019) Five Native Bees found at the Klamath County Museum Five Native Bees found at the Klamath County Museum
• (2019) Five Cold- Hardy Herbs to Grow Herbs that perform well in cold temperatures
  
• (2018) Oregon Forest Pest Detector Pest Watch Bronze Birch Borer (BBB) | Monitoreo y Detección de Plagas Forestales en Oregon Barrenador del Abedul Bronce (BBB)
• (2018) Homeowner Guide to Managing Bronze Birch Borer in the Upper Klamath Basin
• (2020) Growing Raspberries in Your Home Garden
• (2020) Growing Blackberries in Your Home Garden
• (2020) Growing Strawberries in Your Home Garden
• (2020) Growing Blueberries in Your Home Garden