Sustainable gardening
The
Oregon State University Extension Service encourages sustainable gardening
practices.
Preventive pest management is emphasized over reactive pest
control. Identify and monitor problems before acting and opt for the least
toxic approach that will remedy the problem. The conservation of biological
control agents (predators, parasitoids) should be favored over chemical controls.
Use
chemical controls only when necessary and only after thoroughly reading the
pesticide label. First consider cultural, then physical, and biological
controls. Choose the least-toxic options if you have tried physical and
biological controls and must resort to pesticides (insecticidal soaps,
horticultural oils, botanical insecticides, and organic and synthetic
pesticides — when used judiciously).
- Gather branches of spring flowering shrubs or trees and bring indoors to force an early bloom. See this link
- Here is a list of possible species for forcing:
- Cercis canadensis-Redbud
Chaenomeles spp-Japanese or Flowering Quince
Cornus florida-Flowering Dogwood
Hamamelis vernalis-Vernal Witch Hazel
Crataegus spp-Hawthorn
Forsythis spp-Forsythia
Lonicera spp-Honeysuckle
Magnolia soulangiana-Saucer Magnolia
Magnolia stellata-Star Magnolia
Malus spp-Apple and Crabapple
Prunus spp-Flowering Almond, Cherry & Plum
Salix caprea-European Pussy Willow
Spiraea spp-Spirea
Syringa spp-Lilac
Viburnum spp-Viburnum
Planning
- Plan to replace varieties of
ornamental plants that are susceptible to disease with resistant cultivars
in February.
- Take hardwood cuttings of
deciduous ornamental shrubs and trees for propagation.
- Have your soil tested in your
garden plot to determine its nutrient needs. Here is a guide to collecting soil samples. The Master Gardener help desk
can test the pH for you or check this list of laboratories for a more
complete soil test (for a fee). Click this link for a list of laboratories serving Oregon.
- Begin planning this year’s
vegetable garden. Check with local retail garden or nursery stores for
seeds and seed catalogs.
- Keep a garden journal. Consult your journal in the
winter, so you can better plan for the growing season.
Maintenance and Clean Up
- If necessary, place windbreaks
to protect sensitive landscape evergreens against cold, drying winds.
- Reapply or redistribute mulch
that has blown or washed away during winter.
- Clean pruners and other small
garden tools with rubbing alcohol.
- Water landscape plants underneath wide eaves, covered porches, greenhouses, garages, and in other sites shielded from rain.
- If possible, avoid walking on lawns until frost has melted.
Pest Monitoring and Management
- Scout cherry trees for signs
and symptoms of bacterial canker. Remove infected branches with a clean
pruner or saw. Sterilize tools before each new cut. Burn or send to
landfill before bloom. See this link for Managing Diseases and Insects in Home Orchards.
- Watch for field mice damage on
lower trunks of trees and shrubs. Eliminate hiding places by removing
weeds and keeping mulch a few inches away from trunks.
- Use dormant sprays of lime
sulfur or copper fungicide on roses for general disease control, or, better yet, plan
to replace susceptible varieties that have been doing poorly with resistant cultivars. List of Rose Cultivars' Resistance to Disease
- Moss occurs in lawns due to
shade or poor drainage. This is not usually a problem – moss doesn’t
require mowing and still provides a soft green surface. If your site is heavy in foot traffic
and becomes unsightly, installing mulched paths may be a good option. If more grass is desired, careful
limbing up of trees to the south of the site may be helpful. If poor drainage is an issue, consider working with nature and planting the area as you would a rain garden. See the free download of the Oregon Rain Garden Guide for ideas. After you click the link look at the bottom of the page for the free download.
- Mid-January:
Spray peach trees with approved fungicides to combat peach leaf curl and
shothole. Better yet, consider
planting curl-resistant cultivars such as Frost, Q1-8, or Creswell.
- Monitor landscape plants for
problems. Don't treat unless a problem is identified.
Houseplants and Indoor
Gardening
- Monitor houseplants for correct
water and fertilizer; guard against insect infestations; clean dust from
leaves with a soft damp cloth or a brief shower. If you have hard water and the resulting
hard water deposits may be unsightly, collect a little rainwater to use as
a last rinse for your plant’s shower.
- Protect sensitive plants such
as weeping figs from cold drafts in the house.
- Propagate split-leaf
philodendrons and other leggy indoor plants by making vegetative
cuttings or air-layering.
- Plant dwarf annual flowers
inside for houseplants, including coleus, impatiens, and seedling
geraniums.
