Growing Information

Growing Tips for Gardeners

These growing tips articles were written for Pacific Northwest Gardeners, but much of the information will be relevant for gardeners in other climates as well.

• Apple Pruning
  Pruning and training apples to central leader form
• Can I Grow Apricots?
  Tips for apricot growing success in the Pacific Northwest
• Create a Backyard Sanctuary
  Using plants to attract birds, butterflies, and beneficial insects to your garden.
• Disease and Pest Management 
  Pest management through the seasons for backyard orchards in the Pacific Northwest
• Edible Landscaping
  Use food producing plants to create an ornamental, productive landscape.
• Espalier Your Fruit Trees
  Train your fruit trees to espalier; create a living fruit fence.
• Gardening with PNW Natives
  Choosing the right native plants for the right spot in your landscape
• Gifts from the Kitchen
  Using fruits to create special preserves, vinegars, liqueurs, and preserves, perfect for holiday gifts.
• Growing Asparagus
  How to plant and grow asparagus from crowns
• Growing Currants and Gooseberries
  Tips for site selection, pruning, and disease and pest management.
• Growing Figs in the Pacific Northwest
  Tips on planting and pruning figs for best cropping in a maritime climate.
• Growing Hydrangeas
  Tips on planting and growing hydrangeas, including pruning of different hydrangea groups
• Growing in Containers
  Focusing on woody and perennial plants in containers.
• Growing Strawberries
  Planting and growing both June bearing and day-neutral or everbearing varieties of strawberries.
• Hoophouses
  Building and using tunnels and hoop houses to extend the growing season in the Pacific Northwest. Construction advice, growing tips, and resources for materials is included.
• Living with Deer
  How to garden in areas with deer
• Pear Training and Establishment
  Pruning and training pear trees as open center trees
  
• Planting Green Graft Grapes
  Tips for success planting first year grape grafts
• Planting Plants
  Basic Information on planting balled and burlapped, bareroot, or container grown plants.
• Plants for Fall Interest
  Woody shrubs and trees that have exceptional fall flowers or foliage in the Pacific Northwest garden.
• Plants for Problem Places - Salt Spray
  Plants that work for seacoast plantings where salt spray is a problem
• Plants for Problem Places - Wet Soil
  Plants that thrive in soil that stays wet all year, and may at times be flooded.
• Plants for Problem Places - Dry Soil
  Drought tolerant plants for gardens without irrigation
• Plants for Problem Places - Shade
  Plants that thrive in partial to full shade and bring color to the garden.
• Preserving the Harvest
  A basic overview of techniques for preserving fruits and vegetables from your garden.
• Pruning Dwarf Cherries
  Focusing on pruning and training dwarf cherries as a Spanish bush system.
• Starting Right with Blueberries
  Site selection, planting tips, and pruning information for Northwest gardens.
• Starting Right with Peaches
  Pruning and disease management for peaches and nectarines.
• Starting Right with Plums
  Initial planting and pruning guide for plums and prunes, along with basic disease control information.
• Success with Cane Fruit
  Planting, trellising, and pruning raspberries and blackberries.
• Success with Conifers
  Choosing conifers, growth habits and pruning tips.
• Success with Japanese Maples
  Site selection, cultural needs, and problems common in Japanese Gardens in the Pacific Northwest.
• Success with Kiwis
  Site selection, hardy vs. fuzzy types, trellis construction, and cultural needs of kiwis in the Northwest.
• Success with Rhododendrons
  Site selection, culture, and tips on choosing rhododendrons for Pacific Northwest Gardens.
• Successful Grape Growing in Cooler Climates
  Focus on mainly wine grapes for the Pacific Northwest: site selection, cultivar selection, training and pruning tips. Some table grape tips, too.
• Suggestions for Pest Problems
  Grid layout of pest problems in home orchards, and a range of solutions.
• The Locavore's Garden
  Basic vegetable gardening information for Pacific NW gardens
• Verticillium Wilt- Symptoms and Solutions
  A common root disease in the Pacific Northwest, causing decline of numerous species.  Tips on diagnosing symptoms, and how to choose plants that are resistant if verticillium is present.
• Winter Damaged Plants
  How to tell if your plants have winter damage, and what to do about it.