Coos County Master Gardeners

10/12/2026

Fall apple tree care is the topic of this quick video from Oregon State University Extension Service. Enjoy!

It's fall, and your friendly Extension agent on two wheels is here ...

10/05/2026

Fall is a great time to start an easy, but slow, compost pile. Called cool composting, it is largely untended and takes longer to break down than the more labor-intensive hot composting. Tips: Pile dried leaves or prunings from healthy woody plants. Add some garden soil. Don’t include weeds. Do include some live or “green” plant matter. Cover with tarp. Wait three- to six-months. More details at: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/slow-cool-composting-easy-way
Photo by Jessie Milligan

09/11/2026

What NOT to add to your garden beds in fall? Manure. It is high in nitrogen, which washes away in the rainy season, according to the Oregon State University Extension Service. It is best applied in spring when plants can use the fertility. Cover crops or organic matter – bark, compost, straw – are better for both clay and sandy soils. To learn more, go to:
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/add-organic-matter-improve-most-garden-soils
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/clay-soil-challenges-solutions-oregon-gardeners
Photo by Creative Commons

08/30/2026

No room for a tulip or daffodil garden? No problem. Spring-blooming bulbs are often better off planted in pots, according to the Oregon State University Extension Service. Good drainage is important and easier to control in the pots we plant in fall. For tips on how to put together a stellar display, go to:
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/plant-bulbs-pots-now-vibrant-blooms-spring
Photo: Stephen Bowler/Creative Commons

08/15/2026

If saving seeds, the Oregon State University Extension Service recommends harvesting tomatoes and peppers when ripe. Cucumber and eggplant should be over ripe. Let the seeds of peas, beans, and lettuce dry on the plant. Eggplant seeds can be dried after harvest, but tomatoes and cucumber seeds should be covered with water and left to ferment for three days in a warm room. Viable seeds sink to the bottom. Rise well after fermenting and air dry. For information on other crops, as well as drying and storage, go to: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/save-seeds-now-next-years-garden

07/27/2026

What’s wrong with my plant? Uniform damage often points to drought, heat spikes, poor drainage, little air circulation, or other environmental issues. Random damage may suggest pests or disease. That’s only one way to figure out what’s wrong. For more insight on which questions to ask, go to: Diagnose plant problems by asking the right questions | OSU Extension Service
Photo by Jessie Milligan

07/18/2026

07/12/2026

Mid-season fertilizing helps boost vegetables and flowers, according to Oregon State University Extension Service. Side dress or use liquid fertilizer, using blends higher in nitrogen for leafy greens or blends higher in phosphorus and potassium for flowering veggies and flowers. Follow the label directions. Read more at: Feed your vegetable garden midseason to boost growth and yields | OSU Extension Service
Photo source: Creative Commons

06/27/2026

Cats may be purrrfect friends, but they can damage gardens. Soil or mulch may be deemed a litter box, leaving behind germs and parasites that make people sick. Feline urine also can significantly lower the pH of soil. Try physical barriers, such as bird netting or chicken wire laid over beds. Sharp mulches like hazelnut shells or crushed egg shells help, as do sticks placed in the soil as stakes. Lots of other techniques are available at: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/em-9564-protecting-your-garden-cats
Photo by LeAnn Locher

06/15/2026

Want earlier tomatoes? Pinching out suckers, the new growth appearing between the main stem and a leaf, allows indeterminate tomatoes to direct more energy into production. (Indeterminates are the large “vining” tomatoes that produce throughout the season). Check about once a week and pinch out suckers using thumb and forefinger. For all things tomato, check out: Grow your own tomatoes and tomatillos | OSU Extension Service
Photo source: Chicago Botanic Garden