What To Do About Clover And More Top Oregon Gardening Questions Of 2022

The Pecks have turned their driveway into a potted tomato garden.

According to The Oregonian/oregonlive.com/TNS , the Pecks have turned their driveway into a potted garden dotted with tomatoes.

Oregon gardeners turn to the experts at the Oregon State University Extension Service and top gardeners for answers to questions on everything from planting tomatoes to planting lawns, weeding and fertilizing. From the year 2022, these are the 10 most read gardening questions Kim Pokorny shared with Oregonian/OregonLive readers. Follow the link for each question for the full answer.

Ask an Expert, an online question-and-answer tool from the Oregon State University Extension Service, to get answers to your questions. OSU faculty and head gardeners respond to inquiries within two business days, often less. To make a query, simply go to the OSU Extension website, enter it, and include the county where you live.

10. Would you like to grow green grass? Alfalfa does not produce stable grass by itself.

Q: I am currently a traditional mower and would like to spray in the spring. I have looked at Micro Clover or Envirolon. Can you tell me the pros and cons of each and which one will work best in my area? The site is flat, 18" x 18" with full sun to partial sun exposure. Multnomah County

The answer: According to Oregon State University professor emeritus Tom Cook, who developed Ecolon, "Alfalfa, by itself, is not stable enough to provide a turf that will last more than a few years without regular maintenance." . It is more drought tolerant than grass, but still needs watering. Additionally, clover should be cut to look better as a turf cover and withstand normal wear and tear, explains Brian McDonald, OSU Extension turf specialist.

9. Can you fertilize weeds by killing the seeds?

Q: I am looking for written information or recommendations on fertilizers, but more specifically on how to kill seeds. - Lynn County

Answer: I have been composting for over 40 years and I have been teaching composting for 30 years. In my experience, people who really want to develop will find a method that works for their physical abilities and lifestyle. ... When it comes to weed compost, my general rule of thumb is not to put anything you want in the compost (weed seeds, diseased plant tissue), writes Linda Beer, an OSU extension instructor.

8. How do I get rid of flies in my compost bin?

Q: I fill a compost bin (about 40 gallons) with kitchen scraps (raw fruit and vegetable scraps, tea leaves and coffee grounds only) and shredded paper for about six months. About half full. He rotated the glass every time he added a new ingredient. Over the last month or two there have been so many small flies (such as fruit flies) buzzing around the compost that I wear a mask when I open it to keep them from flying into my face. ... can I try to reduce the flies? I'm trying to get my family involved in home composting, but the flies are bothering them! - Jackson County

Answer: I assure you that you did nothing wrong. If your glass is like mine, it has holes in the insulation somewhere and these little flies get in there. Linda Brewer, senior faculty research assistant at OSU Extension, offers some tips for reducing fly numbers.

7. Is there a giant walnut tree in my neighbor's yard that is stunting my lawn?

Behind the high fence of my property grows a large walnut tree in a wild garden. The umbrella reaches out to our patio and creates ample shade. I have had bad luck with my newly transplanted (mostly original) plants growing there.

Do you think walnuts are responsible for this problem? If so, what is the solution to this problem? Clackamas County

Answer: Walnuts contain chemicals that slow seed germination and cause growth problems in many other plant species. The chemist is juglone. From the information you provided I can't tell if this is a problem with your factory or if there is something else going on. What I can do is mix juglone and juglone-tolerant plants (mostly native) so you can use plants that are likely to be successful, writes Chris Lamar, OSU Extension Master Gardener.

6. Will the rainbow app harm my neighbor's fruit trees?

Q: I can find a lot of information on what kills a crossbow, but no specific information on how it works. I'm trying to kill wild strawberries. My garden is in an apartment building and next door to my neighbor, who doesn't like herbicides. He told me that spraying blackberries next to organic fruit trees will cause the herbicide to take root and kill nearby plants. The way I see it, Crossbow works the same way as Roundup, going from the leaves to the roots, killing or damaging the leaves it sprays on. Can you give me some information on how it kills plants and if the herbicide is transmitted to other plants from the roots? Clackamas County

Answer: First, let me tell you that rainbows are not intended for use on residential construction sites. You need to choose another method/product in this setup, but I want to go further to answer your question.

Learn more here. Let's say this gardener is happy to know before making a decision, says Cassie Ball, an OSU pesticide specialist.

5. Remove the ivy? Don't rub or pet it.

Q: Some of our apartment owners remove ivy from natural areas on their properties. We pile it up and let it dry before loading it into the landfill, a large 40 cubic foot container for county collection. We believe this process is important. We were concerned that the ivy that was removed had turned into mulch and spread to other places. Or throw it directly in the trash. - Washington County

A: Regarding the location of ivy plants after they've been removed, at least one OSU source advises that "...since ivy regenerates from young cuttings, don't try to fertilize the removed ivy, but rather bag it." and dispose of it in a trash can." Trash.

Learn more about preventing ivy from spreading from Chris Lamar, OSU Extension Master Gardener

4. Do's and don'ts when cutting down trees

Q: The trees on my property have long branches that grow in the spring and summer. Should I cut them? I'm afraid cutting them will only create more, so I'll always be in a position where I'll have to trim them. The tree is 20 years old. Three days a week they drink with splashes. do not compost I think they are maps. Yamhill County

a. Oh my. It seems that the tree trimmer has come to "cut" not only your tree, but also the trees of your neighbors around you. The method used is a type of fixation, sometimes called "alternating." Unfortunately, this type of pruning is rarely recommended by well-trained growers. (See "There Are No Trees Up There!")

Find out what Jean Natter of OSU Extension Master Gardener Diagnostics recommends to help this plant.

3. Moles, Mice, and Rats Dig Up Yards: How to Assess and Control Damage

Spring brings buds and flowers, as well as mice, mice and rats. Small mammals kneel to peer into burrows, setting traps and dropping everything from kitty litter to chewing gum. Not knowing what they are fighting for, they start a war with the animals, which drives them to despair. "How you handle it depends on what you have," said Dana Sanchez, a wildlife specialist with the Oregon State University Extension Service. "Traps are different, as are the baits you use."

Learn more about animal standards and controls here.

2. How do I get clover in my garden and how do I get rid of it?

Q: Every time I look at my front lawn, I see more and more clovers. I don't want to use anything inorganic on the lawn. Alfalfa has been shown to be a sign of low nitrogen levels. I found information on alfalfa here and on other sites and it confused me even more. Should I add fertilizer (and if so, what kind)? Or shred the clover and replace it with weed seeds? Or do you ignore the shamrock and accept the inevitable? Clackamas County

Answer: Weeds generally enter fields when the opportunity presents itself, such as when lawns are depleted from lack of nitrogen, little or little mowing, disease or insect damage, lack of water, and seeds blown from surrounding property or ornamental flowers. . Once weed beds are established, they can spread quickly due to their proximity to your lawn. Alfalfa is no different when it comes to grass, but it has the added benefit of fixing nitrogen from the atmosphere and growing on the side. They also produce seeds at low height, usually below height, so the seed heads are not always cut off. Because of this, once clover is in your lawn, it can spread quickly, especially if your lawn hasn't been fertilized.

Read tips on how to remove clover from OSU extension turf specialist Brian McDonald

1. Can I grow tomatoes in a 5 liter container?

Q: I bought a Super Sweet 100 cherry tomato plant. Can I grow it in a 5 gallon bucket with stakes/supports? Information online says they grow up to 5 feet tall. I have not grown my tomatoes successfully.

And another question, why don't seed and plant labels include how deep the roots can grow? They told me how tall and how much to grow, but not how much soil there should be. Is there somewhere to find this information? Multnomah County

Answer: You can successfully grow these tomatoes in a 5 gallon bucket. At planting time you want to cut off all the side branches (leave a few inches on top) and plant the whole plant basically with the root system in the bucket, so you start with small leaves and a few inches. Small hair-like structures grow on the long branch from root to root and provide a good system for absorbing water and keeping it stable in summer.

Read more tips from Chrissy Lucas, USO Agricultural Extension Coordinator, here.

- Oregon / Oregon Live