{"id":3713,"date":"2023-01-14T07:42:00","date_gmt":"2023-01-14T07:42:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/mgmetro\/?p=3713"},"modified":"2023-01-14T07:44:52","modified_gmt":"2023-01-14T07:44:52","slug":"january-horticulture-updates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/mgmetro\/2023\/01\/14\/january-horticulture-updates\/","title":{"rendered":"January Horticulture Updates"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Margaret Bayne, OSU Extension Service Staff-retired, OSU Master<\/strong> Gardener<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n
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Photo: Oregon State University<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The scientific reasons you should resolve to start gardening in 2023.<\/strong>  \u201cFunded by the American Cancer Society, the first-ever, randomized, controlled trial of community gardening found that those who started gardening ate more fiber and got more physical activity\u2014two known ways to reduce risk of cancer and chronic diseases. They also saw their levels of stress and anxiety significantly decrease.\u201d<\/em> (Lisa Marshall, Coloado.edu\/today) https:\/\/bit.ly\/3IH4dFG<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

REVISED PUBLICATION: Gardening with Oregon Native Plants West of the Cascades.  <\/strong>\u201cGrowing a garden in western Oregon is easier when you include native plants. That\u2019s because native plants are adapted to our wet winters and dry summers. Native plants also provide benefits to native pollinators and other wildlife. Learn where to find native plants for your garden, how to care for them and which plants are best for pots and small gardens. This publication also includes an illustrated list of Pacific Northwest native plants that are easy to establish and grow<\/em>.\u201d (Linda McMahan, Heather Stoven, Erika Szonntag, OSU) https:\/\/bit.ly\/3QvAB01<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n

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Northern Giant Hornet,
Oregon Department of Agriculture<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

REVISED PUBLICATION: Northern Giant Hornet: A Potential Threat to Honeybee Colonies in Oregon.  <\/strong>\u201cThe northern giant hornet was detected in British Columbia and Washington in 2019. This publication outlines the identification, life cycle, and predatory habits of the northern giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) for beekeepers. It also provides recommendations for reporting a suspected sighting in the Pacific Northwest<\/em> (Ellen Topitzhofer, et al, OSU) https:\/\/bit.ly\/3GXsEh3<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

REVISED PUBLICATION: Growing Your OWN<\/strong>.  \u201cGrowing Your Own is now available as a bilingual publication in Spanish and English! It provides basic advice on a wide range of gardening topics, including composting, container gardens, fall\/winter gardens, fertilizing, insect pests, plant diseases, planting guidelines, raised beds, site selection, slugs, soil improvement, tilling, warm-season crops, watering, and weeds. Includes regional tips for various parts of Oregon<\/em>.\u201d (Gail Langellotto, OSU) https:\/\/bit.ly\/3XnbnDd<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vaccine protects honeybees. <\/strong>The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved a conditional license for a vaccine that protects honeybees against American Foulbrood disease. (Simrin Singh, CBSnews.com) https:\/\/cbsn.ws\/3IIuBzg<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Companion plants, they are not what you think!  \u201c<\/em><\/strong>Companion plants! Great, what a good idea. When you first hear the term and think about the concept it sounds great, but there is a lot to not to like about it. The term \u201ccompanion plants\u201d implies that these plants are partners and they \u201cenjoy\u201d each other\u2019s company.  The term is an anthropomorphism or overlaying human qualities on non-human organisms.  A more appropriate term may be plant associates or plant associations, a term taken from plant ecology which more basis for its use.\u201d<\/em> (Jim Downer, Gardenprofessors.com) https:\/\/bit.ly\/3GVJoVY<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Goodbye to 2022 and hello, 2023!  <\/strong>A review of \u201c\u2026the weather and climate of the past year, both the average conditions and some of the extremes we saw.\u201d<\/em> (Pam Knox, Gardenprofessors.com) https:\/\/bit.ly\/3CG6Sf4<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pest Profile: Spotted Lanternfly. Be on the lookout! <\/strong>\u201cThe Spotted Lanternfly (SLF), Lycorma delicatula, is a 1-inch long planthopper native to China, and has since spread to Japan, South Korea, and the United States.\u201d<\/em> (Abi Saeed, Gardenprofessors.com) https:\/\/bit.ly\/3CG751Q<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So you think you want a home greenhouse, do you?  <\/strong>\u201c\u2026 home greenhouses have been a \u201cthing\u201d for a long, long while \u2013 from well-to-do folks with conservatories on their estates to the more common and basic home greenhouse in the last few decades.  But shifting interests, and more\/cheaper options have made home greenhouses more accessible to the masses.\u201d<\/em> (John Porter, Gardenprofessors.com) https:\/\/bit.ly\/3ircDGN<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n

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Photo: Harry Olson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Sunflowers Linked to Reduced Varroa Mite Infestations in Honeybees.  \u201c<\/strong>A new study indicates a benefit to honeybees of local sunflower cropland.  Even low levels of sunflower acreage nearby correlate with reduced Varroa mite infestation in managed colonies, researchers found, and supplemental sunflower pollen helps ward off the mites as well.\u201d (Paige Embry, Entomologytoday.org) https:\/\/bit.ly\/3ipVLQM<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

HIRING AN ARBORIST<\/strong>– MGs sometimes can\u2019t identify a tree problem via a phone call or email.  Our diagnostic skills are limited in that we can\u2019t go to the site to see the tree in person.  Photos and the plant\u2019s history can provide a wealth of information, but sometimes seeing the tree on site may be necessary to give a correct diagnosis.  In such cases, clients should be advised to hire a Certified Arborist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are a few suggestions on hiring a \u2018Certified Arborist\u2019:<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n