Green Blog
Gardening That Does Good!
Whether you're looking for vegetables to plant in your garden, a houseplant to brighten your home, or flowers that will provide food for native pollinators, local plant sales have it all! Local plant sales are great opportunities to get interesting plant varieties while supporting local schools, nonprofit organizations, and nurseries. Here are some upcoming local plant sales to check out (click on the sale's name for more information):
Columbia River High School, April 29 - May 3
by Author
Hudson's Bay High School, May 1-3
Fort Vancouver High School, May 1-3
Prairie High School, May 1-2, May 7, May 18
Vancouver Flex Academy, May 2-4
Clark College, May 2-4
Battle Ground High School, May 4-5
Camas Plant and Garden Fair, May 11
Master Gardener Foundation, May 11-12
Community Garden Club of Camas-Washougal, May 18
Two Rivers Heritage Museum, May 18 and June 9
Once you get your plants, use natural gardening techniques to care for them, your family, wildlife, and the planet! You can learn more about natural gardening here.
Gardening tips and tricks to try this spring
- Have you noticed white deposits forming on your clay pots? This is likely salt. Use this green cleaning trick to remove those pesky salt deposits: combine equal parts white vinegar, rubbing alcohol, and water in a spray bottle. Spray onto salt deposits on your pots and scrub with a bristled brush. Dry before planting.
- Plants like broth! Use the excess water from boiling or steaming vegetables to water your plants (once it's cooled, of course!).
- Under-watering is better than over-watering. Over-watering is the most common cause of plant mortality. When watering, it is best to use a watering can, sprinkler, or spray bottle to help prevent over-watering. Ensure that water is evening distributed over the soil. Depending on the plant, don't water again until the soil is dry or dry through the top few centimeters. Over-watering can cause root-rot.
- Naturally deter neighborhood cats from using your gardens as a litter box by sprinkling coffee grounds or citrus peels on the ground in areas where you need to deter cats.
- Patience is a virtue. Give your garden time to bounce-back before replanting and pruning. Some plants may look lifeless from the outside, but increased warmth and daylight will bring out new growth and life. One way to determine if your deciduous, woody shrubs are still alive is to scratch the surface of a branch. If you see green underneath the woody exterior, then it is still alive.
