Newsroom

CORVALLIS - Home gardeners from around the state with a little or a lot of experience can pick up practical pointers to make gardening easier at the annual "Insights into Gardening" workshop at Oregon State University.

The workshop will run from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 27, at OSU's LaSells Stewart Center in Corvallis.

This is the ninth annual "Insights" workshop, sponsored by the Benton County Master Gardeners and the OSU Extension Service. The sessions will feature an array of practical and informative gardening classes, displays and an on-site OSU Book Store and OSU Extension publication table. Registration is $10. Classes offered include:

• Trees for your landscape - how to select, plant and grow healthy trees;
• Groundcovers - how to choose and care for various groundcovers;
• Top 10 insect problems - learn practical ways of dealing with the 10 least-wanted pests in the home and garden;
• Pruning basics - the hows and whys of proper pruning, including size control, timing, and disease prevention;
• Raised beds - learn how to make different types of raised beds, including using layers of garden debris that nourishes growing plants as it decomposes;
• Productive soil - the workings of healthy, productive soil and how to develop it;
• Favorite gardening books - learn about the best books and magazines to help create gorgeous and productive gardens, including reference and kids' books;
• Attracting butterflies and birds to the landscape - how to make a beautiful landscape that is also attractive to butterflies and birds;
• Vegetable gardening - local Master Gardeners will share info on vegetable varieties, drip irrigation, colored plastic row covers, organic gardening and easy-access beds.

Registration fliers are available at selected Benton County nurseries and garden suppliers or the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library. Interested persons also may call the Benton County Extension office in Corvallis, 541-757-6750, for a flyer and more information. Preregistration is required.