Author: Karen Young

Growing Rhododendrons on the Washington Coast

Beautiful Blooming Rhododendrons Driving around Ocean Shores, one will see numerous rhododendrons of assorted sizes and colors. Some seem healthy and strong with vibrant blooms, while others may look lanky and pale. Rhododendrons can be magnificent colorful garden companions in coastal areas like ours where the climate and conditions are favorable…and the deer stay away […]
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Winning the War Against Weeds

How to Take Control of One of Gardeners’ Worse Enemies We all know the feeling of stepping outside to admire our flower or vegetable beds only to be shocked by an invasion of unsightly weeds. So it is time for battle gardeners! Unfortunately, weeds will always be a part of our lives to some degree, […]
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Innovative Ideas for your Garden

Making the Most out of your Resources (Space, Materials, and Ingenuity!) Early this spring I was amazed and impressed after a visit to Dennis and Karen Hogan’s house in Ocean Shores. Their many clever innovations to optimize their gardening experience while reducing their workload were inspirational. Whether you have a large or small yard, or […]
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Creating a Bird-Friendly Backyard

Ways to Attract Avian Friends to Your Yard In Ocean Shores bird watchers may be able to find up to 300 species of our feathered friends if they look hard enough. Many are migratory, while others live here year-round. Some are found in marshes, some at the beach, while others hang out in fields, forests, […]
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Backyard Composting

How to Make Your Own Nutrient-Rich Compost Composting is a simple and effective way to reduce waste, save money, and improve the health of your garden. By composting yard waste and food scraps, you can create a nutrient rich amendment for your soil that will help your plants thrive. And when you compost, you are […]
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Best Watering Practices for Your Garden

Are you Watering Enough? Believe it or not, one of the biggest problems in Western Washington summer gardens is that they don’t get enough water. Some people may think that since we live in a rainy and cool climate our gardens really don’t need that much water. Where that may be true in the winter […]
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