Comments for Habitat Horticulture PNW

Comment on Mosses in the garden; good or bad? by Stella Schramm

Stella Schramm — Wed, 06 Dec 2023 19:48:52 +0000

In reply to ada. Moss acts as a 'green mulch'. It will help to slow the drying out of soil and create a good growing environment for other plants. It does not damage other plants or trees. It also stays green through the winter. While it goes dormant when the soil is too dry to sustain it, it will immediately 'green up' again when misted. Since it only grows on the surface, it does not require water saturation, but only surface watering. It also has a disproportionately high beneficial contribution to the environment, compared to other plants and ground covers, in both carbon and ecosystem impact. It requires less maintenance than other types of lawn, and grows best where other types of lawns struggle most. It also can be planted to beautify or add interest to other plants and objects in a landscape, including wood, cement, stone, and live trees.

Comment on Contact Dana by Jeni

Jeni — Thu, 24 Aug 2023 22:24:07 +0000

Hi Dana,

I visited Woodbrook earlier today (8/24/23) and was inquiring about a native plant list that correlates to birds. I found it on the WNPS site: https://www.wnps.org/content/documents/plants/gardening/pnw-birds-plants-charts.pdf

Thanks again for answering all my questions and for your help. Happy gardening,

Jeni

Comment on Subscribe by Chris S

Chris S — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 14:01:18 +0000

Habitatdana,
Wow, I love your web site, photos, and first-person information! I found the page when searching for info about “Saskatoons.”
I am way over in the Adirondacks of NY and we have Juneberries in the wild along forest edges. But I was hoping to get a shorter and more productive set of shrubs for the interior of my yard.
Also, I am hoping to “be an Ark” to spread native plants that provide edibles to man and beast! The woods near my home are second-growth and unmanaged, so not the most supportive to life.
Anyways, your work is beautiful! Please include me in your email list. I am in the east, but the principles are the same. Thank-you!

Comment on Fern Gardens & Stumperies by Heidi

Heidi — Fri, 18 Feb 2022 07:18:52 +0000

I use sword ferns and deer ferns in my perennial garden. I find adding coir, humous or leaf mold and some rotten wood makes the ferns grow fairly large. I give them partial shade in a moderately moist area.

Comment on About Me by habitatdana

habitatdana — Mon, 11 Oct 2021 15:32:18 +0000

In reply to Mary Abbott. Pacific Wax Myrtle is our best native evergreen shrub for screening and grows well along the coast. It is an excellent choice. Rosa rugosa is not a native Rose. We have 2 species of native roses that would be better for your situation: Nootka Rose, Rosa nutkana, or Peafruit (Clustered Swamp Rose) Rose, Rosa pisocarpa. They are very similar. The main differences are that Nootka Rosa has more single blossoms and larger hips and Peafruit Rose has clustered blooms and clusters of pea-sized hips.

Comment on Grow a “Greener” Lawn or “Eco-lawn” by habitatdana

habitatdana — Mon, 11 Oct 2021 15:26:41 +0000

In reply to Barbara Vandepas. I have used their Dryland Ecology Mix. It is good for the Pacific Northwest's "Cool Mediterranean Climate."

Comment on Mosses in the garden; good or bad? by habitatdana

habitatdana — Mon, 11 Oct 2021 15:23:17 +0000

In reply to ada. Mosses are not by themselves bad, but they may indicate more acid soils, which may not be appropriate for some other plants, flowers or small bushes. It might be beneficial to do a pH test of your soil and figure out what would be appropriate for what you are wanting to grow...

Comment on Mosses in the garden; good or bad? by ada

ada — Mon, 11 Oct 2021 08:01:11 +0000

In reply to habitatdana. Perhaps it takes away water from other plants, for example, if I'd plant some flowers or small bushes? And that's where it's bad for the garden

Comment on Grow a “Greener” Lawn or “Eco-lawn” by Deb

Deb — Fri, 20 Aug 2021 16:31:51 +0000

In reply to Julie.

Hi Julie,
were converting our lawn to an eco friendly clover lawn. we got everything we needed from Pro Time lawn seed in Portland. They have a great website as well. Good luck!

deb

Comment on Landscape for people and wildlife. by John Kisida

John Kisida — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 22:24:42 +0000

I think I am late in replying here for last reply was almost a year ago. Now there so many farms involved in Land management , including EPIC , who are now sharing better ways to feed animals where the land dose not undergo such impact , and how to grow vegetables without pesticides , or GMO,s . There are so People who care and are standing up together for a better world for us and our children.