I have paid for plan and installment of a small garden on west side of my property and neither have grown as planned. The plants were insured and replaced without success. Also, my other garden in front of house need new plant material; it was installed 2008. It's a shade garden - astilbes mainly and I don't know how long they live. Generally this is a very healthy and beautiful garden area. The remaining property is bordered by pachysandra that is award winning -- also installed 2008. However, they have many brown leaves at moment and I'm hopeful with rain and sun they will get better. My question is whether Master Gardener can offer direction -- even services for fee. Thank you.

Hi! I have a baby Christmas tree that I got from a Christmas tree farm in Wisconsin in 2023. I’m not sure what type of Christmas tree it is. It seemed to do just fine the winter going into 2024 and the first picture is May ‘24 when I was noticing new growth! However since the fall it’s taken a turn… about half the tree looks dead now. The second two pictures are what it looks like now. The dead side is the west side. I thought I was watering it regularly last summer but maybe not?? I had it covered with burlap most of the winter to protect it from cold winds but recently took the burlap off - second picture is what it looks like now. Help! Is there anything I can do to make it look better? Water? Fertilizer in spring? Or just hold out hope that it will get better?

We recently purchased a house and inherited a beautiful perennial garden that includes two beautiful Lilac trees and three small cherry trees. The previous owners paid a service to come annually to treat these trees against foliar diseases as well as a series of nutrient treatments. The Lilacs survived a bit of blight last fall. However with the high cost, we wondering how necessary these treatments are or if perhaps there DIY options to achieve the same results. We love our plants and would hate to jeopardize their health. Thanks in advance for your help.

I have a eucalyptus tree, about 20 feet tall, that's been in the ground about 15 years: healthy until the last 2 years. About 50% of the crown has not produced leaves the past few years: instead I get a lot of lateral growth off of the branches. It's been through a few ice storms and is cold hardy to the teens, so I don't think it's the weather. Would you recommend fertilizer (even though it naturally grows in gravelly soil)? Could it be at the end of its normal life span? Maybe a shot of fertilizer will send new growth up to the crown. Not sure what, if anything, I can do about it. Thanks

Hello, I work for Community Counseling Solutions, the Community Mental Health Provider in Umatilla County. We have a client who is a gardener, but who has limited resources. We encourage our client in her gardening as evidence shows gardening promotes better mental health. Do you know of any resources for free or reduced cost soil in our area that this individual could access? Thank you, Kristin Owen Umatilla County Site Manager Community Counseling Solutions

My soil sample (from 3 raised beds housed in metal fire pit rims) came with a recommendation to address low potassium. I did not notice until now (March 2025) that I had been advised to add 0-0-60 or 0-0-24 last fall. May I add it now with snow on the ground? The test results also showed above optimum levels of Magnesium. I did not see any recommendation to counter that. Would that above optimum level of magnesium need to be addressed?

Hi there, when applying the scale prevention spray to a small tree this spring. Is the goal to thoroughly coat the branches or do a light spray? We don’t want you damage the tree. Thank you!

Hello! I have 7 Douglas Fir trees that are turning brown and dying. All of them have started this winter and are near death. I don't know their age, but they are approximately 7- 8' tall. They are in a mixed row with other pine and spruce trees being used for a wind block on the north and west sides of my property. Is there a virus or anything that you know of that would kill all of them at once? Do you need me to send pieces of the trees to you in the mail for inspection? Thank you! Joan

There is a recommendation I read online that is supposed to stimulate bacteria and beneficial fungal growth in the garden. It consists of 2 cans of beer, 2 multivitamins, 2 aspirins, then "pee in the hole after waiting an hour." Is there peer-reviewed literature to support this?