Mediterranean-type shrubs such as cistus, lavender and phlomis are best confined to banks and raised beds in clay gardens.

Both extremes in soil have their advantages and shortcomings. These soils act the way they do mostly because of the size of the particles that make them up. Sand particles are relatively large (by ...

CORVALLIS – When you walk about your yard on a wet day, do your shoes stick in the mud? Could you make ceramic pots out of the soil in your garden? If the answers are yes to both, odds are you have ...

It's difficult enough to garden in heavy clay soil, but when that soil is on a slope, you face a double whammy of gardening challenges. Slopes are both hard to mow and hard to water. Worse, slopes are ...

We’re well into winter and that means spring and the gardening season is on the horizon. If you’ve got questions, turn to Ask an Expert, an online question-and-answer tool from Oregon State University ...

The soft, dark grey substance that geologists call “quick clay” is composed primarily of small flaky particles and a great deal of water. It contains very little of the electrolytic salts that tend to ...

Of the tests to do before planting in your garden, a drainage test is among the best (and easiest). Try this quick drainage test to see if your soil is ready.