This means taking proactive steps to prevent pests from becoming a problem in the first place. **Key points:**

* **Timely advice on garden chores:** OSU Extension provides guidance on various garden tasks, including weeding, pruning, and watering. * **Fertilizing:** They offer advice on choosing the right fertilizer for your specific needs and soil type. * **Pest control:** OSU Extension provides information on identifying and managing common garden pests. * **Sustainable gardening practices:** The service emphasizes the importance of sustainable gardening, encouraging preventive pest management. * **Contact your local Extension office:** For specific advice tailored to your region, it’s recommended to contact your local Extension office.

This summary provides a concise overview of various gardening and lawn care practices. Let’s break down each point for a deeper understanding. **1. Harvesting Potatoes:**

* **Timing:** Harvest potatoes when the tops die back naturally, usually in late summer or early fall. * **Why it’s important:** This signal indicates the tubers are fully mature. For optimal storage, wait until the foliage turns yellow and brown.

This summary provides guidance on planting cover crops in Oregon and Arizona. It emphasizes the importance of timing the planting to ensure successful establishment before the onset of cold weather. **Detailed Text:**

Cover crops, also known as winter crops, play a crucial role in sustainable agriculture by improving soil health, reducing erosion, and enhancing water retention.

This is a summary of a gardening guide. It provides advice on pest and disease management for various fruit trees and shrubs. * **Peach and cherry trees:** Copper spray should be applied to these trees to prevent fungal diseases. * **Juniper trees:** Juniper twig blight can be treated with copper spray after pruning away infected twigs. * **Late-season soft fruits and berries:** Monitoring for Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD) is crucial during this period.