Haley Mast is a freelance writer, fact-checker, and small organic farmer in the Columbia River Gorge. She enjoys gardening, reporting on environmental topics, and spending her time outside ...

Maximize your harvest by choosing the right conditions.

Q: I am planning a permaculture garden on my half-acre lot. I know it’s best to plant fruit trees first. Which fruit trees fare best in this region? I would love apple, peach, plum, cherry and ...

As we approach Arbor Day on April 26, many may be considering adding a tree, or maybe several trees, to their landscape. Important pre-steps to planting are evaluating the purpose of the tree(s) and ...

Barber advises protecting young trees with cages—and then keeping them protected for years. His preferred method is a cylinder of heavy-gauge galvanized welded-wire fencing, five to six feet high, ...

“I want one that grows fast.” Often, that’s the first criterion for homeowners shopping for a tree. But there’s a catch. “A fast-growing tree may require more maintenance and may not live as long,” ...