Kari
The first person I would look up is the Home Horticulture agent at the OSU Extension service on 9th street. Her name is Barb Fick and she is a gem - wish we had her in my county.

This area won't be as sunny as your previous travels - a bit more challenging to grow some plants - water bill will be less.

Nice to have you coming to the Willamette Valley - Dave Steele

Just FYI, I don't think double digging is still the method of choice anymore. Best to check on that before starting in on quite a chore.
It has something to do with not mixing up the organisms in the different layers.

Are you familiar with Territorial Seed Co. and Forestfarm? --both are good references down that way.

Don't spend any money until you check out what your conditions are, what plants you already have, what the soil is like, sun, shade, wet, dry ,etc.
Then, purchasing compost for mulching may end up being your best investment.

Welcome to Oregon and the PNW.

First: visit Rainyside. Completely localized and in the forums you might even find a neighbor.

Second: pickup Sunset's Western Garden book. More regional stuff.

The advice to visit the local Extension Service is golden, as OSU is the Aggie school in Oregon (if you don't already know that) and you're going to be in a great place.

And be careful where you swing your rake, there are so many nurseries here you'll probably hit one. Dancing Oaks Nursery outside of Monmouth is just one of the more interesting sources of plant addiction (their web site appears to be down, try Googling for it).

And be patient, take your time, do as I say, not as I do.

Tom

Here is a link that might be useful: Rainyside

Yes, I "second" that

www.rainyside.com

forum as a good resource.

Nothing wrong with this place, but Rainy Side is owned and coordinated by a person that is, basically, an expert gardener.

As for double digging, go to my site

www.mdvaden.com

and see what I wrote about it. It's in advice page 2 - see that button after your first click of advice in the menu. The benefits not only outweigh any consequence, but the practice is the only way of effectively accomplishing the desired result substantially.

I take your post to mean that you will venture into business of a sort.

Before you plan anything, call the landscape contractors board of Oregon and ask to speak to Michael or Kim. They will let you know what can and can't be done without - or with - a landscape contractors license.

If you do that, you won't waste a nickle on equipment, advertising or business cards that you can't use. I'm adding their link below.

My contact is on my own site, and I've worked in near every aspect of landscaping. I provide arborist work, landscape contracting, and do master design plans - we even provide clean-up and muddy work. I may have some ideas about tools or methods which you may be able to implement.

I just finished my second term on the landscape license board, so I have a reasonable over-view of the entire green industry.

There is a fine dividing line between gardening / maintenance service and landscape contracting.

Either is attainable, and both are enjoyable types of work. Bsically the same, just distinguished by size, scope and height.

Here is a link that might be useful: Oregon Landscape Contractors Board

Well, As I move out at the end of March but don't fly up until mid April, I know I won't be buying anything until I get up there. So this post is the start of probably 3-4 weeks before I actually buy anything (Well, I am tempted to place a hold on some roses through The Uncommon Rose there in Corvallis that I have my eyes on that are going fast). Rest assured, I am trying to take precautions for buying zone and climate appropriate plants and gear.

That website seems like a great resource. Thanks for the tip.

mdvaden - No, no business. Just a stay-at-home mom of youngins that wants to combine my interest with their need to be outside.

Kari

Then the master gardeners should be a good bunch to get in with.

Every time I check out rainyside.com I immediately find wide of the mark botanical name spelling errors and erroneous factual statements.

Invest in excellent quality pruning shears and other tools -- for the most part (there are exceptions, like perhaps a rake) you'll want really good tools. Cheap tools break/wear out fast. I do have a cheap pair of pruners that I use for cutting up brush, etc., but my good pruners -- the ones I use on living plants -- I've had for almost 30 years (egad!!!!). More than worth the initial investment. After going through a number of inexpensive trowels, I finally got a good one and have had it several years. Same with shovels, etc.

Browse the bookstores and pick up gardening books that seem like they'll be helpful. The Sunset book is a good starting point but there will be lots of others. I use the internet a lot to find out information on individual plants.

Try not to impulse buy, especially plants. I know that's obvious, but it's sooo hard to resist! It really helps to know about what you buy (what the plant's needs are) and what your conditions are before you plant. Otherwise you may end up losing/not liking plants and wasting that $$.

I moved to the NW from the midwest 2 years ago and although I'm a life-long gardener and a horticulturist by education, I decided the master gardener course was a great way to learn about regional differences. I highly recommend it -- our classs had the whole range, from beginning to professional gardeners -- great way to learn a lot, meet fellow gardeners, and get involved in the community.

Your idea is a wonderful way to carry on your grandmother's legacy. I always like the idea of planting a particular plant in someone's memory, so that's another thought... a tree or shrub that you know she would have enjoyed. Whatever you do, whenever you're out there digging in the dirt, she'll be smiling!

When I moved from Phoenix to Portland I also decided the Master Gardener training through the University Extension was a great idea to learn to garden here. I was right. I highly recommend it. But, you do have to "give back" by volunteering and with kids you may not have time.

I second the recommendation of the Sunset Western Garden Guide. There is also a new book recommended in yesterday's paper that might be of interest. A month to month of what to do in the garden in the PNW. Link below.

The first thing you should do at your new home is learn what you already have. It will be several months before all bulbs and perennials are up and identifiable. You may have some wonderful plants already. I would not buy anything yet. If you must buy some from the Uncommon Rose, pot them up instead of planting them right away. You should learn how your yard drains, sun patterns etc. before really doing a lot of planting.

If you don't have much in the way of flowerbeds and will have to start some you should spend money on compost to enrich your soil and break up clay. Always start with the soil.

You should also put in fences, sidewalks, paths and other hard scapes if necessary.

I agree that good quality tools are essential. I love my Felco pruners. Well worth the money. I use #6 because I have small hands. You are also going to need some kind of garden clogs or boots. I use Anywears garden clogs and "duck" boots, which aren't made for gardening but work well. Some gloves are essential too. I love Ultimate Garden Gloves which are heavy rubber but easy to use your fingers.

Here is a link that might be useful: Month to Month Gardening in Oregon and Washington

ah! this breaks my heart! i moved from corvallis to tucson last september and i am remembering and missing all the great gardening in the area!

1. nurseries: try ginhart's (8 miles down peoria road, a mile or less outside of peoria proper) off of hwy 34. they are a mom 'n pop place with exceptionally reasonable plants. Garland's on hwy 20 is fantastic and a great place to visit and sip some free hot tea/coffee while drooling over their selection. a bit more expensive but they are well stocked for gardening supplies.

2. don't forget the national clonal germplasm repository! this one specializes in fruit trees. the greenhouse manager's name is jim and you can set up to visit their greenhouses with him. he's exceptionally knowledgable in native plants, and he's been in the process of developing the most fabulous woodland garden in the neighborhood! he is also a fantastic orchid grower and will fill you in on any club events if you have those inclinations, too.

3. robnett's hardware on sw 2nd street is also very well stocked with quality gardening supplies. you can visit them after you stroll the saturday market, where there are a lot of local plant sellers vending heirloom roses, PNW natives and other woodland plants. even some succulents, too.

4. walk through the OSU campus. they have an online guide to their plants. i got a lot of ideas on what to plant outside from them. i especially like the small patch to the side of Cordley hall. they have lewisias, an established passionflower and other woodlands. rhodies and azaleas should be blooming and there are a few daphne plants around campus that should be just finishing up but still smelling wonderful.

5. if you want to amend your soil, you can drive your pickup out to the OSU dairy farm and they will give you a load of aged manure for free and load it up for you, too. there are a ton of mint farms in the area and many of them will either sell very cheaply or just plain give you a load of mint hay compost for your garden. there are bark and mulch places in almost any direction you radiate out from corvallis. i would recommend amending with a load of one of their mixes if you plan to put in vegetable/flower beds. this time of year there should be coupons out in the democrat herald for soils.

6. invest in mud and rain gear. good, waterproof shoes are invaluable. good gloves! consider lightweight summer gloves and heavy duty (kidskin or other) for winter and for digging.

7. i also hit up rite-aid and bi-mart. rite aid, especially, has huge plant displays seasonally. this time of year their gardening supplies are starting to come in and you never know what to find. plus, they're right accross the street from one another.

i don't know if that really helps. just some gardening habits i have from corvallis that i thought i'd share. i guess a good thing to do would be to survey what you have to work with, decide what sorts of plants/what look you like in general and explore around that. or, you could be like me and just buy what you like and find a spot for it somewhere! living in the PNW is one of the most rewarding gardening experiences possible. the variety of plants you can grow and the ease at which you can grow them will be really rewarding.

-ming

Ming,
LOL I moved from Phoenix to Portland twenty years ago and still miss the Valley of the Sun and all the wonderful tropical plants and sunny weather and you moved to Tucson and miss Oregon. Tucson is even nicer than Phoenix.
Jealous. Jealous. Jealous.

1)WATCH YOUR LAND FOR SUN & SHADE & DRAINAGE PATTERNS --- 1ST YEAR GO SLOW -- START WITH BASICS SO YOU CAN SEE HOW OLD FAVORITES NEED ADJUSTING -- KEEP LOTS OF NOTES!!
2)LAST FROST ~ MID APRIL -- 1ST FROST ~ MID OCTOBER, BUT INDIAN SUMMERS ARE GREAT TILL MID NOV;FALL CROPS ARE WONDERFUL -- PEAS, BROCCOLI, LETTUCES, BEETS, CARROTS, ASIAN VEGGIES,ETC & SOME PEOPLE HARVEST 9-10+ MONTHS A YEAR UNDER PLASTIC LOW COVERS...
EG TOMATOES CAN BE SET OUT ~ MID JUN THRU MID JULY & HARVESTED TILL HALLOWEEN OR SO, UNDER PLASTIC TENTS TO FINISH RIPENING ON VINE -- START PINCHING OUT BLOSSOMS & TOO SMALL FRUITS ABT LABOR DAY TO HASTEN THE RIPENING OF THE BIGGER FRUITS...
FOR VARIETIES, CONSULT TERRITORIAL & NICHOLS GARDEN CATOLOGS -- BUT BASICALLY YOU WANT SHORTER SEASON OR EARLY TYPES, OR ENGLISH GARDENS -- THE PAC NW CLIMATE IS A MARITIME, LIKE A COOLER MEDITERRANEAN, NOT A CONTINENTAL OR DESERT CLIMATE... GETTING ENOUGH SUN, HEAT & ROOT DRAINAGE ARE THE KEYS... GOOD LUCK & GOOD GROWING TO YOU,K