Check out these natural gardening programs offered all around the region by Metro and its partners. Please note that some partner programs have an associated fee.
Natural gardening
Sustainable living › Natural gardening
Grow a garden that's beautiful, abundant, and safe for children, pets, forests and streams. Metro and Oregon State University Extension Service provide free expert advice, workshops at learning gardens, videos, guides and more.
Discover in this section
Attend natural gardening workshops
Get the latest tips and tricks from local gardening experts in workshops at learning gardens and retail centers regionwide.More
Natural gardening videos and how-to resources
Get tips from Metro's natural gardening expert, download gardening guides and publications, watch videos and discover more great resources for learning to garden without harmful chemicals...More
Is your garden chemical toxic?
Metro’s Grow smart, grow safe guide is now a searchable interactive directory, too. Discover the least hazardous products and practices for a healthy, productive garden and a safer yard. More
Shopping guides for gardeners
Download a $5 coupon, compliments of participating retailers, Metro and OSU Extension Service...More
Natural gardening group presentations
Schedule a free natural gardening presentation with a local garden expert for your club or community group...More
Visit Metro's learning gardens
Find inspiration, see natural techniques at work and get hands-on help at Metro's demonstration gardens. Invite Metro's mobile native plant garden to your community event...More
Guide to effective composting
Discover how to save money and reduce waste by composting food scraps and yard waste. Learn different methods, and read about easy solutions to composting problems.Go
need assistance?
Natural gardening advice from OSU Master Gardeners™
Clackamas County, 503-655-8631
Multnomah County, 503-445-4608
Washington County, 503-821-1150
Program information and pesticide disposal from Metro
Metro Recycling Information
503-234-3000
Send a message
Related Links
Managing moss safely
Choose less-toxic ways to handle the moss in your yard or on your roof or patio.
Rain gardens
Some gardens are planted for a specific purpose, like growing good things to eat or flowers to pick. A rain garden's purpose is to catch rain water with its plants and soil.
Related Internet links
-
Oregon Environmental Council: Love Your River challenge
(http://www.oeconline.org/our-work/rivers/love-your-river)
save $5
Natural gardening coupon
Get $5 off compost, native plants or hand-weeding tools at more than 30 retailers around the region. Download your coupon
pledge online
Healthy lawn and garden pledge earns you garden gloves or a yard sign
Protect your family from pesticides. Pledge to choose the least-toxic methods to manage garden pests and receive a gift that helps you keep up the good work and spread the word. Go
Featured instructor
Meet Weston Miller
This Oregon State University horticulture expert has a wide range of gardening experience to share. Read more
Metro pick
Spring GreenScene
Check out GreenScene – your guide to great places and green living. Discover nature activities, volunteer opportunities and sustainable living tools and workshops. Go
New tool
Grow Smart, Grow Safe
Metro’s guide to hundreds of pesticides, fertilizers and soil amendments has gone interactive. Check the new searchable directory to find lawn and garden products least hazardous to people, pets and the planet.
Natural gardening videos
Native plant gardening
See Metro's mobile native plant garden and learn why native plants are easy and inexpensive to grow with Metro's natural gardening expert Carl Grimm on KATU TV's AM Northwest. This and other videos show you how easy it is to grow green. Browse videos