Moving to Oregon from CA

[StreamGrove]

I am moving to the Portland OR area from SoCal and was wondering if anyone could give some tips regarding the difference of climate. It is so dry here in Los Angeles so I am assuming my Japanese Maples will do better in northern oregon, but just wanted to find out about summer weather, type of water etc. Thanks

 

[Enfield Snapper]

Winter tends to be fairly mild, but very wet. Summer is fairly hot and dry.

 

[ShadyStump]

I've only traveled through Oregon, but lived in coastal Washington a couple years. CA? Are you familiar with the climate around Trinity and Humboldt counties? (Spent some time their, too) It's about the same across the western slope of the Cascades. Rainy/misty nine months of the year; rain with spotty sunshine for two; one month of summer. Winter lows in the 30sF usually, hot summers can see sunny 80F highs. Very high coastal winds at times. Portland I understand is at the drier end of the spectrum.
You'll need to rework your soils for super duper drainage, water rarely, and get creative for anything that loves direct sun all year.

 

[Adair M]

Invest in raincoats and umbrellas.

 

[Enfield Snapper]

Invest in raincoats and umbrellas.

But not too much in umbrellas unless you want to stick out - people around here don't really use them.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

If you can keep Japanese maples alive in SoCal, you're going to be in nirvana in Portland.

Also, you will be able to keep many cold hardy species in Portland that you were not able to keep in SoCal. Mountain pines like bristlecone, sugar pine, etc. Many cedars and firs that you couldn't keep in SoCal.

The only thing you will struggle with are true tropicals like ficus, citrus, etc, or desert plants like mesquite, Texas ebony, etc.

You will probably be fine with any Mediterranean species you have like cork oaks, other live oaks, olives, etc.

 

[StreamGrove]

If you can keep Japanese maples alive in SoCal, you're going to be in nirvana in Portland.

Also, you will be able to keep many cold hardy species in Portland that you were not able to keep in SoCal. Mountain pines like bristlecone, sugar pine, etc. Many cedars and firs that you couldn't keep in SoCal.

The only thing you will struggle with are true tropicals like ficus, citrus, etc, or desert plants like mesquite, Texas ebony, etc.

You will probably be fine with any Mediterranean species you have like cork oaks, other live oaks, olives, etc.

Oregon hot dry summer sort of alarmed me but im guessing its nothing like dry hot socal santa anna. Thanks for the tips all

 

[Enfield Snapper]

Oregon hot dry summer sort of alarmed me but im guessing its nothing like dry hot socal santa anna. Thanks for the tips all

We do get some days over 100F, but only a few a year.

 

[Rivka]

Welcome to portland! we have what they call warm summer Mediterranean, which makes since as long as you get that summer here does not start till the week of 4th of July. “Juneuary” can be a sad bitch some years. On the other hand we have the nicest Septembers on the planet.
persistent rain well thru late spring can cause hassle with some plants, specially knockong off flowers and mildew forming. Having a portion of your growing space that has adjustable cover is really useful. once a year on average we get a storm that includes freezing rain, its the most destructive weather type thing we get, and it is ludicrous how much damage .1” of solid ice can do! It weighs SO MUCH! but this damage is easily avoided by draping plants before the storm with something flexible that the ice breaks off of, like plastic sheeting. We always have a heads up before those one sometimes twice a year weather events, so its easy to plan.

the other thing to keep in mind is that portland has micro weather zones, reminds me of SF, where some corners of area and the suburbs of the city get was more serious weather than the down town. and because of the hills, your sun exposure could vary greatly from one house to another.

if you are a dweeb about those last things, PortlandMaps.com.com has the best topo maps to look up by address though i used to find SunCalc.com super useful, they are having some upgrade issue i think.

 

[StreamGrove]

I've only traveled through Oregon, but lived in coastal Washington a couple years. CA? Are you familiar with the climate around Trinity and Humboldt counties? (Spent some time their, too) It's about the same across the western slope of the Cascades. Rainy/misty nine months of the year; rain with spotty sunshine for two; one month of summer. Winter lows in the 30sF usually, hot summers can see sunny 80F highs. Very high coastal winds at times. Portland I understand is at the drier end of the spectrum.
You'll need to rework your soils for super duper drainage, water rarely, and get creative for anything that loves direct sun all year.

Yea north ca is much wetter than south for sure. So for Oregon soils less clays and such that retain moisture?

 

[Rivka]

When portland gets over 90 its notable, when we get over 100 its a talked about event. It happens for a few days every other year, but its nothing like SantaAnna

 

[StreamGrove]

Welcome to portland! we have what they call warm summer Mediterranean, which makes since as long as you get that summer here does not start till the week of 4th of July. “Juneuary” can be a sad bitch some years. On the other hand we have the nicest Septembers on the planet.
persistent rain well thru late spring can cause hassle with some plants, specially knockong off flowers and mildew forming. Having a portion of your growing space that has adjustable cover is really useful. once a year on average we get a storm that includes freezing rain, its the most destructive weather type thing we get, and it is ludicrous how much damage .1” of solid ice can do! It weighs SO MUCH! but this damage is easily avoided by draping plants before the storm with something flexible that the ice breaks off of, like plastic sheeting. We always have a heads up before those one sometimes twice a year weather events, so its easy to plan.

the other thing to keep in mind is that portland has micro weather zones, reminds me of SF, where some corners of area and the suburbs of the city get was more serious weather than the down town. and because of the hills, your sun exposure could vary greatly from one house to another.

if you are a dweeb about those last things, PortlandMaps.com.com has the best topo maps to look up by address though i used to find SunCalc.com super useful, they are having some upgrade issue i think.

Right on thanks for that info. Do you feel you save a good chunk of money by not having to water much? Sounds like an ideal place to setup rain catchers.

 

[Rivka]

Right on thanks for that info. Do you feel you save a good chunk of money by not having to water much? Sounds like an ideal place to setup rain catchers.

Yes, rain barrels work very well here and folks often have extensive systems built here. Feel free to reach out if you need local help with things. We have a large bonsai community that I'm only just getting to know since im a fairly newbie to it myself, but I’m a PNW native and a plant lover so I have lot of other local stuff to share.

 

[Rivka]

Yea north ca is much wetter than south for sure. So for Oregon soils less clays and such that retain moisture?

Make sure that you understand that oregon might as well be two different planets split by the Cascade mountain range,
Western oregon (which is about 1/3 of the state) is wet and lush (though does range in a not insignificant way from north to south of the state)
East 2/3rds is predominantly high desert plateau ranchlands and everything from weather to soil to politics could not be more different.

 

[Potawatomi13]

Hope you're not another brainless socialist liberal who most not wanted nor welcome here. Already overloaded with them. Otherwise welcome to Oregons Omiya Village. Weather advice you already have.

 

[Adair M]

But not too much in umbrellas unless you want to stick out - people around here don't really use them.

Then customs have changed. I worked in Atlanta for Georgia-Pacific right after they moved their headquarters from Portland to Atlanta. Many Portlanders transferred to Atlanta. And, they ALWAYS had umbrellas! They would use them like walking canes, even on sunny days! Of course, back in those days, everyone wore suits to work.

It was interesting that slowly over the years, almost all of the Portlanders moved back to the Pacific Northwest. There was enough of them that moved to Atlanta when the transfer happened, they developed their own clique. Which shrank as someone moved back to Portland. They never really considered Atlanta “home”. It was like they felt it was a temporary. It was interesting to hear their stories about Mt. St. Helens, and how climbing Mt. Rainer was a rite of passage!

 

[Rivka]

potawatomi, That was a uncalled for pile of crap and you know it. Leave your politics out of bonsai and keep your crap to yourself. The post has been reported.

 

[StreamGrove]

I have japanese maples,bougainvillea,wisteria,black&white pine,juniper,jacaranda, and katsura. Do you have to get your plants cleared at the state border before bring them in?

 

[Adair M]

Then customs have changed. I worked in Atlanta for Georgia-Pacific right after they moved their headquarters from Portland to Atlanta. Many Portlanders transferred to Atlanta. And, they ALWAYS had umbrellas! They would use them like walking canes, even on sunny days! Of course, back in those days, everyone wore suits to work.

It was interesting that slowly over the years, almost all of the Portlanders moved back to the Pacific Northwest. There was enough of them that moved to Atlanta when the transfer happened, they developed their own clique. Which shrank as someone moved back to Portland. They never really considered Atlanta “home”. It was like they felt it was a temporary. It was interesting to hear their stories about Mt. St. Helens, and how climbing Mt. Rainer was a rite of passage!

Maybe it was Mt. Hood, not Rainer. Almost all of them had a picture of themselves taken on the summit, which they had in a picture frame in their office. There’s some kind of wooden structure up there that they would pose by. Proof of achievement.

 

[sorce]

If you can keep Japanese maples alive in SoCal, you're going to be in nirvana in Portland.

Fungal Nirvana!

Leave the Shotguns in Ca!

For a second I was like. ..."who moves TO California". Sorry I read that wrong I was cussing you out! Lol!

Not that the Ole O bag seems to be doing much better!

Guess you best bring that shotgun I reckon.

Sorce