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The Backyard Gardener

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A Gardening Blog for the East Side

The climate of the Eastern Sierra is very different from most of California and so gardening here is different, too! 

Preparing the contents of the pile.

In this blog we examine some of the quirks of gardening on the East Side, and cover horticultural issues that are important locally. Note that if you're visiting our site from the outside our little corner of California, you may find this information may not apply to your area.

Articles are written by local UC Master Gardener volunteers or the local Farm Advisor. 

We also have a website!

The Inyo-Mono Master Gardeners also have a website with local gardening and soil information. Visit it to learn more about our program and gardening. 

We are part of UC Cooperative Extension in Inyo and Mono counties.

 

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Cutworms Attack!

May 5, 2026
By Dustin W Blakey
By Alison Collin, Inyo-Mono Master Gardener Volunteer I have been gardening in the same plot for 15 years, and this is by far the worst year for cutworm damage. Usually, I have a few plants that have been eaten or “cut,” but this year the majority of my transplants have been chewed. Early SignsI…
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April Gardening Tasks

April 13, 2026
By Dustin W Blakey
By Alison Collin, Inyo-Mono Master Gardener VolunteerApril is a good time to look around the garden and tackle issues before they become bigger problems later in the growing season. Some tasks can be dealt with quickly—snipping off rhubarb flower stems or pulling a grass plant before it seeds—while others…
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A Super El Niño?

April 8, 2026
By Dustin W Blakey
You may have heard some buzz lately about a possible "Super El Niño" on the way. It's been getting attention in the news. If you're a gardener in the Eastern Sierra, super probably got your attention, given our past mild winter and warm Fall.  El Niño conditions often mean more precipitation, which is…
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Bulbs, Rhizomes, Corms, and Tubers Explained

January 27, 2026
By Dustin W Blakey
By Alison Collin, Inyo-Mono Master Gardener Volunteer Perennial plants often experience dormant periods during their life cycles. They generally have stems that support buds, which will develop into stems and leaves, and roots that grow and multiply when conditions are favorable. However, some plants…
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