The Coastal Gardener

Aphids are the most frequent pests of orchards. You may notice the apple tree leaves are curled up, and when you open the leaves, you'll see a mass of small gray insects. The gray aphids are common everywhere. Their bodies are covered with small gray scales with ash bloom.

Our main problem here on the coast in USDA Cold Hardiness zone 9, is not heat, but lack of it and also lack of what is known as chill factor, the time below 45F and above 32F.

At Humboldt Botanical Garden we find ourselves weeding and trying to prevent weeds. One way to prevent weeds is to plant ground covers. Ground covers can be shrubs, bushes and herbaceous plants.

California is in a drought...again. California water precipitation is measured from October to the end of September each year. Since 1966, the average rainfall has been 51.8 inches. In the last few decades, with the exception of 1982-1983, 2016-2017, and 2018-2019 rainfall has been below average.

I can't begin to count the mistakes I have made throughout my years of gardening.