HOrT COCO-UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa

  If you have a tree showing signs of distress and are concerned about its overall health or safety, whether it be the cornerstone of your landscape or simply an old friend, you will want to know what is happening and how to fix it. This article will explain some options on where to turn.UC Master…

Note: this is a rerun of an article originally printed in the Contra Costa Times.Q. I found some small green caterpillars crawling on my broccoli. They are chewing holes in the leaves. Where did they come from, and how can I get rid of them?A. The green caterpillars likely are the larvae of the imported…

  As I write this, the first signs of fall are all around us — a hint of leaves turning color, cooler temperatures, and rain on the horizon. In California this means we are approaching the season for native plants to begin their annual cycle. Because they live their complete lifecycle in one year,…

  Did you know that all pumpkins are winter squash, but not all winter squash are pumpkins? It is a bit confusing, but as far as growing, harvesting, and storing goes, they are treated the same. They are genetically very similar, and belong to the same genus, Cucurbita. They come in a dizzying…

Since we’re approaching fall and the best time to plant many landscape trees, it’s time to talk about staking those trees. Many newly planted trees do not need to be staked. Trees that might benefit include those planted in windy areas or on slopes, trees planted in sandy soil, and top-heavy trees with no…