The Real Dirt

Flowers blooming

The Real Dirt blog covers regional gardening issues from soil health to planting for pollinators; from fire resistant landscaping to attracting wildlife. Read all about it!

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Cornus florida closeup of pink flower by Famartin

Local Trees: The Enchanting Dogwood

June 14, 2019
Local Trees: The Enchanting Dogwood Ideally, you'd be reading this in very early spring, when the dogwood bloom is beginning to work its elegant magic in the older neighborhoods fanning out from Lower Bidwell Park and downtown Chico.
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Protective goggles used to protect eyes during mixing and applying pesticides, ANR

Using Pesticides in the Garden

May 31, 2019
By Brent McGhie, UC Master Gardener of Butte County, May 31, 2019 The University of California recommends the use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to control garden pests. The goal of IPM is to use the least harmful control method(s) that will be effective in managing a particular pest.
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ACP adult and nymphs with white tubules by ANR

Be on the Lookout for the Asian Citrus Psyllid

May 3, 2019
By Jeanette Alosi, UC Master Gardener of Butte County, May 3, 2019 Butte County is known for its delicious citrus. Mandarins are grown commercially in our banana belt foothills, and residents in the valley can enjoy citrus grown in their own gardens.
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Moonshine yarrow with deer grass in background by Laura Kling

Just Don’t Call It Senior Gardening!

April 19, 2019
By Laura Lukes, UC Master Gardener of Butte County, April 19, 2019 Gardening becomes increasingly difficult as we age, yet the garden beckons as strongly as ever, notes Butte County Master Gardener Kay Perkins.
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