The Savvy Sage

Article by Diana Herrera - International Permaculture Day, which is celebrated on the first Sunday in May, is a day to practice and observe permaculture in action. So what is permaculture and how can we get involved? Permaculture is a design method, a set of techniques, a philosophy, and a social…

 Article by Caroline Gengo, UC Master Gardener, Yolo County - Heat waves and extra warm days send us inside with the air conditioner or outside in the nearest pool or river. How do our plants deal with these conditions? Plants are typically stuck where they are (unless they are in a pot that you…

Question: What phone-based apps are available to help identify native plants, domesticated and cultivated plants, plant diseases and abiotic disorders of plants? And, are there apps to help identify insects I may find in my garden? Answer: A number of high-quality mobile apps now use AI, image…

Question: Help! My garden is full of weeds. What do I do? Answer: There’s that saying in the horticultural world: A weed is simply a plant growing where you don’t want it to grow. In other words, one gardener’s weed is another gardener’s plant. And while each of us has definite ideas about which are which…

 Article by Peg Smith -  April is a transition month between cool-season and warm-season crops. As soon as the soil is warm enough, transplant tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, etc. Transplants will have enough time to produce healthy vegetative and root growth before the summer heat and fruit…