- Author: Janet Hartin
The University of California Cooperative Extension San Bernardino County Master Gardener program is now accepting applications for the October 1, 2019 - February 18, 2020 Master Gardener class on Tuesday evenings in Redlands. (There are no classes on Dec. 25 and Dec. 31.)
The class provides 50 hours of training on sustainable landscaping and growing food in home, backyard, and community gardens and is taught by University of California experts and knowledgeable practitioners. Master Gardeners come from all walks of life and no college degree is required. What successful applicants have in common is a passion for sharing knowledge gained from the training class with residents of San Bernardino County. Accepted applicants agree to volunteer a minimum of 50 hours by June 30, 2021 via one or more outreach methods: answering email and phone helpline questions; making presentations at workshops and community events; staffing information booths at Farmers Markets and other non-profit events; writing blogs and promoting the program via social media; working with communities and schools to develop gardens; and working with Healthy Communities throughout San Bernardino County to encourage outdoor exercise and activities. Accepted applicants must pass two open-book exams, present a group class project, and pass a background check (approximately $30). The class fee (includes training materials) is $175. Visit our UCCE Master Gardener website for more information and to complete an online application: UCCE San Bernardino County Master Gardener Website. Applications must be received through the online system by or on August 31, 2019 to be considered.
There is a hybrid partially online option for residents of the high desert and mountains. Simply select this option on the application if this pertains to you. All costs and requirements remain the same as for in-class students.
Questions? Contact UCCE Master Gardener Coordinator Maggie O'Neill at magoneill@ucanr.edu
We hope to hear from you!
MG SB Application 2020 Redlands
- Author: Janet Hartin
UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Master Gardeners of San Bernardino County are partnering with UCCE Area Environmental Horticulture Advisor Janet Hartin, the Chino Basin Water Conservation District (CBWCD), the United States Forest Service, and Mountain States Wholesale Nursery on two 'climate-ready landscape trees' studies. The goal of the projects is to identify tree species that will remain healthy under drought and higher temperatures in the greater Los Angeles basin. Twelve tree species that are native or non-native but adaptable to California conditions were selected for the study at UC Riverside (top photo) due to their expected potential to mitigate impacts of climate change. In addition, the potential ability of a four-inch layer of organic mulch to reduce soil evaporation and weed growth is being assessed on four of the twelve species in a second study at CBWCD in Montclair (bottom photo). Species included are Parkinsonia x Desert Museum (Desert Museum Palo Verde), Prosopis glandulosa 'Maverick' (Maverick Mesquite), Chilopsis lineris 'Bubba' (Desert Willow) and Pistacia 'Red Push' (Red Push Pistache). Trees were planted in late 2016 and received adequate irrigation for one year to assure adequate early growth. Irrigation was tapered off in 2017 and trees now receive no supplemental irrigation. The first round of results will be reported in December, 2019. Nine UCCE Master Gardeners are assisting in the CBWCD research project (bottom photo).
Follow this link to a recent story in the Orange County Register by Janet Hartin on the importance of planting shade trees today for tomorrow's future.Shade Trees Cool Urban Heat Islands.
'Think Green' for our children's children!
- Author: Janet Hartin
Get expert free advice on home gardening and landscaping from a trained University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardener in San Bernardino County.
Use one of the three methods described below to green up your thumb!
Email the Master Gardener Helpline: mgsanbern@ucanr.edu
Phone the Master Gardener Helpline: (909)387-2182
Get a plant problem diagnosed or chat with a Master Gardener in person the second Sunday of each month from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Loma Linda Branch Library located at 25581 Barton Road, Loma Linda. Stop by the upstairs conference room for valuable gardening and landscaping advice and to make a new friend! No appointment needed. Find out what's eating your tomatoes, causing those brown spots on your peach trees, how to attract pollinators and garden more sustainably saving water, money and time!
Who are UCCE Master Gardeners? UCCE Master Gardeners are trained volunteers who provide unbiased information to the public. Areas of expertise include drought-resistant sustainable landscapes and food production in home, community and school gardens.
Want to attend a free class or become a Master Gardener? Visit our UCCE website at cesanbernardino.ucanr.edu to link to the MG program webpagee and view the list of free gardening workshops throughout the county or to apply for the October 1, 2019 - February 18, 2020 Master Gardener class. (Application posted on or before July 1, 2019.) The Master Gardener class runs every Tuesday evening from 6-9 p.m. in Redlands. The cost is $15 and includes training materials. All applicants are required to provide at least 50 volunteer hours back into the community educating the public on sustainable landscaping and growing food in home, backyard, and community gardens once trained.
Happy Gardening!
- Author: Janet Hartin
Topping a tree is the process of giving a tree a virtual crewcut by making one or more horizontal cuts across the top of the tree (see photos below) to shorten it. Why is topping trees harmful? Topping trees results in unstable, unsafe, and unattractive trees. It also reduces the ability for trees to reduce high temperatures and provide adequate shade in urban heat islands, sequester (store) carbon produced by fossil fuels, and provide wildlife habitat.
In some cases, trees are topped because a tall tree that should not have been selected in the first place is growing into utility lines. In other cases, topping occurs due to a lack of knowledge about the dangers of topping and/or simply wanting to save money by going with the lowest bid. In all cases, topping should be avoided. The combination of improper balance and weak, poor-quality growth following topping creates a much higher likelihood of personal injury and property damage than occurs from properly pruned trees. (Top photo below: topped tree; Bottom photo below: untopped tree.)
Trees should be properly thinned and pruned rather than topped. Proper pruning involves maintaining the natural integrity and balance of the tree. Often this entails selecting a central leader and removing competing leaders, removing crossed branches, water sprouts, suckers and deadwood. In all cases proper pruning maintains the correct balance of weight and foliage in the upper, middle, and lower portion of the tree. (For more detailed information on proper pruning visit the International Society of Arboriculture's (ISA) consumer website: www.treesaregood.org). It may be useful to contact a Certified Arborist who is trained in tree health and care if you are in doubt about caring for your landscape trees. S/he will determine the proper pruning and thinning procedures and otherwise assess the overall health of your tree. Consult the ISA website for a Certified Arborist near you: https://www.isa-arbor.com/Credentials.
There are also several reliable and useful search engines to help you select the right tree for the right location. These user-friendly sites allow you to include several criteria in your search such as tree type (deciduous or evergreen), flower color, ultimate size, drought tolerance, pest resistance, and ability to attract pollinators among others. Grab a cub of java or tea and enjoy perusing such informative sites as: Urban Forest Ecosystems Institutes (https://selectree.calpoly.edu/); California Native Plant Society (https://calflora.org/); and UC's California Center for Urban Horticulture Water Use Classification of Landscape Species (WUCOLS) (https://ccuh.ucdavis.edu/wucols-iv).
Do you have a home garden or landscape question? Contact a trained UC Master Gardener volunteer serving your county using this link: http://mg.ucanr.edu/FindUs/. San Bernardino MGs may be reached at mgsanbern@ucanr.edu or (909)387-2182.
- Author: Janet Hartin
Way to Go Maggie!
UCCE Master Gardener Coordinator for San Bernardino County Maggie O'Neil received a much deserved Certificate of Recognition from San Bernardino County Supervisor Dawn Rowe at the April 16, 2019 Farm Bureau meeting. Supervisor Rowe's Chief of Staff Gayle Covey (left) is pictured below with Maggie.
