- Author: Amy Breschini
A pleasant outdoor SLO setting, friendly intelligent people, interesting gardening topics, all free of charge…it doesn’t get much better than that! That is why increasing numbers of County residents are regularly attending the monthly Advice to Grow By workshops. These free workshops, presented by the Master Gardeners, are held on the third Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to noon at the Garden of the Seven Sisters, our new demonstration garden, at 2156 Sierra Way. The next workshop will be on September 18th, when a team of experts will be discussing and demonstrating the fascinating techniques of plant propagation.
Propagation is the process by which we can produce a large number of plants from a few parents. Not only is propagation fun and interesting, it provides us with new plants free of charge!
Propagation can be sexual or asexual. Sexual propagation relies on the union of male and female flower parts to produce a seed which can then be planted. Asexual propagation uses vegetative plant parts, i.e., roots, stems leaves, to produce new plants. This can be done through cuttings, by separation, division, layering, grafting, and budding. All these techniques will be discussed at the workshop.
At this time of year many plants can benefit from being divided, and proper techniques can insure the largest number of viable new plants. Also, nothing says friendship like sharing part of your garden. Plants you have propagated and cleverly potted can provide perfect holiday gifts.
Have you been envying a neighbor’s bearded iris, or lusting after an exotic succulent in a friend’s garden? If so, you will not want to miss this program. Bring a chair and sun protection, and join us! And, why not bring your friends along? They will learn how to increase the numbers of their favorite plants- and maybe share them with you as well!
Got a Gardening Question?
Contact the University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners: at 781-5939 from 1 to 5 p.m. on Monday and Thursday; at 473-7190 from 10 a.m. to noon in Arroyo Grande; and at 434-4105 from 9 a.m. to noon on Wednesday in Templeton. Visit the UCCE Master Gardeners Web site at groups.ucanr.org/slomg/ or e-mail mgsanluisobispo@ucdavis.edu