A common bit of advice from Marin Master Gardeners is “mulch, mulch, mulch” to help retain soil moisture and suppress weeds. Mulch can be inorganic and noncombustible, like rocks used for paths and to surround structures. Within the garden, however, many homeowners prefer to cover bare ground using…
This post is somewhat a repeat of last year’s. However, while last year the rice price was low, this year we have both low rice prices and high fertilizer costs. Therefore, there is even more reason to carefully manage your fertilizer input costs. Below are some suggestions on how you can reduce your costs…
2026 3rd Report—Although April and May temperatures have generally been on the cool side of normal, the hot March means that thrips generations are still ahead of normal. Generation 2 adults are feeding and laying their eggs, with generation 3 peak egg hatch predicted in a few days. Generation Predicted…
Woodlake Berry Festival Info BoothJune 7, 8 am - Noon Woodlake Botanical Garden, 577 E Naranjo Blvd, Woodlake The Woodlake Botanical Garden's annual Berry Festival Event! Tulare-Kings Co. Master Gardeners will have an Information Booth. Bring your Garden problems or questions! Learn…
What Are Chill HoursChill hours are the cumulative number of hours of temperatures lower than 45°F that are required by deciduous fruit and nut trees for fruit production. The hours are tracked during the traditional dormant season, measured from November 1 to February 28/29. Available DataThe…
Join us for an informative presentation by Master Gardener Bonnie Wagner, who brings decades of experience in managing vertebrate pests. Learn about the differences between gophers and moles in their appearance, behavior, and tunnels. Bonnie will cover effective controls, including exclusion methods and…
Preparing the BedAs early as possible in the spring, prepare a bed in our native clay soil when the soil moisture content allows a handful of soil to crumble easily. You may need to wait for the soil to dry out, or you may need to water if it’s too dry.Double dig the entire bed to a depth of 18 – 24…
IntroductionWhen facing serious drought, we can be water-wise and successful growing a food garden. Here are things to consider when planning a food garden during a drought and some suggestions for optimizing water usage.The first step in deciding to have a food garden is to determine if extra water beyond…
Succulents can be an attractive and interesting addition to your garden with minimal care. You will learn about cultural requirements, such as soil, water, fertilizer, sun exposure, and pest and disease control, as well as learn about different varieties of succulents. You will also learn how to propagate…
IntroductionAs drought conditions become increasingly likely over time, it’s essential that we all learn to use water more efficiently. Using grey water or recycled water can help to conserve our finite water resources.About Grey WaterGrey water is untreated, non-disinfected household wastewater that does…
