Ongoing research

Pink/coral rose on a dark, leafy background
UC Master Gardeners of Monterey & Santa Cruz Counties: Event

Rose Pruning Basics

Feb 21, 2026

Learn how to prune roses with confidence 🌹 in this hands-on class led by Monterey Bay Master Gardener, Suzanne Cook.Bring your gloves and clippers for a hands-on rose pruning demonstration at San Juan Bautista Historical Park Rose Gardens! After a brief demonstration and orientation, you’ll join Suzanne in…
UC Master Gardeners of Monterey & Santa Cruz Counties
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deciduous tree orchard with grassy cover crop
UC Master Gardeners of Monterey & Santa Cruz Counties: Event

Fruit Tree Pruning in the Winter

Feb 7, 2026

Learn how to prune fruit trees so they stay healthy, productive, and easy to harvest.In this hands-on winter workshop, Monterey Bay Master Gardener Diane Mahan will walk you through what to cut, what to keep, and how pruning supports sustainable, climate‑smart home orchards. 🍎After a brief demonstration and…
UC Master Gardeners of Monterey & Santa Cruz Counties
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UC Master Gardeners of Placer County: Article

What Is Sustainable Landscaping?

December 27, 2025
By Elaine Kelly Applebaum, Master Gardeners of Placer County The concept of sustainability, once vague and maybe even a little revolutionary, now seems to have permeated our mainstream culture. It speaks to a way of living that meets the needs and goals of people today while ensuring future generations…
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Pink Roses_Courtesy Lisa Phillips
UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County: Article

Easy Guide to Hard Pruning Roses this Winter

December 27, 2025
By Lisa Phillips
 Roses bring a stunning beauty to the spring garden, and who can’t resist sniffing those first few blooms? The key to abundant blooms this spring is hard pruning your roses during winter.  In Contra Costa County, the best time to hard prune roses is January to February, after the last frost.Why do…
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Espalier_UCANR_1440by620
UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County: Article

Putting the "YAY" in Espalier

December 27, 2025
By Jillian Armstrong
Whether you are a newly budding gardener or a vine-ripened horticulturalist, espalier (pronounced “es-PAL-yer” or “es-pal-YAY”) is an artistic and skill-building method of growing plants that can be incorporated into your home garden. The word "espalier" refers to the technique of training and pruning a…
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Bombus melanopygus on a pansy. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Bug Squad: Article

Bohart Museum Contest: Let's Bumble!

December 26, 2025
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
 Don't tumble, fumble or crumble when you see a "bumble."Hold your camera steady. Starting Jan. 1, if you photograph or video a bumble bee in the two-county area of Solano and Yolo, and if you're judged the winner, you will win the sixth annual Robbin Thorp Memorial First-Bumble Bee-of-the-Year…
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Stanislaus County: Article

The Scoop on Fruits and Nuts - January 2026, Vol. 31 Issue 1

December 26, 2025
By Jhalendra P Rijal, Abdelmoneim Z Mohamed, Roger A Duncan
In this issue:Almond Day 2026 and IPM Breakfast MeetingsResilient Ag Practices for Competitive Nut and Fruit Production in CaliforniaOrchard Sanitation in Winter: A Simple Practice That Helps Fight Two Key Pests of NutsOak Root Fungus: Rootstock Considerations in 2025-2026
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Kumquats in a tree
Fresno Gardening Green: Article

Candied kumquats are a delicious winter treat

December 26, 2025
 Do you love kumquats but don’t know what to do with them? How about candying your kumquats? Candied kumquats are a delicious and beautiful treat! Kumquats have a sweet skin and a tart center. In fact, the skin is the sweetest part of the fruit. Unlike other citrus fruit, kumquats have very little…
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