Ongoing research

Ben Faber, Farm Advisor Ventura County and Ed Perry, Farm Advisor Stanislaus CountyFrom The Curious Gardener, Spring 2007Recent freezing temperatures in many parts of California have injured some citrus trees and other frost-sensitive subtropical plants. But since the full extent of injury won’t be known for…

Johanne Ryker, UC Master Gardeners of Placer CountyFrom The Curious Gardener, Fall 2011Spring is long gone and done, summer is winding down, and plants like tomatoes and zucchini have kept many of us busy in the garden, so now it’s time to think about fall and planning the fall garden.Many home…

Gay Wilhelm, UC Master Gardeners of Placer CountyFrom The Curious Gardener, Fall 2008Overgrown perennials tend to have fewer blooms. In general, it is best to divide spring and summer blooming perennials in the fall and fall bloomers in spring. By dividing the plant when it is not flowering, all the plant’s…

By Sharon Ross, UC Master Gardeners of Placer CountyQ: The December freeze and the weight of the snow that preceded it took a large toll on my garden. Now what do I do? A:  Microclimates at work in your landscape impacted the extent of the damage resulting from our early December freeze. Areas…

By Elaine Applebaum, UC Master Gardener of Placer CountyQ: I’ve heard people talk about growing a “cover crop” but don’t understand what they mean. Can you explain? A: Unlike crops that we grow to eat, cover crops are grown to feed the soil, protecting and improving it for future plantings. It…

Laurie Meyerpeter, UC Master Gardeners of Placer CountyFrom The Curious Gardener, Fall 2007Fall is the best time to plant most garden plants and trees in mild winter climates. Most trees and shrubs have a significant increase in growth after the first year when compared with spring planted trees and shrubs…

Lynn Lorenson, UC Master Gardeners of Nevada CountyFrom The Curious Gardener, Spring 2008Gardening is hard on your body. Choosing a tool that fits the size of your body and strength is only the beginning. Even if the tool is comfortable to use, injury can happen. The main risk is overuse of a muscle or…

Trish Grenfell, UC Master Gardeners of Placer CountyFrom The Curious Gardener, Winter 2007Soon we gardeners will start fantasizing about the rebirth of a warmer sun illuminating a March morning. We are ready to give birth again also—to life in the garden.So what do you need to start seeds indoors? Basically,…

Author: Gay Wilhelm, UC Master Gardeners of Placer CountyFrom the Curious Gardener, Fall 2007Fall begins my gardening year. The hot languid days of summer shorten and the temperature dips. There is so much to do to set the stage for the year to come. The possibilities grow but time is short before winter…