The Savvy Sage

Question: My shade trees have dropped a lot of leaves in my yard. Is there anything I can do with them besides put them in the street for pickup? Answer:  As you probably know, when you leave your leaves on the street, the county picks them up, shreds the material and puts it through a composting process…

Question: I want to start a vegetable garden. What do I do? Answer: Starting a vegetable garden is one of the most rewarding gardening projects you can take on. There is something special about eating fresh vegetables that you grow yourself right out of your own backyard. It can also be a great…

Winter Cleanup - Resist the urge to give the garden a good clean up on a sunny afternoon, many of our beneficial insects and native bees will be sheltering in dried stalks, under leaves and in the ground. Continue preparations for the busy spring planting season. Clean and rinse pots with a diluted solution…

Article by Peg Smith -  As gardeners we hear a consistent message that we should plant ‘to attract pollinators.’ Often our first thoughts quickly turn to the honeybee. But the honeybee is a non-native pollinator in North America. An introduced pollinator, brought to Jamestown in 1622 and not seen…

This column is written by the Master Gardeners of Yolo County each month. It provides answers to selected questions recently asked by Yolo County gardeners. Question: If one wants both drought-tolerant (water-efficient) and California native wildflowers, what are the options? Answer: California…