UC Master Gardeners of El Dorado County

Central Sierra: El Dorado County - Master Gardener - Gardening Articles

Featured Articles by UC Master Gardeners of El Dorado County 

UC Master Gardeners in El Dorado County write articles for local publications on home horticulture, vegetable gardening, gardening for pollinators, irrigation, soil health, and seasonal garden chores, among other subjects of interest. 

You can find those articles by clicking the link below or scrolling below the archived articles link.  

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Find archived articles on a wide variety of gardening topics. 

Central Sierra: Master Gardener Articles - El Dorado County

Published in local periodicals, this collection of articles is a treasure trove of advice from UC Master Gardeners of El Dorado County for the residents of this beautiful region. 

two houseplants on a worksurface with water bottles and clipping tools
UC Master Gardeners of El Dorado County: Article

Central Sierra: Select the Right Houseplant for Your Home

August 3, 2026
By UC Master Gardeners of Central Sierra
Understand the five basic needs of every houseplant Gardeners like the color green. Green gardens filled with flowers and vegetables, or splashes of green houseplants can bring tranquility to a hectic day.Most houseplants have a tropical heritage and thrive when provided the right location and care…
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UC Master Gardeners of El Dorado County: Article

Central Sierra: Weeds - Friend or Foe?

August 3, 2026
By UC Master Gardeners of Central Sierra
How to distinguish between the three types of weeds on your property  Isn’t it funny when you look at children that you have not seen in a while, you usually say, “These kids have grown like weeds.” You don’t say that they have grown like a plant. You and I did not make that saying up; the truth is…
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UC Master Gardeners of El Dorado County: Article

Central Sierra: Eliminate Your Grass Lawn

August 3, 2026
By UC Master Gardeners of Central Sierra
Lawn Alternatives There is much discussion these days on eliminating grass lawns, and unless your lawn gets a lot of use for playing by kids and pets, it is something to consider. Grass lawns are heavy consumers of water and fertilizer and often require pesticides and fungicides to keep them…
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UC Master Gardeners of El Dorado County: Article

Central Sierra: Yes, Gardening Is Exercise!

June 16, 2026
By UC Master Gardeners of Central Sierra
Stay healthy with activity in the garden If you enjoy gardening, it is great to know that the work you are doing for your plants is helping you to stay healthy. According to Dr. Steven Blair, a noted professor of Kinesiology, just a half hour of gardening, five days a week, lowers risk of heart disease…
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UC Master Gardeners of El Dorado County: Article

Central Sierra: The Enduring Appeal of Lavender

June 16, 2026
Tips and tricks for dealing with the wide variety of lavender There is a plant that could be in your garden right now that has endured the test of time -- the lovely Lavender, Lavandula spp. It dates back 2500 years to the time of the ancient Egyptians and has been celebrated for its healing and…
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UC Master Gardeners of El Dorado County: Article

Central Sierra: Don't Plant a Pest

June 16, 2026
Protect your environment from invasive plants Pests in the garden are not always creepy crawlers, they can also be plants, and some are very attractive. However, attractiveness does not always mean good, and you may be surprised to learn that some plants in your landscape should not be present at all…
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agricultural field shows rows of plants alternating with drip irrigation lines
UC Master Gardeners of El Dorado County: Article

Central Sierra: Save Water with Drip Irrigation | El Dorado County

May 22, 2026
Drip irrigation is well-suited to the El Dorado County landscape. It is doubtful that anyone living in El Dorado County, or the whole of California for that matter, is not aware of drought conditions impacting everything from household water use, home gardening, commercial agriculture, new home…
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small container garden contains three small echiveria and other succulents, pebbles and a tiny wooden A-frame house
UC Master Gardeners of El Dorado County: Article

Central Sierra: Best Plants for Imagination Gardens | El Dorado County

May 1, 2026
Imagination gardens are a fun way to plant container gardens Almost all these tiny plants do best in indirect light and in moderate temperatures; in other words, indoors in the summer and winter. They may outgrow a small container but can be divided or pinched back to stay in scale. Do keep their feet…
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a long skinny green vegetable grows on the ground under green leaves
UC Master Gardeners of El Dorado County: Article

Central Sierra: Grow a Loofah from a Seed

April 21, 2026
The versatile loofah (or luffa) is edible, but famous as a natural sponge  Luffa, often spelled loofah, Luffa aegyptiaca, is a vining gourd in the cucumber family. It can be used as a vegetable when it is young and the cucumber-like fruit is only six inches or less. It is rich in nutrients and high…
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