Lynn Lorenson, UC Master Gardeners of Nevada County From The Curious Gardener, Summer 2008Green, weed free lawns did not exist in the US until the late 18th century. Travelers to Europe, especially England, were taken by the new Palladian (classical Roman) style of architecture and the surrounding…
By Julie Long, UC Master Gardeners of Placer CountyThinking of getting rid of your lawn? An easy and ecological way to reduce or eliminate your lawn (turf) is to sheet mulch. This method is also known as layer, or lasagna mulching.Why would you remove your lawn? The most common reason is to…
Sharon Ross, UC Master Gardeners of Placer CountyFrom The Curious Gardener, Fall 2008Fall is an excellent time to take action to improve the health and beauty of your lawn.A good place to start is de-thatching. Thatch is a layer of decaying organic matter that occurs between the green matter and the…
By Gay Wilhelm, Master Gardeners of Placer County Q: Crabgrass is spreading in my lawn. What can I do to stop it? A: Who hasn’t done combat with crabgrass? What a foe! But there is help.There are two kinds of crabgrass in California, smooth crabgrass and large or hairy crabgrass…
By Elaine Kelly Applebaum, UC Master Gardeners of Placer CountyFrom The Curious Gardener, Summer 2022 As UC Master Gardeners, we encourage homeowners to explore water-wise and habitat friendly landscaping options. Lawns fall short on both those fronts, requiring lots of water and providing little if any…
By Laurie Meyerpeter, Master Gardeners of Placer County Q: Why did one of my trees turn color early this year?A: Trees turn color for a variety of reasons. As the days shorten, they go through a number of stages leading to an explosion of red, gold, and orange colors of fall. Cool nights and warm…
Pauline Kuklis, Master Gardeners of Placer County From The Curious Gardener, Fall 2010Are you looking for a showy California Native that will bring interest to your landscape all year round?If so, be sure to check out the beautiful Western Redbud (Cercis occidentalis). Each year they are one…
By Laurie Meyerpeter, Master Gardeners of Placer County Q: I just bought a Japanese maple from a nursery. The nursery said it is a sun-tolerant variety but when I planted it in my yard last July, in an area where it receives full sun, it got severely burned. Why?A: Japanese maples are very…
