Test PB Collection: FTE

By Lisa Mowery, UC Master Gardener The home gardener can have beautiful healthy rose bushes by following a few basic pruning rules. Why do you need to prune? Annual pruning improves the overall health of the rose bush and stimulates new growth for larger blooms and an attractive plant.

By Charles Davis and Kim McCue, UC Master Gardeners Success with deciduous fruit trees is a function of: 1. Finding varieties which are climatically suited to the environment, the key element is insuring they get the right number of winter chill hours. 2.

The purpose of this article is to provide basic pruning concepts for home gardeners. The goals are to create a healthy tree with a strong structural framework and to control the size of the tree for ease of harvesting and care.

By Charles Davis, UC Master Gardener The correct pruning of deciduous fruit trees is an essential part of their overall care and maintenance.

By Charles Davis, UC Master Gardener Thinning is done to avoid: (1) alternating bearing years, (2) breakage of branches due to excessive crop, and (3) to allow for better air circulation around the fruit to prevent disease (especially if the fruit is touching).

By Charles Davis, UC Master Gardener Photo credit: cekern.ucanr.edu Grapes can be grown successfully in the backyard with thoughtful planning and care. Choose a grape variety based on your climate, desired use and support structure.

By Kim Wilson, UC Master Gardener Herb Gardening Herbs are plants used for culinary, aromatic or medicinal purposes. Their varied foliage, colors and textures add interest to the garden while attracting pollinators, butterflies and hummingbirds and the occasional kitty.

By Jean Bainbridge, UC Master Gardener Chives Plant habit: Perennial, 8-12 tall, clumping Soil: Rich, well-draining Light: Full sun, part shade Water: Moderate, moist soil Fertilize: Lightly; yearly with balanced fertilizer Flowers edible: Yes Harvest: Leaves anytime, cut down to 1-2 Use: Fresh, dri...

from UC Master Gardener Program, Tulare/Kings County Theres almost nothing more satisfying than picking fresh grown herbs from your own garden to spice and season your cooking in the kitchen. Herbs are delightfully easy to grow and provide pleasure for the taste buds and the nose.

By Leonardo Cicerello and Kim Wilson, UC Master Gardeners Photo credit: UCANR Hop (Humulus lupulus) is a perennial deciduous climbing plant grown for its cone shaped flowers which are used in beer brewing.