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Just how does compost happen? Nature, as it recycles by decomposition, provides us with garden gold. UC Master Gardeners of Orange County will teach you why it is important to recycle organic waste, about the right balance of greens, browns, air and water, and how soon you can expect your first batch! …
You can’t do it all in one day, or even one month – it takes at least a year to accomplish all the gardening activities. UC Master Gardeners of Orange County will tell you how to do it, month by month. Learn when to plant which veggie, keeping fruit trees productive, pruning, mulching, starting…
Come join us for a morning of outdoor fun at the Monarch Nature Trail in Huntington Beach! Volunteering at the MNT is a great way to learn more about Orange County's butterfly population as well as the native plants they depend on for survival. We have volunteer tasks for all ages including watering,…
Bargain gardening involves finding ways to grow a healthy, beautiful garden while saving money. Learn techniques like starting seeds, propagating plants, and sourcing materials like soil and mulch in bulk or for free. Discover tips for strategically buying plants during sales or from discount stores,…
Bargain gardening involves finding ways to grow a healthy, beautiful garden while saving money. Learn techniques like starting seeds, propagating plants, and sourcing materials like soil and mulch in bulk or for free. Discover tips for strategically buying plants during sales or from discount stores,…
Congratulations to UC Davis staff research associate Joseph Tauzer, who manages the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility and who serves three labs within the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology.Tauzer is a winner in the UC Davis Staff Assembly's coveted 2025 Citations of…
Note: this is a rerun of an article originally printed in the Contra Costa Times. Q: I have a crape myrtle and every year it is covered in a whitish powder. I have been told it is powdery mildew, but I don't know how to control it.A: Powdery mildew is a plant disease caused by a fungus, Erysiphe…
As we celebrate Labor Day, let's also celebrate the honey bees: the queens, worker bees (females) and drones (males). They take no vacations, no holidays, and no breaks, and receive no overtime pay or retirement pensions. The queen takes no maternity leave. In peak season, she will lay 1000…
Almost all plants including drought and heat-tolerant species respond to the intense summer heat here in the Central Valley by significantly slowing their growth and their leaf and flower production. As nights grow longer and cooler in late August plants begin to recover their vigor, setting new buds…
After a hot weekend, it looks like our temps are going to be a bit variable for the next week or so — cooler during the week and warmer on the weekend. We will be able to do light pruning this month (not the major pruning we do after the first of the year). We can also start to feed our roses again. However,…