Newspaper Articles

Now that spring is arriving in Tulare and Kings Counties, perhaps you've noticed (or will soon) a shrub or tree not looking as vigorous, with a sticky substance on discolored leaves and dirty-looking areas on the leaves. Honeydew is the sticky, clear substance produced as excretion of excess sugar by a leaf…

Nutsedge is a common weed that can be found in lawns, gardens, and flower beds of the Central Valley and throughout California. It is sometimes referred to as nut grass, although it is not a grass. The saying "sedges have edges" will help you differentiate between a grass and a sedge. Description …

Gardening is a meaningful way to cultivate self-love. It's like meditation – a time to be still and listen to the sounds of the outdoors and to your own voice. This soil on our earth nourishes plant roots and gardeners alike. Getting hands dirty in soil is just plain healthy for many of us. It can be a…

We can still have storms in April, bringing precipitation and even mountain snow, but generally this is a month in which we truly say goodbye to winter. With warm, dry March behind us, many of us--and our plants, too--feel like we've skipped spring, but we may see its return in April. Plants are in full…

Gardeners often enthusiastically start new projects that require digging without considering whether they have the correct tools or techniques to start the  project. Digging doesn't have to be hard on your body if a gardener takes the time to match the tools to the job and practice proper digging…

Signs of spring are everywhere we look: trees and shrubs are full of blossoms, flowers are bursting into bloom, bees are buzzing all around, and aphids are stacking up on rose buds. What to do?  Aphids are a common occurrence in the spring. They rapidly appear in large numbers when the weather…

Arbor Day is a national holiday that recognizes the importance of trees. The most common way people celebrate Arbor Day is to get together in groups to plant trees. The next National Arbor Day is Friday, April 24, 2026.  When was the First Arbor Day?Arbor Day was first celebrated in Nebraska…

Here is spring, and it feels great. The wildflowers are here. Winter deciduous trees and shrubs are blooming and leafing out. Winter-dormant herbaceous plants are pushing up green foliage. Daffodils and Iris are in their glory days. The vernal equinox is March 20. The day and night are equal in length, and…

As I researched information on planting bare-root fruit trees, the words of the County Fruit and Nut Crop Advisor came to mind. He said to a new class of  Master Gardeners, "Consider carefully your motive for planting fruit trees in a home garden. They require lots of work year-round: irrigating,…