Past Newsletter Articles: Landscaping

One cheery bloomer in the Tahoe Basin can be seen in bloom from late June until frost is the easy to grow Gaillardia. Native to the North American continent, this delicate flower is tougher than it looks. This short lived perennial reliably self sows, requires little water and attracts pollinators, but not…

Red Twig Dogwood: A Native Shrub of Beauty and Ecological Value  Red twig dogwood is one of the most recognizable native shrubs in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Also known as red osier dogwood, this deciduous shrub thrives in moist mountain environments and is valued for its vivid winter stems, ecological…

Beat the Heat: Smart Water-Saving Tips for Tahoe GardensJen Cressy, South Tahoe PUD Water Efficiency Technician and UC Master GardenerGardening in Tahoe is rarely simple. High elevation, sandy and rocky soils, low humidity, intense sunlight, and summer heat waves can all place stress on landscape plants…

June bugs are among the most familiar insects of early summer. Although people commonly call them “bugs,” they are actually scarab beetles in the genus Phyllophaga. These beetles are usually brown, oval-shaped, and active at night, often flying clumsily around porch lights. Their larvae, known as white grubs…

Native and adapted Tahoe Friendly plants require less water, fertilizer and pesticides and can include a diversity of options for your home landscape. They will however require irrigation while getting established the first year. It is a good idea to group plants by their sunlight and moisture requirements…

May is about the time home gardeners can think about planting trees, shrubs, and some perennials: the soil is generally warm enough for roots to get established, and what freezes we get can likely be handled by plants known to thrive in the Tahoe Basin.  Here are things to consider as you select trees,…