Gardening Basics

Gardening and horticulture in California is marked by its diversity and complexity. Given California's remarkable geography stretching from the sub-tropical south to the alpine north and the ocean's coast to the Sierra Nevada peaks, just about every kind of plant can be grown in California! The gardening basics topics outlined in this section will provide you with resources and information needed to get started gardening. 

In the United States and in California temperature hardiness Climate Zones have been defined based on normally expected high and low temperatures. Of 24 climate zones defined in the Sunset Western Garden Book and the 20 zones defined by the United States Department of Agriculture, California has 20 and 16, respectively. This wide range of temperatures in combination with the state's diverse soils and rainfall distribution patterns (wet winters and dry summers of a Mediterranean Climate) results in an outdoor environment that's well-suited to almost all gardening activities. The bottom line is that there is nowhere else on earth like California when it comes to horticultural diversity and opportunity.

Sustainable gardening

Gardeners are becoming more interested in the use of native plants, organic fertilizers, and natural ways of combating pests. The term "sustainable gardening" is being used to describe horticultural practices that are least likely to adversely impact the environment. Every day gardeners are looking for ways to improve their soil and use less water so they can effectively grow the plants they love.