Ask Us
Got Gardening Questions?
Visit or call the Hotline
Tuesday 9am-12pm
Call: 530-552-5812
Or drop by: The Butte County Cooperative Extension Office
5 County Center Drive
Oroville, CA 95965
Email Us
Email your questions to us at mgbutte@ucanr.edu. Include a description and photos of the problem. See "Help Us Help You" below for what to include.
Catch us in person
Look for us at local farmers markets or at one of our information booths at community events. Check out where we'll be on the Events page.
Help Us Help You
You never can tell what's at the root of the problem. Below are some questions we may ask when you contact us:
- Name of plant
- Age of plant
- Soil type (loam, sandy, clay)
- Current watering methods (drip, sprinkler, hand)
- Frequency of watering
- Sun exposure
- Evidence of insects or other damage – check on both sides of leaves
- Recent changes that may effect the plant (watering, fertilizing)
Samples and photos related to your question are strongly encouraged. Drop them by the office any time, or email them to: mgbutte@ucanr.edu
What’s Hot Now?
My lawn looks terrible now, after all the summer heat damage. What do I need to do to revive it?
Fall is the perfect time to revive existing lawn or (better yet) begin the process of reducing lawn size or eliminating it entirely. To restore your lawn damaged by extreme heat, you'll need to weed, reduce thatch, and reseed bald spots. Fertilize with an organic, high-nitrogen solution. Deeply water until the fall/winter rains take over. Given that lawn damage is easy to spot, it's a good time to add sprinkler heads that will deliver more to water to those areas next summer. If the harsh sun scorched your lawn, plant fast-growing, easy-to-manage deciduous trees that will provide filtered afternoon sunlight. If your lawn is beyond repair or you’d like to reduce your workload and use less water, consider replacing all or part of your lawn with a wildflower garden. Select drought-resistant perennials and annuals that thrive in the heat and sun. They will attract pollinators and wildlife, adding more interest to your garden. Seeds planted now will benefit from the winter rains. You might want to include swales or water catch basins in your wildflower garden design. There are many options to explore. Have fun with it!