Ask Us
Got Gardening Questions?
Visit or call the Hotline
Tuesday 9am-12pm
Thursday 1-4pm
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?
I love my Naked Ladies when they bloom in late summer. But increasingly I notice clumps of bulbs that are no longer flowering. Does this mean I need to break up the clumps and space the bulbs out? If so, when is the right time to do it?
Like daffodils and many other bulbs, Naked Ladies (amaryllis belladonna) will eventually develop into large clumps of bulbs, most or even all of which have stopped blooming. When this happens, it is best to dig up the clump, divide the bulbs, and replant, with the bulbs about one foot apart and (in our area) with the tops of the bulbs at or slightly above soil level. Dividing and replanting should be done right after bloom time, when the bulbs enter dormancy, so this is a good September garden chore. In our climate it may take a few years for your Naked Ladies to bloom again after re-planting, but they are long-lived bulbs, very hardy overall, and very drought tolerant, subsisting on winter rains and requiring basically no summer water. Plus they are beautiful and fragrant—a nice choice for a water-wise garden.