Landscaping

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…

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,…

If you are looking for an interesting evergreen that can serve as a hedge or small tree, why not consider planting one or more Feijoa? Commonly known as Pineapple Guava, Feijoa (Feijoa sellowiana O. Berg.) is an evergreen subtropical shrub or small tree that produces an aromatic edible fruit with a somewhat…

Is there such a thing as a deer-proof plant? Perhaps…but there are a variety of reasons deer may choose to ignore or consume specific plant species at a particular time and place.  Certain plants native to California (and elsewhere) have evolved natural defenses against being eaten by browsing…

A weed is a plant growing where you do not want it. This holds very true for Cynodon dactylon, also called devil’s grass, couch grass, and dog’s tooth grass. Negative feelings stem from the aggressive posture of a grass that will take over your yard, your flower beds, and then start to the neighbor’s yard…

Have you seen white powdery-looking patches appearing on the leaves of your roses or sycamore trees? While home gardeners may be familiar with this sign of the plant disease powdery mildew on their veggies, ornamental plants and landscape trees can also be infected. In addition to those powdery spots, the…

Article and photos by Annette Wyrick, UC Master Gardeners of Placer County From The Curious Gardener, Winter 2020Most gardeners have one trouble spot in the garden, and it is almost always in the shade. You may have tried planting different plants, but they just do not thrive. Let’s tackle these tricky…

California’s urban forests deserve nothing less than “Fancy” trees. Jessie Godfrey, UC ANR Environmental Horticulture and Water Resource Management Advisor, is elevating the work of “Team Fancy,” a group of nursery professionals advocating for state-specific tree quality standards. These standards aim to…