Plant Care

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Picture of a hot pink Betty Boop rose.
UC Master Gardeners of Tuolumne County: Article

Pruning Different Kinds of Roses in Tuolumne County

February 24, 2026
“A rose, is a rose, is a rose, is a rose,” so wrote Gertrude Stein. The beauty and fragrance of roses have been extolled over the years in poetry and song. As beautiful as roses are, they do require some care if they are to perform at their best. Pruning exceptions: For foothill gardeners with…
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These native plants in the Demonstration Garden have been given plenty of room to grow in full sun. Laura Kling
The Real Dirt: Article

Getting Started When You Don’t Know What (or How!) to Plant

February 16, 2026
Vegetables and herbs are relatively easy to understand, but flowers and foliage and shade versus sun — it can seem overwhelming!  Let’s start from the beginning.  What does full sun really mean?  A plant requiring full sun needs at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day in order to thrive.  If a plant…
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The Demo Garden at Patrick Ranch has an All-Star Garden devoted to plants that do especially well in our climate. Laura Kling
The Real Dirt: Article

Choosing the Right Plant for the Space

February 10, 2026
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the selection of plants at the nursery? Or bought a plant that looked great at the nursery, but did poorly (or died) in your yard? Spring is here and it’s tempting to rush out and buy new plants for the garden.  But don’t be too hasty!  Choosing the right plant for a…
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UC Master Gardeners of Solano County: Page

Contact Us

How to Reach UsUC Master Gardener of Solano County501 Texas Street, First FloorFairfield, CA 94533Phone: 707-784-1322 (hotline)Email: mgsolano@ucanr.eduFollow UsFacebookInstagramMeet Our CoordinatorJennifer Baumbachphone: 707-389-0645 (texts ok)jmbaumbach@ucanr.edu 
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Planting a bare-root fruit tree. UC ANR
The Real Dirt: Article

Planting Bare-Root Fruit Trees

December 29, 2025
There are several advantages to planting bare-root trees: they are usually less expensive, easier for gardeners to transport, and they will grow their roots entirely into native soil (rather than having to transition from potting mix into dissimilar native soil). Also, the ideal time to plant bare-root…
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African Violets blooming. J. Alosi
The Real Dirt: Article

Caring for an Indoor Garden

December 15, 2025
Nearly everyone, from well-meaning beginners to experienced outdoor gardeners, has struggled at one time or another with a houseplant that seemed determined to die. Understanding the four basic needs of all houseplants can not only give you the knowledge you need to care for these plants, but also help you…
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UC Master Gardeners of Placer County: Article

A Blossom Walk: First Blooms of Spring

December 8, 2025
Laurie Meyerpeter, UC Master Gardener of Placer CountyFrom The Curious Gardener, Winter 2010Winter is my favorite season of the year. To me, it’s not barren and cold. It’s filled with expectancy and hope. Tree branches are bare of leaves but the buds are fat with life. The hills are green with winter…
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UC Master Gardeners of Placer County: Article

What Makes a Plant Drought Tolerant?

December 8, 2025
Article and photos By Carol Koenig, UC Master Gardener of Placer CountyFrom The Curious Gardener, Summer 2022 Drought tolerant plants have been an important part of landscaping for hundreds of years. Some of the earliest examples could be found in fifth and sixth century Persian gardens as well as…
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UC Master Gardeners of Placer County: Article

When to Plant Your Vegetables

December 7, 2025
By Johanne Ryker, UC Master Gardener of Placer CountyQ:  Is it too late to plant a vegetable garden?A:  California has a unique vegetable growing climate, and we can grow many different types of vegetable crops throughout the year. Crops are classified as warm season or cool season crops. It is…
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UC Master Gardeners of Placer County: Article

Organic Seeds

December 7, 2025
By Trish Grenfell, UC Master Gardener of Placer CountyQ: What is the difference between organic seeds and the old-fashioned regular seeds? A:  Organic seed is harvested from plants that are grown organically. In terms of germination and seedling health, the difference is not drastic between…
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