Gardening

Brown mouse with a white underside.
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Hantavirus: What to Know

April 21, 2025
By Niamh M Quinn, Roger A Baldwin
Hantavirus has been in the news a lot lately. Betsy Arakawa, wife of the late actor Gene Hackman, recently passed away in New Mexico due to the disease and California has already seen 3 hantavirus-related deaths this year. In this article we share information to help you understand hantavirus and what you…
View Article
Los beneficios de los lardines de lluvia
Water Supply Security (WSS): Article

Jardines de Lluvia: Una Solución Sostenible para la Gestión de Aguas Pluviales

April 18, 2025
By Esther N Lofton, Erik C Porse
Los jardines de lluvia son depresiones del terreno transformadas, diseñadas para almacenar e infiltrar el escurrimiento pluvial proveniente de superficies impermeables cercanas dentro de entornos urbanos. Disponibles en una variedad de formas y tamaños, los jardines de lluvia representan una solución…
View Article
compost garden
UC Master Gardeners of Amador County: Page

Amador Compost Learning Center

Compost and Vermicompost classes are taught by UC Master Gardeners four times a year. Remaining classes for 2026 are listed below: Composting: Hot Pile- Saturday, October 24th at the Amador Compost Learning Center 1334 Jackson Gate Road Jackson, CAVermicomposting- Saturday, November 7th at General…
View Page
Person working soil with rake in foreground
The Backyard Gardener: Article

Difference Between Soil and Dirt

April 17, 2025
By Carmen Kappos, UC Master Gardener Volunteer
While the words soil and dirt are often used interchangeably there are differences between them. Recently, Dustin Blakey, our local UCCE Farm Advisor, gave a talk called “Preparing Garden Soil on the East Side.” During this discussion Dustin outlined the job description of soil as performing the…
View Article
Bermuda buttercup infesting a bed of landscaped plants.
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Spring is in the Air, and Oxalis is Everywhere

April 17, 2025
By Lindsey Hack
Bermuda buttercup (Oxalis pes-caprae), also called buttercup oxalis or sourgrass, might be a familiar sight in winter and spring, particularly to those who live in coastal regions or the Sacramento Valley. Some people enjoy seeing this plant’s cheerful yellow flowers pop up in their spring gardens, but for…
View Article
Under the Solano Sun: Article

Botanical Mementos

April 16, 2025
By Jennifer M Baumbach
Blog article by Karen Metz, UC Master GardenerMany of us have plants in our gardens or yards that remind us of people or places.  Sometimes trees or shrubs are planted to honor the birth of a child, a milestone birthday, or in memory of a loved one.  We might have plants that we have grown from…
View Article
Berger Native Garden, by Rebecca Schoenenberger
UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County: Page

Waterwise Tips

Even in years with plentiful winter rainfall, summers in Santa Clara County will always be dry. Planning your landscaping and gardens for summer dry conditions will put you ahead of the game for future droughts and water restrictions. Here are some useful tips and links for homeowners and gardeners who want…
View Page
UC Master Gardeners of Inyo and Mono Counties: Article

Tree Scorch and Dieback Guide

April 15, 2025
By Ryan Daugherty, UC Master Gardener Volunteer, Dustin W Blakey
This guide explores the common causes of leaf scorch and branch dieback in trees, emphasizing that these symptoms are usually signs of stress rather than specific diseases. It presents a diagnostic framework rooted in understanding resource flow disruptions—trees either lack essential resources, cannot…
View Article
Four men in weedy area. One is holding a measuring container while another sprays liquid into it from a wand attached to a backpack sprayer. A third person holds a clipboard and the furth holds a stopwatch.
UC Weed Science (weed control, management, ecology, and minutia): Article

New Online Course: Calibrating Herbicide Applications for Non-Agricultural Areas

April 14, 2025
By Cheryl A Reynolds
Calibration might sound intimidating, but it’s critical for safe and effective herbicide application. Proper calibration ensures that the correct amount of pesticide is applied to an area while achieving the desired level of pest control. To support land managers and pesticide applicators, the UC Statewide…
View Article
Subscribe to