Santolina chamaecyparissus from the Mediterranean Basin is commonly called lavender cotton, a confusing name with no connection to either lavender or cotton. The Latin derivation translates to holy flax in English, but that, too, is obscure.
Somewhat surprisingly, rhubarb is a member of the buckwheat (Polygonaceae) family, rhubarb’s perennial, fleshy rhizomes and thick, succulent stalks grow best in cool microclimates where the average summer temperature is less than 75 degrees.
Spinach can be one of the easiest crops to grow depending on the gardeners choice of planting times. It is fast-growing, short-lived, heat-sensitive, and dependent on adequate fertility.
Explore garden safety tips for when wildfire ash comes to your garden. Learn about potential hazards, safe cleanup practices, and scientific risk assessments.
Something in your garden or home bugging you? Do your roses have strange spots? Is something eating your tomatoes? The Merced Master Gardeners are here to help! Contact our Helpline to get answers to your garden challenges and pest problems. Send an email to anrmgmerced@ucanr.edu.
N Londeree > Mowing established lawns > Watering > Fertilizing > Grasscycling > Dethatching > Aerating > Maintenance equipment > Consider letting your lawn go dormant You can maintain turf using methods that are gentle on your pocketbook and easier on the environment by choosing the right type of gr...
Bush anemone (Carpenteria californica) is a deer-resistant shrub that grows in sun or shade and has fragrant flowers. Photo: PlantMaster You can bring the natural beauty and ecology -- of your surroundings into your garden by growing some of the plants that were here before settlers arrived.
Edible gardens are a world unto themselves in the landscape. There are many strategies unique to vegetable gardens that extend growing times, keep the garden healthy, and maximize crop yields. Here's a cheat sheet of common edible garden lingo and strategies.
Pick up dropped camellias to avoid petal blight. Photo: Annie Spratt, unsplash Maintenance and prevention Inspect irrigation system for leaks and non-functioning emitters and sprayers. Run the system for a few minutes, paying close attention to which emitters are not working.
