Gardening

Sharon Ross, UC Master Gardeners of Placer CountyFrom The Curious Gardener, Fall 2008Fall is an excellent time to take action to improve the health and beauty of your lawn.A good place to start is de-thatching. Thatch is a layer of decaying organic matter that occurs between the green matter and the…

By Gay Wilhelm, Master Gardeners of Placer County Q: Crabgrass is spreading in my lawn. What can I do to stop it?  A: Who hasn’t done combat with crabgrass? What a foe! But there is help.There are two kinds of crabgrass in California, smooth crabgrass and large or hairy crabgrass…

By Elaine Kelly Applebaum, UC Master Gardeners of Placer CountyFrom The Curious Gardener, Summer 2022 As UC Master Gardeners, we encourage homeowners to explore water-wise and habitat friendly landscaping options. Lawns fall short on both those fronts, requiring lots of water and providing little if any…

By Laurie Meyerpeter, Master Gardeners of Placer County Q: Why did one of my trees turn color early this year?A: Trees turn color for a variety of reasons. As the days shorten, they go through a number of stages leading to an explosion of red, gold, and orange colors of fall. Cool nights and warm…

Pauline Kuklis, Master Gardeners of Placer County From The Curious Gardener, Fall 2010Are you looking for a showy California Native that will bring interest to your landscape all year round?If so, be sure to check out the beautiful Western Redbud (Cercis occidentalis). Each year they are one…

By Laurie Meyerpeter, Master Gardeners of Placer County Q: I just bought a Japanese maple from a nursery. The nursery said it is a sun-tolerant variety but when I planted it in my yard last July, in an area where it receives full sun, it got severely burned. Why?A: Japanese maples are very…

By Trish Grenfell, Master Gardeners of Placer County Q: Our Blue Oak trees on the perimeter of our property are losing much of their leaves. I know they are deciduous trees but their leaves normally don’t drop until the fall. Do you know what could be the cause? I fear it is Sudden Oak Death.A:…

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…