Gardening

It’s almost Halloween, so many of us are thinking about jack-o-lanterns, skeletons, and mummies. When you think of a mummy, you probably imagine the scary kind inspired by the ancient Egyptian ritual of preserving the bodies of the dead. When we talk about mummies at UC IPM, we mean something completely…

Fall is the best time to plant garlic for a summer harvest.  Both the softneck and hardneck types of garlic can be planted now.  The softneck varieties are found in most grocery stores.  They have a mild flavor and store very well.  Two recommended softneck varieties for our climate are “California Early”…

This week on In The Garden with UC Master Gardeners, we blend old with new! Last week, Teena Spindler told you about her favorite ways to keep her garden as spectacular now after all of the work over the years. The heavy design part is done and proven. Now, everything that has “naturalized” will come…

The Basics of Pruning Pruning isn’t just about keeping plants tidy, it’s about enhancing the health, structure, and appearance of your landscape. With the right tools and a little know-how, you can promote stronger growth, reduce disease, and even increase flowering in your trees and shrubs.Pruning…

This week on In The Garden with UC Master Gardeners, MGs Teena Spindler and Katrina Kirkeby expound on the meaning of lazy gardening! Or, as we call today’s show, Low Effort Flower Gardens. These two ladies often talk about leaving on vacation and coming back to see PRESENTS all over their gardens! …

Vertebrate pests can pose a serious threat to the achievement of one’s “dream garden” by wreaking havoc on plants and vegetables literally overnight. They feed or gnaw on the roots of ornamental plants, vines, shrubs and trees, and even plastic water lines. In our area, pocket gophers, moles, voles and…

Planting annual native wildflower seeds can be a relatively easy and inexpensive way to add native plants to your garden. The best time to plant is from mid-October into November. Water during dry spells between rains for optimal germination. You can extend the bloom season by continuing to sow from December…

California is almost ten years into the legislation, planning, and implementation of one of the most significant environmental plans ever developed. SB 1383 was passed in 2016 with the goal of diverting methane-producing organic waste from the landfills. This week on In the Garden with UC Master…