Gardening

Jesse Locks, Nevada County Master Gardner From The Curious Gardener, Spring 2009Water is scarce! But essential for our existence and supplies are increasingly coming under pressure. Only 3% of the world’s water is fresh and less than a third of 1% of this is available to humans. We may not have power…

By Vic Biswell, UC Master Gardener of Placer CountyQ: I have heard that drip irrigation is a way to save water in the garden, but I know nothing about it?  Is it something I can do myself?A: It is a water distribution method which was actually used in ancient times to efficiently deliver water…

By Trish Grenfell, UC Master Gardeners of Placer CountyQ I have been reading about E.coli poisonings from spinach and other garden vegetables. What can I do to prevent this from happening in my garden?A An E.coli illness caused by eating undercooked hamburger has also affected people eating…

By Trish Grenfell, UC Master Gardener of Placer CountyIt’s time to start thinking about whether I want to go through the trouble of starting seeds early indoors. Last year I had a 100% failure rate; many seeds didn’t sprout at all and the seedlings I did get completely died after a few days. Since I…

By Elaine Applebaum, UC Master Gardener of Placer County From The Curious Gardener, Summer 2008Many gardeners complain about the quality of their soil, saying it is too rocky or has too much clay. But some gardeners in Nevada and Placer Counties have to contend with soil that is actually toxic to many…

This document lists commercial soil testing labs providing services to the public for a fee. This list is not comprehensive or all-inclusive. No endorsement of any specific business is intended. Neither is any criticism implied of similar labs not listed. Soil testing labs vary in the type of tests they…

By Jay Warner, Nevada County Master Gardener From The Curious Gardener, Summer 2010My hillside home came with a very healthy stand of Hypericum—St. John’s Wort. While excellent for erosion prevention, it had gotten out of hand and needed to be controlled. I preferred an environmentally sound solution. So why…

By Elaine Applebaum, UC Master Gardener of Placer CountyHow can I prepare an area for my summer vegetable garden?The first thing you want to do is remove any weeds, preferably before they go to seed so that you’ll have fewer to pull in the future. Also remove any roots or debris left over from last year’s…

By Shirley Porter, UC Master Gardener of Nevada County From The Curious Gardener, Summer 2010 We’ve had an abundance of rain in the foothills this Winter and Spring. I alternate between wishing for "just one sunny day” to get out and work in the garden and feeling very glad that the earth is…