Growing Herbs
It would seem that because the local climate is so mild that native species would not need to have developed any special adaptations. Such adaptation...
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Maple and Oak Fall Colors
Impressive autumn foliar color among the silver maples is nearly as incredible as lemons on shattuck trees during this weather change during this tim...
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Weeds In The Garden
Weeds may be pulled from near shallow rooted plants, but may be tilled or hoed in areas where surface roots are not a concern. Once eradicated, weeds...
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| Weeds Everywhere
Weeds are defined as ‘plants where they do not belong’. Bermuda grass is one of the most bothersome weeds and can be difficult to remove. It has beco...
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A Trees Dormancy Cycle
Most plant species are beginning their dormancy cycle when the weather becomes cooler. The quantity of moisture that has been necessary to sustain ...
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| Tree Suckers
Suckers are shoots that develop below a graft union. If not removed, suckers can intermingle, compete with, and eventually overwhelm the desirable pl...
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Fruit And Citrus Tree Grafting
A ‘sucker’ is a stem that originates below the graft of a viable tree. Because many grafted cultivars are less vigorous than their own understock, th...
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| Citrus Trees
The most popular of citrus include sweet orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit and mandarin orange. Less common citrus include variations of these as well ...
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Maintaining Your Cut Christmas Tree
The more common live Christmas trees are Italian stone pines, Canary Island pines, Monterey pines and Aleppo pines. Each might be accommodated into a...
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Cactus and Succulents
Many other succulent plant species, such as jade tree, are often identified with cacti. The family Cactaceae exhibits swollen green stems which perfo...
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| Cactus
True cactus of the family Cactaceae are very useful ornamentals comprising much of the group known as succulents. Succulents are any plant species ...
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Destructive Root Systems
Roots may be very destructive to surface features, such as concrete or asphalt pavement, irrigation plumbing and occasionally, foundations of build...
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Poisonous Plants
The Sunset Western Garden Book is perhaps the most comprehensive encyclopedia of plant species used in western gardens. It also includes a guide to...
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| Tree Hackers vs Arborist Experts
Arboriculture, or tree care is a sensitive subject. I have been very fortunate to have worked with many of the most qualified arborists in the indu...
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Fountains and Koi Ponds
For those of who do not mind the maintenance, ponds, fountains and even simple birdbaths can be appealing features in our home gardens as well. They ...
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Proper Irrigation In the Garden
Unfortunately, the various species within most landscapes require specific but different duration and frequency of either drip or sprinkler irrigatio...
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| Plant Irrigation
Probably the most common question I am asked is “How often should I water.” Because I am very educated and experienced in horticulture, I always have ...
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Eucalyptus Tree Pests
Natural pathogens from Australia have mysteriously appeared in California and are causing problems on the eucalyptus tree. The main pests are the euc...
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| Remedies For Garden Pests
Those of us who truly enjoy gardening generally try to avoid problem situations that require the use of chemical pesticides. Application of pesticide...
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Hedges
Plants used for a hedge should naturally be proportionate to the particular application, so that they do not need to be shorn very aggressively, or ...
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| Hedges In The Landscape
The most effective structure for a formally sheared hedge is with the top slightly narrower than the bottom. Not only does this allow increased sun e...
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Frost Damage Protection
Frost protection is much simpler here and only necessary for a few species. Many sensitive species may be successfully grown without protection if ...
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Container Grown Plants
For various reasons, many gardens include plants grown in containers. Pots and tubs are portable, so frost sensitive species which grow in full exp...
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| Potted Plants
Irrigation of potted plants either in the garden or home can be somewhat tricky. Roots are confined to relatively minimal volumes of soil and can n...
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Bulbs
The term ‘bulbs’ actually describes five types of subterranean plant parts that accumulate and store resources to ensure survival of the plant throug...
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| Perennial Bulbs
Because flower bulbs only bloom once annually, they may be planted in phases to extend the bloom cycle. Bulbs that are planted when they first beco...
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Bonsai Plant Art
Bonsai is one of the ultimate forms of horticulture as well as a highly refined and intricate art form. The word ‘bonsai’ means ‘tree in a dish’, a...
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Winter Gardening
I normally do not want to rush winter pruning of fruit trees and roses. Late pruning is somewhat of a shock, as well as breaks off some of the devel...
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Bulbs and Bare Root
Bare root specimens are less expensive and less cumbersome than nursery stock in cans and they are more likely to survive installation. Bulbs and m...
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| Bare Root Stock
Species that are most commonly available bare-root include many of the fruit trees and their ‘fruitless’ or ‘flowering’ colleagues as well as many ...
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Bird and Squirrel Proof Your Garden
It is no coincidence that acorns are very nutritious and just the right size to be easily carried away by squirrels. When putting your plans togeth...
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| Garden Rats and Control Measures
Rats in the garden are not as easily controlled by traps as rats in the home. Placing traps where other visitors to the garden, such as cats and bi...
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Sustainable Gardens
My garden is very unique but very sustainable. It is mostly concrete with some asphalt, a small lawn, Algerian ivy and junipers. It really takes care...
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| Prosperity Gardens
Victory Gardens are becoming trendy again because so many of us have less to spend on groceries. We are rediscovering that areas occupied by more o...
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Culling – The Removal Of Fruit
Culling, removal of superfluous fruit, is similar to deadheading, but diverts resources to remaining fruit rather than to floral or vegetative parts....
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| Winter Fruit Tree Pruning
Winter is the best season to prune because the trees are dormant. As dormancy ends, growth is concentrated among remaining stems and can be left to c...
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Bird and Squirrel Proof Your Garden
It is no coincidence that acorns are very nutritious and just the right size to be easily carried away by squirrels. When putting your plans togeth...
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| Tree Hackers vs Arborist Experts
Arboriculture, or tree care is a sensitive subject. I have been very fortunate to have worked with many of the most qualified arborists in the indu...
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Aromatic Fragrance Plants
Perennial plant species with fragrant or “aromatic” foliage, such as sage, rosemary and thyme, are often used specifically for their fragrance and ma...
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All About Vines
Boston ivy has climbed to the top of the highest buildings at San Jose State University by the use of ‘holdfasts’, or suction disks. Both supportive ...
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Fruit And Citrus Tree Grafting
A ‘sucker’ is a stem that originates below the graft of a viable tree. Because many grafted cultivars are less vigorous than their own understock, th...
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| Culling – The Removal Of Fruit
Culling, removal of superfluous fruit, is similar to deadheading, but diverts resources to remaining fruit rather than to floral or vegetative parts....
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Garden Pruning Tools
Pruning tools are probably the most misunderstood and commonly misused, Hook and blade shears, hand shears,are likely the most important of the pruni...
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| Rakes, Cultivators and Picks
Lawn or leaf rakes are designed to collect light material from flat surfaces. In summer they are useful for raking clippings from lawns. ...
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Planting With Vegetable Seeds
These seeds should be sown directly into prepared soil in the garden. If seedlings of these vegetables in cell packs or six packs can still be found...
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| Seed For Cool Season Plants
Seed of cool season perennials such as columbine, coreopsis, heuchera, Shasta daisy, dianthus and primrose may also be sown in flats now. (Most prim...
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Sudden Oak Death Syndrome
Sudden death of oaks, SOD, is caused by ambrosia fungus, which is spread by the oak ambrosia beetle. The beetles bore into the trunks of mature oaks ...
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| Sunscald
Even during the warmest days of summer, heat alone only damages a few sensitive species. Extreme solar exposure, minimal humidity or insufficient soi...
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Container Grown Plants
For various reasons, many gardens include plants grown in containers. Pots and tubs are portable, so frost sensitive species which grow in full exp...
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| Planting With Vegetable Seeds
These seeds should be sown directly into prepared soil in the garden. If seedlings of these vegetables in cell packs or six packs can still be found...
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House Plants
Houseplants are merely plants that live in the house. Of course, in their natural environments, they do not live in houses, but outside in nature. M...
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| Rinsing Your Dirty House Plants
If the weather is rainy but not too cool, houseplants may be brought outside for a gentle rinse. For reasons that no horticulturist has yet identi...
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Summer Vegetables
Vegetables which are produced by many individual plants, such as corn, beets and salad greens, should always be sown as seed. Corn purchased in cell ...
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English Daisy
Typical English daisies look innocent enough as compact perennials in refined landscapes. They actually seem rather puny since they individually get ...
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Fish and Poop Fertilizers
Fish emulsion is of course another organic fertilizer that will not cause any of the rare but potential problems associated with chemical fertilizers...
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| Composted Soil Amendments
Perhaps the most practical method of enriching soil is by amending it with compost. When a compost pile is initially constructed, it should contain v...
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Farmers Markets and Japanese Maples
Exotic Japanese maples trees are grown by tree expert Chi Tao Yuan and can be found at various farmers markets in the bay area. Some of Mr. Yuan’s cu...
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| Farmers Market
Farmer’s Markets are a good source of quality produce, often organic, as well as some more exotic groceries. I have compiled a brief list of some of ...
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Yerba Buena Nursery
Yerba Buena Nursery has specialized almost exclusively in California native plant species and ferns since 1960. Although most of the commonly availab...
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| Bay Laurel Nursery
Bay Laurel Nursery is perhaps the most interesting nursery I know of. Rhododendrons are the primary crop of this nursery in the Santa Cruz Mountains ...
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