Late summer and early fall, after harvest, is a perfect time for pruning your fruit trees. Yes, traditional wisdom says to prune in the winter when the trees are dormant, but it can be REALLY cold then so late summer pruning could be much more comfortable. Our Master Gardener experts will provide a hands-on…
Saturday, Sept 27 10-11:30 AM DON’T LEAF IT TO CHANCE: A GUIDE TO TREE SELECTION, PLACEMENT AND CARE MG TANNER Learn how to choose the right tree for the right place with a focus on long-term health, aesthetics, and sustainability. This class covers selecting regionally appropriate…
Pruning plants is like getting your haircut. First you need to visualize what you'd like the plant to look like long term. Just like a barber, you need to have the right tools. Then there are some dos and don'ts, proper times of the year, and some basic principles that will turn any gardener into a…
Going by common names such as Blueblossom, California Lilac or Mountain Lilac, it's not surprising that Ceanothus are popular shrubs for many styles of gardens, with spectacular blooms in colors ranging from pale to very deep blue/purple or white. Blooming in late winter or spring, they are valuable early…
Stephen Reid credits the UC Master Gardener program for preparing him for his role as assistant curator for the rose portion of the famous botanic garden in Pasadena.
Scientific NameCamellia japonica; C. sasanqua; C. sinensisSpecial Considerations:Japonica buds set in later summer and bloom later from Winter to Spring.Sasanqua buds set in late summer and rest and open in the late fall to early winter.Sinensis buds set in the summer and bloom in the fall.The…
Scientific NameLagerstroemiaThe natural habit of Crape Myrtles is to produce multiple trunks. However, they may be trained to become a single trunk tree. Trees with multiple trunks develop a wider canopy and carry a larger number of blossoms. However, single-trunk trees still produce a profusion of…
Scientific NameFuchsia spp.Fuchsia are susceptible to frost damage. Therefore, this guide recommends pruning in mid-March, after the threat of freezing temperatures has passed. However, some Marin locations seldom freeze at night, and some fuchsia varieties are very hardy. If frost damage is not an…
Scientific NameH. macrophylla; H. serrata; H. aspera; H. quercifoliaThese hydrangea varieties bloom in the early spring on wood that formed during the previous growing season.Pruning is best performed in mid-summer, after the peak of the bloom. This timing is important, because it allows the plant to…
Scientific NameH. paniculata; H. arborescensThese hydrangea varieties begin to bloom in the mid-summer on wood that forms during the current growing season. They can bloom well into the fall.Pruning is best performed during the winter, before new growth begins.Removing spent blooms at the base can keep…
