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…
Are you brand new to gardening, but have a burning desire to learn proper practices? Have you had some gardening experience, but not much success achieving healthy plants? Plan to attend MG Sheri Burke's free public education class on "Back to Basics.
Dive into the world of container gardening with Master Gardeners. Learn everything you need to know to create a thriving container garden in any space – from choosing the right container, to plant selection and planting techniques, and the how to-s of container plant care.
The popularity of farming agave is taking off in California, with climate change motivating growers to consider planting drought-tolerant crops. With all that buzz, UC Organic Agriculture Institute hosted a field day for current and prospective agave growers to learn more about farming the plant with…
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.
Five Steps to Avoid Becoming THE Problem in YOUR Vegetable Garden. I have been growing my own vegetables for the last thirty years. I have grown vegetables in the ground, raised beds, and containers. During those years I have enjoyed good and bad harvests. Sometimes the problems which resulted in a poor…
Most gardeners are aware of plant diseases that can wreak havoc in their gardens. If you grow fruit trees, you may be confronted with curled, reddened peach leaves (peach leaf curl fungus). If you grow apples or pears, your trees may sometimes look like they were scorched with a blow torch (fire blight…
Frost injures plants by causing ice crystals to form in plant cells. This makes water unavailable to plant tissues and disrupts the movement of fluids. Frost-damaged leaves appear water-soaked, shrivel, and turn dark brown or black.
Wilted, drooping leaves are signs of heat stress in plants. Photo credit: Pikist.com Plants are sensitive to both air and soil surface temperatures. Temperatures ranging from 60 to 85F are optimum for plant growth and development.
Richard Bell, Unsplash Most landscape plants will survive a few days of flooding. Photo credit: Iowa State University Plant roots need air too. Good garden soil contains a network of pore spaces filled with water and air. Both are necessary for healthy roots and beneficial soil-dwelling organisms.