Tree & Shrub Care

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Tree care

Want to know about selecting street trees or fruit trees? Are your trees dying? Here is information on care, selection and pests and diseases of trees in Alameda County.
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Urban Trees and Their Role/Benefits in Stormwater Management
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Urban Trees and Their Role in Stormwater Management

May 28, 2025
By Daniel Gonzalez, Esther N Lofton, Erik C Porse
Urban tree canopies (UTCs), i.e, the layers of leaves, branches, and stems that cover the ground in cities, are essential tools in managing stormwater, particularly in dense urban areas like those across Southern California. In landscapes dominated by impermeable surfaces such as pavements and rooftops,…
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Article

Tree Scorch and Dieback Guide

April 15, 2025
By Ryan Daugherty, Inyo-Mono Master Gardener Volunteer This guide explores the common causes of leaf scorch and branch dieback in trees, emphasizing that these symptoms are usually signs of stress rather than specific diseases. It presents a diagnostic framework rooted in understanding resource flow…
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Pruning Fruit tree
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Pruning Fruit Trees

Monthly Care | Plant Care | Fertilizing | Pruning | Propagating | Planting | Tools | Garden Sanitation | Health & Safety in the Garden     When & How to Prune Common Fruit Trees Special considerations for pruning fruit treesFruit trees merit their own special section on…
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Under Redwoods

Redwood trees need moisture from rain and fog. Photo: Public Domain Coast redwood trees (Sequoia sempervirens) only grow on the Pacific coast from Big Sur to southern Oregon, where their need for mass quantities of water is met from winter rain and summer fog.
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Under Oaks

Coast live oak trees (Quercus agrifolia) like wet winters and dry summers. L. Stiles There are 20 oak trees native to California. These stately trees create iconic landscapes, live up to 400 years, and provide tremendous benefits. Oaks are good investments -- for homeowners and the environment.
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pruning shears
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Pruning Trees & Shrubs

Hydrangea. Photo: Annie Spratt, Unsplash This section covers flowering trees and shrubs that have been introduced to Marin and other California counties as a result of European contact. These tend to enter dormancy when days shorten and temperatures cool.
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