Plant Care

Back Bud A dormant bud on bare branches below their leafy ends, or on the trunk. Depending upon the plant, pruning the leafy portions of branches can activate these back buds below each cut. Bareroot A plant with little or no soil on its roots.

When to plant: Early spring, while still dormant Harvest window: Many will yield fruit during two windows: May–June, then again August–October, depending on variety. Here is a video on how to harvest figs. Fertilization: If needed, a light application of nitrogen in early spring, while tree is still…

Lilies are amongst the most popular bulbs. Julia Kadel, Unsplash If you love showy flowers, bulbs are for you. Bulbs, corms, and tubers store the food that keeps the plant alive during dormant periods.

California native plants have evolved to be well adapted to our dry summer/wet winter climate, plus they support native birds and insects. They are generally water-wise choices for landscaping.Remember that California contains a wide variety of growing conditions, from sandy deserts to moist creek sides…

Starting seeds in pots can give your vegetables, herbs, and flowers a head start before being transplanted into the garden. This makes it possible to enjoy earlier harvests and earlier blooms. Sturdy transplants can better withstand pests, diseases, and difficult weather.

Orange County averages about 13 inches of rain per year (Metropolitan Water District of Orange County), which puts us a few inches away from being a desert, which averages ten inches of rain per year. Recent drought years have focused attention on the amount of water we use in our landscape.

Look for our friendly UC Master Gardeners of Merced County and their info booth at the Merced Farmers' Market on the first and third Saturdays of each month. Info booth located at the 16th Street parking lot between M & K Streets Please stop by with your questions, Take home a vegetable seedling and garden…

Division benefits plants and allows you to share with others. Photo: Courtesy UC Regents Use division techniques for plants with runners, bulbs, tubers, or rhizomes. These plants produce multiple stems above the ground. You cannot use division techniques for plants with a single stem.

Reduce irrigation times as day length shortens and plant growth slows. Photo: Courtesy UC Regents Maintenance and prevention Reduce irrigation times as day length shortens and plant growth slows.

> Before you start pruning > Understand new wood & old wood > When to prune > Make a pruning plan > What to prune and remove > How much to remove #1.