Plant Care

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Conserve Water & Energy

Water is a precious resource: use it wisely. Photo: Amritanshu Sirdar, Unsplash A well-designed landscape can not only add beauty to your home, but also can reduce your heating and cooling costs.
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Pruning shears
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Pruning

There are many online and print resources for pruning - however most of these don't address times to prune or methods of pruning for Marin's Mediterranean climate, nor focus on plants that Marin gardeners typically grow.
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cymbidiums
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May

May is a good time to repot Cymbidium orchids. Photo: Creative Commons Maintenance and prevention Check hose fittings for spent washers and leaks. Ensure hose has a shut off valve or other water conserving feature. Aerate and fertilize lawn areas using an organic fertilizer.
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pruning branches
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Pruning Natives

Toyon. Photo: PxHere Native plants are plants that grew in Marin and other California counties before European contact. Non-native plants are plants that have been introduced to Marin and other California counties as a result of European contact.
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Cherry

When to plant: January–early February Harvest window: May–June, depending on variety Fertilization: Nitrogen in spring and post-harvest, additional applications based on tree age, health, and soil quality Prune dead/disease branches, and roughly 10% of new growth in late summer
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Groundcovers

Dymondia magaretae, Wikimedia Commons Groundcovers range from ground-hugging mats to 3 or 4-foot spreading plants. They can be woody or herbaceous, evergreen or deciduous. Some grow from a single stem; others have spreading underground rhizomes that allow the plant to "creep.
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Cool Summers

Yarrow (Achillea) performs in cool coastal settings, and the flowers provide perfect landing pads for butterflies.
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Become a Master Gardener!

The application process for the UC Master Gardeners of Merced County's 2026 Training Class is now open. Any Merced County adult resident with an interest in horticulture (plants, lawns, trees, vegetables and more) and public service are encouraged to apply for the Master Gardener Program.
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Types of Irrigation Systems

The most effective irrigation systems are designed, installed, and maintained to distribute water as uniformly as possible and only when and where water is needed. That means applying water where roots can use it.
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