Plan on adding fruit to your growing list this year? Strawberries are the perfect introduction to home-grown fruit production; they are fresh,...

You don’t need expansive acreage to grow a thriving vegetable garden. In fact, growing vegetables in pots can be very productive and can bring a...

A gift basket is a great present for any gardener in your life, and is easy to customize to any gardening preferences. With just one trip to the...

Practiced by organic gardeners for years, companion planting has become very popular for all gardeners. The concept is to plant together species...

Summer Lavenders Do you enjoy making herbal or floral bouquets and wands to scent the house? Maybe you’re into the lavender cooking trend or...

Seed Starting Starting seeds indoors is a rewarding gardening experience and can help extend your growing season to include more plant varieties...

There are so many reasons to add a new tree to your landscape this fall that it’s hard to find a reason not to. Just think about it, trees: Beautify...

Step right up and choose your Japanese maple! Fall is definitely the BEST time to buy the future star of your garden. Of course, we all know fall is...

Although native to southern China, New Zealand growers export the fruit to the US. Today, California produces 98% of the country's kiwifruit supply....

Ho, ho, ho! Maybe you don't need the reminder...but the holidays are quickly approaching. What plant do you think of for the holidays? HOLLY, of...

Most of the plants we grow in our houses are from the tropics. That's why they grow well in our warm houses in the winter. Many also thrive outside...

Do you think your tiny balcony terrace means you can't have a grand garden? Looking for a clever imaginative way to introduce a child to the world...

This is the catalog time of year. Gardeners devour and drool over the spring-blooming bulb catalogs. We picture drifts of crocus and gaily swaying...

Alliums, including onion, leeks, garlic and shallots are perfect vegetables to grow in the winter. Cool wet weather encourages strong root and...

Birds are fascinating. They can also be your secret weapon in your pest management program by eating your insect pests. Invite them in and keep them...

Winter wind is mysterious...You can't see it but it can cause two types of damage. One is obvious. The force of the wind breaks branches, tears...

General: Fall is for fertilizing and refreshing. Fertilize shrubs and trees with winter fertilizer formulas. These will have a low first number and...

California and citrus have a long-term marriage. In 1769, Father Junipero Serra planted the first citrus trees and today's citrus orchards...

Countless generations of children were tough on fuchsias. Little girls picked the brightly colored flowers with long hanging pistils and pretended...

What happens when you cross a tree peony with a perennial peony? You get an "intersectional hybrid" peony! This is exactly what Toichi Itoh did in...

It’s vacation time, you’re going to be gone for two weeks, your friends are all busy and the weatherman says “hot, hot, hot.” What about your...

Once upon a time, contrary Mary grew her garden with silver bells and cockleshells, but nowadays, most of use some other forms of fertilizer. Simply...

Grow one of the oldest American cultivated plants and join the Incas and Aztecs who grew...and revered...sunflowers 4,600 years ago. While there...

It's edible, a member of the mint family, and ornamental. Grown for over 5000 years, it flavors food around the world... Have you guessed yet? Of...

Do you enjoy making bouquets or wands to scent the house? Maybe you're into the lavender-cooking trend or like to infuse playful summer drinks....

There's a bug called a "grub" that causes brown spots in lawn. It may be feasting on yours... Lawn grubs, or "white grubs," are the larvae of scarab...

July & August During these glorious days of summer, there are three main things to remember: Deeply water in the morning. This helps avoid...

What's all this talk about "IPM?" It seems to be creeping into our gardening vocabulary more frequently. Have you wondered about it? IPM is the...

"Ice plants" refer to several types of plants, usually having fleshy thick leaves. However, after an introduction to Delosperma, you'll know it as...

Ornamental grass? Yes. Pink? Yes. Native? Definitely! We've all seen, and loved, tall ornamental grasses swaying in the breeze. Nevertheless,...

Don't confuse this quince with the "flowering quince." Although beautiful, it's not edible. However, the heralded quince is both edible and...

Have you noticed how a planted container can jazz up a front entryway, back deck or porch? Perhaps you decided against it because of the watering...

How hot do your peppers grow? Have you ever wanted to describe how hot your peppers are, but just didn't know how? Have you ever noticed the variety...

What do you do when you fall in love with a plant but you know it spreads and could take over your entire garden? Contain it! This could be as easy...

What happens after pulling your weeds? Most of us put them either on the compost pile or into the yard debris bin. Most of know we can eat...

And, they're off! It's Kentucky Derby time! What does that mean? Mint Juleps, of course. The Early Times Mint Julep Recipe 2 cups sugar 2 cups water...

Fortunately we had a close to normal winter rainfall. With that in mind, we are still asked to conserve as much water as possible. Did you know that...

Sometimes it's difficult to tell good versus bad. Take the "yellowjacket" for an interesting example. When you hear "yellowjackets," what do you...

This spring, enjoy being outside and seeing (and eating) the fruits of your labors! GENERAL Weed, weed, weed. Add organic matter to the soil to...

Cherry, plums, peaches, apricots and nectarines are in the “stone fruit” group because the seed is quite large. Popular as home fruit trees, there...

The durability of some plants is absolutely amazing.  A number of them are so robust that they may even be tread on! These are the plants to choose...

Probably the most commonly known euphorbia is the Christmas Poinsettia. However, unlike that plant, many euphorbia species grow in our zone as...

Make way for the Cool Wave Pansy! New and improved, bigger and brighter, the familiar little monkey face pansy is the new garden darling… In fact,...

The four elements of soil are minerals, water, air and organic matter. Different combinations of the four elements create the four main categories...

Unfortunately, there isn't a specific answer. All plants have different water requirements which change due to the type of soil, amount of sun,...

One of the most common, and potentially plant-threatening, insects is the “aphid.” There are actually many types of aphids. Some feed on specific...

You may have been hearing about “heirloom” tomatoes lately and have wondered what all the fuss is about. We’d like to take this opportunity to tell...

Devised in 1909, the pH scale measures the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution.  The scale ranges from 0-14. Pure water is “neutral” and...

Fruit Trees Trim fruit trees before buds open to avoid stressing the tree and causing small crop Broadcast fruit tree fertilizer around trees...

Imaginative artists and sculptors put fig leaves on their models for modesty. To be honest, we don't suggest you grow a fig to make a fashion...

Happy New Year! January 10th is Houseplant Appreciation Day! Take a little extra time this year to check your houseplants. Repot into a larger pot...

For some reason, climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala spp. petiolaris) doesn’t get the attention it deserves. Perhaps you didn't know there was...

Remember summer? When sometimes it's just too darn hot to go outside and enjoy the garden? Why not think about planting a garden to enjoy at night...

Do you know the difference between pill bugs and sow bugs? Both are terrestrial crustaceans and look quite similar. However, pill bugs, also called...

How would you like to have flowers for Mother's Day bouquets and quick floral gifts throughout the summer? Plant a cutting garden! Planning and...

If we told you about a way to prevent weed seeds from germinating and becoming weeds in your yard, would you use it? Let us introduce you to...

You may not know this, but a long time ago, potatoes were sold in "potato bags" made of burlap. As times goes on, things change. And now? You can...

Everyone loves the beauty of a cut flower bouquet or arrangement, but, unfortunately, cut flowers only last about a week. This Valentine’s day,...

Most homeowner’s dream of a lush and beautiful lawn but fear it's too much work for them. We're not saying it doesn't require some effort; however,...

Sometimes, there is a simple reason an area doesn't drain well. Construction debris under the soil may be causing water to stand in place. Or, there...

It's time for a change! If you're like many of us, last year you vowed to update, replace and rejuvenate your ornament collection. Don't wait! Stop...

Generosity abounds during the holidays, right? So, don't forget your bird buddies...they like "gifts" too. Suet cages, hanging or mounted bird...

As evergreen screens, windbreaks, and focal points they put a pop in a garden's structure. We have three favorite conifers. Each is completely...

Here's another decorating idea for this holiday season... mix your poinsettias with clivias to create big, bold and beautiful displays. The emerald...

Winter marks a seasonal change. Our bodies seem to crave the deeper tantalizing tastes rather than light fruity flavors of summer. Harvesting...

Hold onto your gardening hats, folks! Remember terrariums? A new trend revitalizing the old style is now better than ever. Creating a theme is...

Too many gardeners drape bed sheets over their plants and then have to uncover them. Later, they have to wash them...just because the temperatures...

What do freezing, canning, drying, pickling and storing all have in common? Of course! These are all ways to preserve winter vegetables. Many years...

It's easy to shop for gifts for a gardener. There are always new tools, plants, and books available for the serious (and not so serious) gardener....

So many types of outdoor holiday decorations...it's hard to decide, isn't it? Why not opt for "simple and elegant?" Here are two ways to achieve...

Living Christmas trees: If you plan to have a living tree in the house for the holidays, use an anti-transpirant such as Wilt Stop to reduce needle...

Turf can be tough to deal with. Perhaps it's causing you to tear out your hair. Maybe you're swearing to tear out the turf instead. You know, there...

Beautiful and graceful, varied and enchanting, small but approachable, butterflies lead to you the sunny side of life. And everyone deserves a...

For many of us, it's the sweet pea that declares, "spring is here!" The colors and sweet fragrance announce the coming of warmer days like no other....

Can you imagine growing a pumpkin over 1,000 lbs in your garden? How about over 2,000 lb? It's possible to do. Last year, less than 50 miles south...

Historically, ancient myths and allegories used white lilies as symbols of purity, virtue, rebirth, motherhood and joy. Roman mythology claims...

How many of us sit on our decks or patios, stare at a bare fence and think, "there must be something I can do with that." There certainly is!...

“Radiant Orchid blooms with confidence and magical warmth that intrigues the eye and sparks the imagination. It is an expressive, creative and...

It's bound to happen eventually. You'll be admiring your houseplant and notice tiny webs. Perhaps your outside shrub just doesn't look healthy and...

Residential water features such as ponds, fountains and gazing water bowls add beauty to the garden. The reflections, sounds, and colors bring...

This is a busy time in the garden. It may appear overwhelming and impossible to keep up. Make a list of your activities, take your time and enjoy...

An often-underused color in many gardens, blue provides cooling relief from the heat of California summers. And what better plant to use than a...