The Backyard Gardener

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A Gardening Blog for the East Side

The climate of the Eastern Sierra is very different from most of California and so gardening here is different, too! 

Preparing the contents of the pile.

In this blog we examine some of the quirks of gardening on the East Side, and cover horticultural issues that are important locally. Note that if you're visiting our site from the outside our little corner of California, you may find this information may not apply to your area.

Articles are written by local UC Master Gardener volunteers or UC Cooperative Extension experts. 

 

We also have a website!

The Inyo-Mono Master Gardeners also have a website with local gardening and soil information. Visit it to learn more about our program and gardening. 

We are part of UC Cooperative Extension in Inyo and Mono counties.

 

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A freezer bag full of small, frozen onions.
The Backyard Gardener: Article

Freezing Tiny Onions

July 21, 2026
By Vivian Patterson, UC Master Gardener Volunteer
Small onions from the garden can be preserved by freezing.
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A June Pest Update in Alison's Garden

June 12, 2026
By Alison Collin, UC Master Gardener Volunteer
This year has certainly put a damper on the joy and health benefits of gardening. One challenge after another has appeared in my usually productive garden.Voles Move InEarlier in the year, I noticed a mound of earth in one of the borders and assumed it was the result of ground squirrel activity. I set out…
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Cutworms Attack!

May 5, 2026
By Dustin W Blakey
By Alison Collin, Inyo-Mono Master Gardener Volunteer I have been gardening in the same plot for 15 years, and this is by far the worst year for cutworm damage. Usually, I have a few plants that have been eaten or “cut,” but this year the majority of my transplants have been chewed. Early SignsI…
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April Gardening Tasks

April 13, 2026
By Alison Collin, UC Master Gardener Volunteer
April is a good time to look around the garden and tackle issues before they become bigger problems later in the growing season. Some tasks can be dealt with quickly—snipping off rhubarb flower stems or pulling a grass plant before it seeds—while others take more time but save effort in the long run. The…
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