Gardening Articles
These brief gardening articles are written by UC Master Gardener Program volunteers for San Luis Obispo County residents. They provide easy-to-read summaries of common local gardening questions and seasonal topics, based on what our helpline hears throughout the year.
Have a topic you would like to see covered? Contact us and let us know.
Landscape and irrigation
- Drip Irrigation for Home Gardens
- Greywater Irrigation
- Native Plants: Cultural Care
- Landscape Trees During Drought
- Oaks in the Home Landscape
- Oak Galls
- Grow California Oaks from Acorns
- Step-by-Step Oak Tree Propagation
- Lawn Removal Methods
- Lawn Alternatives: Grasses and Groundcovers
- Landscaping for Wildfire Resilience
- Succulents
- Pruning Landscape Plants
- Winterize Your Garden
Composting and soil health
- Composting Basics
- Composting at Centennial Park Garden
- Soil Testing and Plant Nutrients
- Fertilizers and Amendments
- Cover Crops
- No Till Gardening
- Vermicomposting
Pollinators and wildlife
Garden pests
- Management Calendar for Ground Squirrels (PDF)
- Squirrels
- Gophers
- What’s Eating My Tomatoes?
- Insect Pests in the Home Garden
- Sudden Oak Death
- California Oakworm
Edible gardening
- Avocado: A Unique Fruit
- Vegetable Seed Starting
- Vegetable Gardening in a Drought
- Cool Season Planting Guide
- Blackberries
- Blueberries
- Grapes for Home Gardeners
- Raised Planter Beds
- Hops in the Home Garden
- Herbs: Growing Info
- Herb Gardening
- Herbs for a Kitchen Garden
- Dry Farming
- Choosing Tomato Varieties
- Tomato Grafting
Fruit trees
- Yellow Citrus Leaves
- Suggested Fruit and Nut Varieties for SLO/SB Counties
- Deciduous Fruit Tree Care and Maintenance
- Deciduous Fruit Tree Pruning
- Fruit Bush Pruning
- Fruit Thinning Pointers
- Citrus Cultural Practices
- Figs
- Asian Citrus Psyllid
- Growing Citrus in Pots
- How to Plant a Tree
Flowers and ornamentals
- Creating a Cut Flower Garden
- Dahlias: Digging, Dividing, and Storing
- Growing Great Dahlias
- Orchids
- Rose Care Calendar
- Pruning Rose Bushes
- Create a Scent Garden
- Seed Balls
- How to Make a Succulent Garden