Landscaping

Is there such a thing as a deer-proof plant? Perhaps…but there are a variety of reasons deer may choose to ignore or consume specific plant species at a particular time and place.  Certain plants native to California (and elsewhere) have evolved natural defenses against being eaten by browsing…

A weed is a plant growing where you do not want it. This holds very true for Cynodon dactylon, also called devil’s grass, couch grass, and dog’s tooth grass. Negative feelings stem from the aggressive posture of a grass that will take over your yard, your flower beds, and then start to the neighbor’s yard…

Have you seen white powdery-looking patches appearing on the leaves of your roses or sycamore trees? While home gardeners may be familiar with this sign of the plant disease powdery mildew on their veggies, ornamental plants and landscape trees can also be infected. In addition to those powdery spots, the…

Article and photos by Annette Wyrick, UC Master Gardeners of Placer County From The Curious Gardener, Winter 2020Most gardeners have one trouble spot in the garden, and it is almost always in the shade. You may have tried planting different plants, but they just do not thrive. Let’s tackle these tricky…

California’s urban forests deserve nothing less than “Fancy” trees. Jessie Godfrey, UC ANR Environmental Horticulture and Water Resource Management Advisor, is elevating the work of “Team Fancy,” a group of nursery professionals advocating for state-specific tree quality standards. These standards aim to…

 Las copas de los árboles urbanos (UTC), es decir, las capas de hojas, ramas y tallos que cubren el suelo en las ciudades, son herramientas esenciales para gestionar las aguas pluviales, en particular en zonas urbanas densas como las del sur de California. En paisajes dominados por superficies…

  Every drop counts, especially in California. That’s why May is officially recognized as Water Awareness Month, a time to reflect on the value of water in our lives, our landscapes, and our future.Why Water Awareness Month?Initiated in the early 1980s by the California Department of Water…