Plant Care

Winter is a good time to clean and sharpen tools. Photo: Piqsels Maintenance and prevention Clean up the garden to avoid over-wintering diseases. Cover open compost bins with a tarp when the rains begin. Protect frost-sensitive garden plants such as succulents.

When fallen leaves are overly abundant, consider composting them or shredding them so that they decompose more quickly. Photo: Marie Narlock Theres nothing like the glowing presence of autumn colors, each brilliant red, orange, and yellow leaf backlit by the sun.

Chard is a leafy green that is related to beets. It can be grown year round in Santa Clara County. Direct seed or transplant seedlings in February to May or September to October. Outer leaves can be harvested continuously as soon as the plant is well established. Harvest by cutting or breaking away a few of…

Alstroemeria aurea 'Saturne'. Photo: Wikimedia Commons Perennials are flowering plants that live longer than two seasons. Some are evergreen; others die back at the end of the flowering season and then regrow from the same roots the following year. Perennials are dependable and easy.

If you feel like you need a jackhammer to bust into your garden soil, you've got clay. This is a familiar garden complaint in Marin. If you want to make your clay soil more workable, you can amend it with organic material.

Planting and harvesting are enjoyable edible garden tasks. Courtesy UC Regents Take care to plan out your edible garden before diving in.

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> 10 Earth-friendly moves > Care for specialized plants > Fall is a good time for garden clean-up Whether your garden is postage stamp or baseball field size, whether filled with succulents, roses, lawn or vegetables, routine maintenance is key to keeping plants healthy and productive.

Planting in containers opens up a whole new range of possibilities whether growing plants indoors or out, ornamental, or edible, from tiny succulents or large shrubs.

When transplanting natives, dig hole the same depth and twice as wide as the pot. Metropolitan Water District of Southern California When planting natives, it is important to fully soak the soil before planting. The hole should be the same depth as the pot and twice as wide.