Plant Care

Flowering African Violet. J. Alosi
The Real Dirt: Article

Houseplants for the Winter Months

December 1, 2025
How about bringing a new plant home to cheer up these dark winter days?  For the avid gardener, houseplants can be an excellent source of greenery and even flowers when the outside garden has gone gray and dormant in the doldrums of mid-winter.  The Moth Orchid, ZZ Plant, Christmas Cactus, Snake Plant,…
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UC Master Gardeners of El Dorado County: Article

Central Sierra: Pruning Effectively for Strong, Beautiful Trees

October 24, 2025
By Robin E Martin
The Basics of Pruning Pruning isn’t just about keeping plants tidy, it’s about enhancing the health, structure, and appearance of your landscape. With the right tools and a little know-how, you can promote stronger growth, reduce disease, and even increase flowering in your trees and shrubs.Pruning…
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An orange flower grows in a greenhouse
Green Blog: Article

California nursery industry grapples with plastics, water, nutrients

October 8, 2025
By Caroline D Champlin
Nursery owners and landscapers are anticipating a slew of new environmental regulations to impact business as usual. Scientists from University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources brought these hot topics, and many others, to business owners’ attention at the 2025 California Nursery Conference…
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UCCE East Bay: Article

Raising the “Fancy” Standard for California Trees

September 16, 2025
By Andrew Miller
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…
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Yellow California native plants stretching to horizon
Over the Fence (Alameda County): Article

California Native Plants and Your Garden: a Plant Community Approach

September 12, 2025
By Linda Carloni
 California native plants can add beauty to your garden, reduce your water use and support the native wildlife.  All good!  This blog discusses why native plants are important, the communities in which they naturally grow and how that knowledge can guide your plant selection.  Why…
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A group of seed savers at work. Jennifer Petersen
The Real Dirt: Article

Saving Summer Vegetable Seeds

September 9, 2025
The abundance from summer vegetable gardens is extended through the winter and beyond by methods of canning, freezing and drying. But you can also give your summer vegetables a longer life span by saving their seeds. It's important to know that the seed from a hybrid plant will not produce a plant exactly…
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UC Master Gardeners of Orange County: Page

Hydroponics - Orange County

Hydroponics: A Water-Conserving Growing MethodWhat Is Hydroponics?Hydroponics is a soil-free gardening technique that greatly reduces water consumption while growing plants using nutrient-rich water.Hydroponics offers numerous benefits, particularly for urban environments where space and water are limited…
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Drip lines and mulch conserve water in the ornamental garden. Laura Lukes
The Real Dirt: Article

Keeping Plants Alive When Water is Scarce

July 29, 2025
It hasn’t been a terrible summer, yet it’s been some time since we have seen rain in our area, and some of your plants may be suffering. While you might not be able to save them all, you can take precautions in your garden that will save the plants it makes sense to save, define your gardening priorities,…
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Ceanothus thyrsiflorus in bloom
UC Master Gardeners of San Mateo & San Francisco Counties: Article

Now is a Great Time to Prune Ceanothus (California Lilac)

July 26, 2025
By Cathrin Callas
Going by common names such as Blueblossom, California Lilac or Mountain Lilac, it's not surprising that Ceanothus are popular shrubs for many styles of gardens, with spectacular blooms in colors ranging from pale to very deep blue/purple or white. Blooming in late winter or spring, they are valuable early…
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