Gardening

UC Master Gardeners of Placer County: Article

How to Read and Understand a Pesticide Label

December 4, 2025
By David Warman, UC Master Gardener of Placer County From The Curious Gardener, Winter 2021            Every gardener and homeowner is concerned for the safety of themselves and their family, particularly their children and pets. Using pesticides responsibly will help…
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UC Master Gardeners of Placer County: Article

Mammalian Pests in the Garden: Control Them, Live with Them, or Both

December 4, 2025
By Bonnie Bradt, UC Master Gardener of Nevada County From The Curious Gardener, Fall 2021Many of us “Foothill Dwellers” love it here, for the enjoyment of the natural world surrounding us. Sometimes however, that natural world comes in the form of critters, large and small, that love the same veggies,…
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A harvest of crisp, bright green lettuce is satisfying anytime of the year
UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

Growing Lettuce Year-Round

December 3, 2025
Lettuce is generally considered to be a cool-season annual, but with a little advanced planning and some judicious plant selection, Marin gardeners can enjoy home-grown lettuce throughout the year. Our temperate climate makes it possible to modify the growing conditions for lettuce and enable the plants to…
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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 Placer County: Article

Watering During Winter Drought

November 30, 2025
Watering During Winter DroughtBy Trish Grenfell, UC Master Gardener of Placer County MasterQ: I never water my lawn and plants in the winter but am wondering what happens when we experience an unusual long dry spell like this December? A: Thank you for asking this question. For those of us who…
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UC Master Gardeners of Placer County: Article

Vegetable Garden Irrigation

November 30, 2025
By Johanne Ryker, UC Master Gardener of Placer County Q: How much and how often should I be watering my vegetable garden?A:  Gardens in our area normally require some irrigation, especially in summer. Irrigation that is inadequate will cause a significant reduction in productivity. However, water…
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UC Master Gardeners of Placer County: Page

Spring Irrigation Tune-up

Mary Gish, Nevada County Master Gardener From The Curious Gardener, Spring 2007Now that spring is here and the majority of the rainy season is over, your plants will have an increased need for water. The following check list is geared for a drip irrigation system that is designed to deliver water frequently…
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UC Master Gardeners of Placer County: Article

Rain Harvesting

November 30, 2025
Jesse Locks, Nevada County Master Gardner From The Curious Gardener, Spring 2009Water is scarce! But essential for our existence and supplies are increasingly coming under pressure. Only 3% of the world’s water is fresh and less than a third of 1% of this is available to humans. We may not have power…
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UC Master Gardeners of Placer County: Article

Drip Irrigation

November 30, 2025
By Vic Biswell, UC Master Gardener of Placer CountyQ: I have heard that drip irrigation is a way to save water in the garden, but I know nothing about it?  Is it something I can do myself?A: It is a water distribution method which was actually used in ancient times to efficiently deliver water…
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