Gardening

Tumbleweeds rolling across the landscape may make you think of classic old Western movies, but tumbleweeds, or Russian thistle, is more common today than you might think. This invasive plant can grow anywhere the soil is disturbed and once it matures, it breaks off its stem and the dried plant blows across…

AB 1572 is a California law that aims to conserve drinking water (potable water) by prohibiting its use for watering non-functional grass (turf) in certain areas. Nonfunctional turf refers to grass that serves no real purpose; it’s not used for sports, play, or recreation, such as grass along roads, in…

In 2007, the United States Senate unanimously approved a resolution designating a week in June as "National Pollinator Week" (this year it is June 23-29, 2025). In response to the alarm raised by an annual increase in commercial honey bee deaths in the US, the government and researchers began addressing the…

How can you determine that a movie is set in Southern California? Just look at all the signature Southern California trees – the (mostly) NON-CALIFORNIA NATIVE Palms! This week on In the Garden with UC Master Gardeners, UC Master Gardener Kris Bonner talks to Don Hodel, environmental horticulturist …

 As climate change in California becomes more palpable, local gardeners are feeling the literal heat. In a recent episode of KQED Forum, host Alexis Madrigal brought together a panel of gardening experts to discuss how rising temperatures, inconsistent rainfall, and urban microclimates are reshaping the…

No room in a yard? Container gardens are a great way to grow vegetables with the proper precautions. Here are several considerations when planting in containers:   SunSelect plants based on sunlight exposure. Most vegetables require 6 to 8 hours of direct sun daily. Leafy vegetables like lettuce,…

The black stuff on your leaves is likely sooty moldThe black stuff on your leaves is probably sooty mold, a fungal disease growing on plants and other surfaces, and it is often seen in the spring and summer. The leaves or stems have a black coating that looks like soot. If you look closely, it is growing…

Ever since this show, In The Garden with UCCE Master Gardeners, started, the prospect of drought has hung over our heads. We have a show today that we are calling “Water for Our Gardens – What to Expect”. Our own Master Gardener show host Teena Spindler is lucky to have another Master Gardener friend…

Check out what's new at the Amador Compost Learning Center as of May 2025.