By Leah Taylor (All photos by Leah Taylor) (This article originally appeared in the January/February 2024 edition of California Garden) Planting a tree from the diverse genus Caesalpinia can can be a rewarding and environmentally friendly choice in any garden. This California native plant goes by many names depending on the species and geographic area […]
Winter is when I do most of my fruit tree pruning. Why most and not all? In which part of winter? Let’s get into the details … First, let’s answer this foundational question, “Why do we prune fruit trees?” Because it’s unwise to go out and start cutting branches arbitrarily just because you’ve heard you’re […]
Hearty root vegetable should do well if started from seed in loose, well-draining soil BY JODI BAY (This article first appeared in the January 9, 2021 edition of the San Diego Union-Tribune) Carrots are an easy vegetable to grow, and many varieties exist, one of which will surely do well in your garden and delight […]
One of our recent Hotline questions was: Should I clean up the dropped leaves in the yard now to make it “nice and clean” for the new year/season? Answer: I couldn’t help but remember my Grandmother urging me always to maintain cleanliness…”If you don’t wash your ears every day, watermelons will grow out of them!” […]
It’s nice to have live greenery in the house for the holidays, and many people purchase a poinsettia or potted topiary to dress the house for guests and parties. For others, it’s a source of concern: How do you care for them, and how long will they last before looking pale and sickly? Here is […]
