Fresno Gardening Green

UC Master Gardeners across the state are on a scouting mission for the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), combing their communities and the local countryside to find the undesirable but common tree-of-heaven.

Check out the nursery, online websites and garden books for new plant varieties that use less water. In a drought year, consider native plants suitable for our area. Tasks Remove thatch and aerate warm-season lawns (Bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine) to allow better water penetration.

Wait until after the danger of frost has passed to set out frost-tender plants. Historic frost dates: In Zone 8 the last frost date is March 15, in Zone 9 it is Feb. 15, but watch the weather forecast for your area. Tasks Clean up drying grasses within 30 feet of structures for fire prevention.

Welcome to March! This is the time when your roses are starting to break out from dormancy. It is a good time for garden maintenance before the big flower display in April. If you didn't do this last month, take some time and check your irrigation system to make sure it is working correctly.

Temperatures in the Central Valley in late February fluctuated from cool to warm, into the high 60s and even low 70s, and the Valley received sufficient rainfall to bring amounts to near normal for the date, ideal conditions for fungal growth.