Plant Care

Monthly Care | Plant Care | Fertilizing | Pruning | Propagating | Seed Saving | Planting | Tools | Garden Sanitation | Health & Safety in the GardenHow to Care for Houseplants Plants growing indoors need some specialized care.  While they don’t face the weather extremes that outdoor plants do,…

Garden Help > Fruits & NutsUC Links  How to grow and Pest management: CherriesSummer pruning overview: Prune Apricot and Cherry Trees in AugustThe BasicsWhen to plant: January–early FebruaryHarvest window: May–June, depending on varietyFertilization: Nitrogen in…

Garden Help > Vegetables > CornThis trial was conducted in the summer of 2008 at our Nine Palms project location (no longer in use).SummaryPeaches & Cream corn was reliably productive over an extended harvest period.OverviewIn 2007 we planted four varieties of corn with different maturation times,…

> 10 Earth-friendly moves > Care for specialized plants > Fall is a good time for garden clean-up Whether your garden is postage stamp or baseball field size, whether filled with succulents, roses, lawn or vegetables, routine maintenance is key to keeping plants healthy and productive.

It's easy to invite bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other welcomed winged visitors into the garden. Just provide the food, water, and shelter they need to feel at home. This is called habitat gardening, and it's a satisfying way to choose plants.

The most effective irrigation systems are designed, installed, and maintained to distribute water as uniformly as possible and only when and where water is needed. That means applying water where roots can use it.

Reduce irrigation times as day length shortens and plant growth slows. Photo: Courtesy UC Regents Maintenance and prevention Reduce irrigation times as day length shortens and plant growth slows.

Here are recommended tools and basic pruning techniques for maintaining the health of a plant and for accentuating key attributes, such as leaves, bark, branch structure, flowers, fruit, or other desirable characteristics. Bypass pruners or shears BYPASS SHEARS Bypass shears are like scissors.

When fallen leaves are overly abundant, consider composting them or shredding them so that they decompose more quickly. Photo: Marie Narlock Theres nothing like the glowing presence of autumn colors, each brilliant red, orange, and yellow leaf backlit by the sun.

Join us for our Fall Garden Fair, held at our Martial Cottle Park Demonstration Garden in San Jose as part of the Martial Cottle Park Fall Festival. Admission: Free.