http://ucanr.org/blogs/slomggarden/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed San Luis Obispo County Demonstration Garden en-us UC ANR http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/rss/ Wed, 16 May 2012 12:55:29 PST Wed, 16 May 2012 12:55:29 PST UC ANR Birds, Blooms and Butterflies This month’s Advice to Grow By workshop will star birds, blooms and butterflies. The workshop, put on by the University of California Master Gardeners, will be held on Saturday at 10 a.m. in the Garden of the Seven Sisters, located at 2156 Sierra Way, San Luis Obispo. Bring a notepad and be prepared to discover the connection between wildlife and success in the garden. As population soars and growth sneaks into unfettered areas, wildlife habitat continues...
]]> Wed, 16 May 2012 12:55:28 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=7508&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed abreschini@co.slo.ca.us(Amy Breschini) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=7508 When to Water Your Plants by Jim Borland   Master GardenerEverybody knows that plants can die of thirst, but don't forget you can also send them to an early grave by overwatering.  When we overwater, the soil becomes saturated and forces out vital oxygen, and we literally drown our plants.  So then how do we know when to water our plants? Here are some simple and useful methods that should help.First thing to do is make a close observation of your landscape plants. A plant's stress symptoms...
]]> Thu, 03 May 2012 18:13:15 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=7417&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed abreschini@co.slo.ca.us(Amy Breschini) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=7417 I have caterpillars eating the leaves on my oak trees, what should I do?Ann M. Arroyo GrandeThe California oakworm is probably your pest. On a typical year, there may only be two generations of oakworms, but this year was unusually warm and dry in mid-winter, which has created a perfect environment in order to have a third generation. The life cycle of an oak moth starts with eggs, then maturing to a larva (caterpillar), eventually transforming into a chrysalis (pupa) then finally to the adult...
]]> Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:51:31 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=7351&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed abreschini@co.slo.ca.us(Amy Breschini) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=7351 Busy Month of May Tami Reece  Master Gardener   May is a month for planting, fertilizing and controlling pests. But don’t be fooled by a late frost! Plant dahlias and gladiolus for summer color. For annuals you can plant dianthus and pansies. As the nights become warmer you can hang baskets of fuchsias and geraniums. For perennials, shop for summer and fall color with asters, coreopsis, and cornflowers. Now is the time to check the needs of your lawn. Aerate, feed and overseed to get rid of...
]]> Wed, 25 Apr 2012 11:19:44 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=7341&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed abreschini@co.slo.ca.us(Amy Breschini) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=7341 We have an upcoming " Worm Composting Made Easy"  Workshop on Saturday, May 12, 2012 10 am - noon.. Register here   Worm composting is slow, but it's great for your plants~ It's worth it! Vermiculture by Jim Borland, Master GardenerQ – I've heard it's possible to get good compost from worm manure. Is this true?Curtis Reinhardt, Shell BeachA – Yes, you can let worms eat your kitchen scraps and convert it into fertilizer.  It's called vermiculture which is a fancy name for worm composting. ...
]]> Fri, 16 Sep 2011 09:36:46 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=5784&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed abreschini@co.slo.ca.us(Amy Breschini) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=5784 ]]> Tue, 17 Apr 2012 11:45:18 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=7273&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed abreschini@co.slo.ca.us(Amy Breschini) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=7273 I’d like to preserve olives from our tree, but last year each fruit had a little worm in it.  What is this pest? John B., Templeton   By Ann Dozier Master Gardener Appreciated for their beauty and historical importance, olive trees are a beloved part of many gardens. However, an imported pest has become a severe problem for all growers. Your crop was probably attacked by the olive fruit fly. This small (about ¼ ‘’ long) fly of Mediterranean origin was first noted in California in1998...
]]> Tue, 10 Apr 2012 11:32:25 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=7227&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed abreschini@co.slo.ca.us(Amy Breschini) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=7227 Question:  I just moved into a house that has been empty for several months.  There are neglected citrus and avocado trees in the yard.  How should I care for them? Susan Finn SLO  Maggie King  Master GardenerIs it any wonder that we love living on the Central Coast?  In most areas of the county, citrus trees and avocados can be grown with relative ease.  They are beautiful year round.  They produce bountiful quantities of delicious fruit.  Few scents are more intoxicating than citrus blossoms....
]]> Tue, 10 Apr 2012 11:58:33 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=7228&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed abreschini@co.slo.ca.us(Amy Breschini) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=7228 You can place your order by clicking on this link: http://ucanr.org/sloworm Below is a little article by Lee Oliphant.. Thank you Lee! Worm Composting - Composting on a Small Scale By Lee Oliphant, Ed.D., Master Gardener Traditional composting is not for everyone.  Some folks just don’t have the space for composting bins but would love to have some of the “black gold” plant food that composting provides.  If you want to try composting on a smaller, more concentrated level, worm...
]]> Thu, 21 Oct 2010 15:40:44 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=3649&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed abreschini@co.slo.ca.us(Amy Breschini) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=3649 April Gardening - Where to start? By Lee Oliphant Master Gardener  Q. My garden is beginning to come alive. Other than the usual clean-up and watering, what needs to be done this time of year? Jeanette Wolff, Cambria   A. If you’re planning on adding new plants to what you have, and what gardener isn’t, now’s the time to visit a nursery to pick colors that will accentuate established plantings. Choose a new clivia for a shady corner, a clematis for arbors and fences. New and exciting varieties...
]]> Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:05:04 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=7111&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed abreschini@co.slo.ca.us(Amy Breschini) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=7111 Rodents, and their nemesis, owls, was discussed at this month’s Advice to Grow By Workshop.   We all know the tell-tale signs: small, rice-sized feces, shredded material or simply a brazen ball of fur with bald tail darting wantonly amongst your living space, holes in the garden and damaged plants.     No matter the method you employ, rodents continue to alarm and escape capture throughout many a SLO county garden. Rodents are known to transmit 32 separate diseases. Despite their propensity for...
]]> Sat, 17 Mar 2012 11:00:00 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=7053&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed abreschini@co.slo.ca.us(Amy Breschini) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=7053 I have room in my garden, and I’d like to plant some unusual varieties of citrus. Could you give an idea of what’s available? Judith Cadigan, Los Osos   By Ann Dozier Master Gardener   Spring is a fine time to plant citrus, and there are some interesting varieties available. It’s easy to stick by old favorites such as Eureka or Meyer lemons and Navel or Valencia oranges. Many gardeners also want a lime tree – either Bearss or Mexican (Key) lime and some sort of mandarin, perhaps a Satsuma...
]]> Tue, 13 Mar 2012 15:49:16 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=7026&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed abreschini@co.slo.ca.us(Amy Breschini) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=7026 Starthistle   By Tami Reece  Master Gardener   Never give up, never give up, never give up.  Winston Churchill   Yellow starthistle is the most widespread invasive weed in California.  It is a gray-green to blue-green plant with a deep, vigorous taproot. It produces bright, thistlelike yellow flowers with sharp spines surrounding the base.  Yellow starthistle seeds germinate from fall through spring. After germinating, the plant initially puts all its energy into root growth. By late spring,...
]]> Mon, 05 Mar 2012 12:03:33 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=6955&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed abreschini@co.slo.ca.us(Amy Breschini) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=6955 For the past several years, the Master Gardeners have had a "gardening education" booth at the Central Coast Greenhouse Growers Association Open House.  This year marks the 11th year of the CCGGA Tours!  Many professionals in our community are sharing horticulture knowledge that day, including the Master Gardeners. Wholesale growers open their doors to the public for tours and sales of fresh flowers and plants, all to raise money for local youth scholarships.  As Master Gardeners, it's our...
]]> Fri, 24 Feb 2012 16:45:16 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=6891&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed abreschini@co.slo.ca.us(Amy Breschini) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=6891 Edible Landscapes  By Maggie King Master GardenerDoes your home landscape deserve the time, water and money you put into it?  Consider increasing your rewards by developing an edible landscape.  The edible landscape incorporates plants that can be eaten, with or without plants that are purely ornamental.   The ongoing scarcity of water here on the Central Coast, the rising cost of grocery store produce and the importance of conserving energy make it hard to justify spending resources on...
]]> Fri, 17 Feb 2012 09:55:57 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=6856&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed abreschini@co.slo.ca.us(Amy Breschini) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=6856 ]]> Fri, 17 Feb 2012 09:50:41 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=6853&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed abreschini@co.slo.ca.us(Amy Breschini) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=6853 Grow and Eat Greens Year-Around By Master Gardener Lee Oliphant Q. Is there an easy-to-grow edible green that I can plant now and grow year-around? Beverly Delauer, Cambria A. We have just the thing for you, Beverly! The easy-to-grow Tendergreen Mustard, also referred to as “Mustard Spinach” and “Komatsuna”, is actually not a spinach but in the Brassica family. This tender mustard green grows to maturity in less than 40 days, requires little care, can take cold weather as well as heat (although...
]]> Fri, 17 Feb 2012 09:34:30 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=6852&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed abreschini@co.slo.ca.us(Amy Breschini) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=6852 Q.  Are Indian walking sticks considered pests in the garden? -Rhonda Kohler, San Luis Obispo A. The ultimate expert in camouflage, the Indian walking stick exhibits crypsis, the ability to change color, shape and behavior to blend into their environment. Adult specimens reach up to 4 inches in length. Their long, wingless body is generally brown-colored. When confronted, this amazing creature retracts its legs alongside its body, adding to its appearance as a stick. In fact, if it were a bit...
]]> Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:35:58 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=6671&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed mayockey@yahoo.com(Michele Yockey) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=6671 By Maggie King, Master Gardener January means different things to different people. For some it means good books, bunny slippers, and naps by the fire.  For avid gardeners, January is the time to grab a pair of pruners and head outside to the fruit trees and vines that await our attention.  Careful pruning can make the difference between a bountiful crop of fruits and berries and an unhealthy, unproductive orchard.  When we prune we get rid of dead and diseased branches and we improve the...
]]> Thu, 29 Dec 2011 16:00:42 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=6485&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed abreschini@co.slo.ca.us(Amy Breschini) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=6485 Advice To Grow By WorkshopBy Andrea Peck, Master GardenerThe San Luis Obispo Master Gardeners are at it again with their monthly Advice To Grow By Workshops. This Saturday from 10 to noon the workshop will discuss that odd piece of machinery that inhabits the center of the Garden of The Seven Sisters. As important as any growing element in the garden, the mechanical whirligig is not modern garden art; it is a state-of-the-art weather station which measures temperature, precipitation, wind speed...
]]> Mon, 07 Nov 2011 14:34:41 PST http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=6138&utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS%2BFeed abreschini@co.slo.ca.us(Amy Breschini) http://ucanr.org/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=6138