All gardeners have a wish list, and at the top of mine is a set of perfectly matched raised beds. Compared with planting directly in the ground, raised beds are easier to maintain, promote better ...
The Green Thumb: The 4-1-1 on low maintenance plants This week, let’s look at a few recommendations for large perennial plants and trees that require less water and less maintenance than some more familiar landscaping plants. As always, remember tha...
The Green Thumb: More for a water-wise garden Last week, we looked at a few small, perennial plant choices that require little water and maintenance — a boon to any gardener. Using the University of California, Davis, Arboretum’s All-Star dat...
The Green Thumb: Plants for a water-wise garden Choosing plants for a xeriscape — a garden that uses little water — can be tricky. Central Valley residents are fortunate that University of California, Davis, has a database, the UC Davis Arboret...
The Green Thumb: Save water with a beautiful garden Despite the rainfall we have received lately, our state continues to experience drought conditions. Even with our recent precipitation, Shasta Lake, the largest reservoir in the Central Valley Pro...
The Green Thumb: Save your citrus When we bought our home, it came with two well-established citrus trees: a lemon and an orange. They are planted next to each other and receive the same water, sun and fertilization. Although both...
One of the best tools in the gardener’s arsenal is horticultural oil. Carefully choosing and applying the right oil at the right time can make a big difference in controlling garden pests throughou...