Master Gardener Newspaper Column
A weekly column in the Contra Costa Times is written by Contra Costa Master Gardeners. Listed below are recent
articles from these columns.
2008
Go Ahead, Plant a Vegetable Garden, but Water Wisely - July 19, 2008
Getting Down to Basics of Backyard Basil Cultivation - June 21, 2008
Proper Pruning Can Restore Luster to Lilacs - June 7, 2008
Water Smart to Save Trees During a Drought - May 24, 2008
Fe Fi Fo Fum, Growing a Beanstalk is No Fairy-tale Story - May 10, 2008
Soil Temperature, Not Calendar, Determines Tomato Planting Time - April 26, 2008
Prepare Your Vegetable Garden Now - April 12, 2008
Finding Alternatives to Scotch Broom - March 29, 2008
Sycamore Tree Fungus is Weather Sensitive - March 15, 2008
Pruning David Austin Roses Requires Work - March 1, 2008
Stubborn Buttercup is a Real Survivor - February 16, 2008
Much Ado About Garden Mulches - February 2, 2008
Jury is out on Marigolds and Pest Control - January 19, 2008
Don't Let Weeds Move in This Winter - January 5, 2008
2007
Camphor Tree Outgrows its Welcome - November 24, 2007
Plan Now, Plant Later for Pumpkin Harvest - November 10, 2007
The Time is Now to Head for Cover - October 27, 2007
Cactus Prickly to Grow, But Worth the Effort - September 29, 2007
Figs Love California, California Loves Figs - September 15, 2007
Keep Watchful Eye Out for Sudden Oak Death - September 1, 2007
It's Tough to Stop Deer With a Taste for Gardens - August 18, 2007
Organic Herbicides Safe, but use Care and Caution - August 4, 2007
Tree Pruning Now is Tricky Situation - July 21, 2007
Expert Wants Your Brown Recluse Spiders - July 7, 2007
Get to Know Your Spiders - June 23, 2007
Grass always greener? Nah - June 9, 2007
Sheet Mulching Saves Time, Labor and Water - May 26, 2007
Tasty Blackberries Good For You - May 12, 2007
Pomegranate Trees - April 14, 2007
Pruning Frost-nipped Citrus - March 31, 2007
Pruning Basics - February 17, 2007
Mealy Bugs - February 3, 2007
Citrus Care in Winter - January 20, 2007
2006
Galls - December 9, 2006
Squirrels - November 26, 2006
Swarming Winged Insects - November 11, 2006
Wasps - October 28, 2006
Heat Greenhouses - October 2, 2006
Prune trees to Reduce Fire Risk - September 30, 2006
Field Bindweed - September 2, 2006
Tree Limb Loss - August 19, 2006
Trim Palm Tree - August 7, 2006
Legumes - July 22, 2006
Fennel - July 22, 2006
Bur Chervil - June 24, 2006
Snails and Slugs - May 27, 2006
Growing Tomatoes - May 13, 2006
Gardening Tasks for Rainy Days - April 15, 2006
Brown Rot - April 1, 2006
Codling Moth - March 18, 2006
Crape Myrtle - February 18, 2006
Stevia - February 1, 2006
Orange Splitting - January 20, 2006
Meyer Lemons - January 9, 2006
Chill Hours - January 7, 2006
2005
Hollyhocks - December 24, 2005
Matrimony Vine - December 10, 2005
Rose Hips - December 1, 2005
Trident Maple - November 26, 2005
Sweet Peas - November 12, 2005
Cherimoyas - October 29, 2005
Velvetleaf - October 15, 2005
Scarlet Wisteria - October 3, 2005
Rhubarb - April 6, 2005
Pistachio Trees- January 7, 2005
2004
Vedalia Beetles- October 18, 2004
Curry Plant- October 18, 2004
Moles- October 9, 2004
Kirengeshoma- September 4, 2004
Sapsucker Damage- September 4, 2004
Winter Vegetables- August 28, 2004
Plant Pine Seeds- August 14, 2004
Tomato Blossom End Rot- August 7, 2004
Ripening Tomatoes - August 7, 2004
Dangling Cucurbits - July 10, 2004
Birch Trees - May 22, 2004
Potted Plants - May 8, 2004
Lemon Trees - May 1, 2004
Silverfish - April 17, 2004
Lawn Renovation - April 10, 2004
Camellias as Foliar Hosts - March 20, 2004
Lawn aeration - February 28, 2004
Planting Vegetable Seeds - February 7, 2004
Winter Care of Fruit Trees - January 10, 2004
2003
Heavenly Bamboo Berry Toxicity - December 26, 2003
Potted Plants for Winter Color - December 13, 2003
Weed Control - December 6, 2003
Evergreen Conifers - November 29, 2003
Deer Resistant Flowering Winter Plants - November 22, 2003
Fuyu Persimmons - November 8, 2003
Winter Preparation for Summer Garden - November 1, 2003
Pear Juniper Rust - October 25, 2003
Bed Bugs - October 18, 2003
Pokeweed - October 11, 2003
Oak Galls - October 4, 2003
Tarweed - September 20, 2003
Protection Against Mosquito Bites - September 13, 2003
Mosquito Control - September 6, 2003
Rattlebox - August 23, 2003
Rose Problems- August 16, 2003
Fuchsia Gall Mites - August 9, 2003
"Good" Garden Bugs - August 2, 2003
Purple Loosestrife - July 19, 2003
Lavandins - July 12, 2003
Redwood Trees - June 28, 2003
Hedge Nettle - June 21, 2003
Tomato Fruit Set - June 14, 2003
Stinging Nettle - June 7, 2003
Carpenter Bees - May 31, 2003
Sycamore Anthracnose - May 24, 2003
Earwigs - May 10, 2003
Lilly-of-the-valley - May 3, 2003
Boron - April 26, 2003
Watercress - April 19, 2003
Aphids - April 12, 2003
Compost - April 5, 2003
Office Plants - March 29, 2003
Sudden Oak Death - March 22, 2003
Oxalis - March 15, 2003
Princess Tree - March 8, 2003
Rockroses - March 8, 2003
Syrpid Flies - March 1, 2003
Asparagus - March 1, 2003
Olive Fruit Fly - February 22, 2003
Sowbugs - February 15, 2003
Winter Honeysuckle - February 8, 2003
Homegrown Potatoes - February 8, 2003
Meyer Lemon Trees - February 1, 2003
Jerusalem Sage/Spinach - January 25, 2003
Irrigation Systems - January 18, 2003
Day Lily Rust - January 11, 2003
2002
Pine Pitch Canker - December 28, 2002
Camellia Petal Blight - December 21, 2002
Burrowing Animals - December 14, 2002
Naval Orange Splitting - November 30, 2002
Loquats - November 23, 2002
Asparagus - November 16, 2002
Pomegranates - November 9, 2002
Olive Fruit Fly - October 19, 2002
Dutch Elm Disease - October 12, 2002
Oak Tree Abuse - October 5, 2002
Bulb Planting - September 28, 2002
Redwoods - September 21, 2002
Powdery Mildew - September 7, 2002
Cherry Slugs - August 31, 2002
Quinoa - August 24, 2002
Seed Saving - August 17, 2002
Pears - August 10, 2002
Fringeflowers - August 3, 2002
Stink Bugs - July 27, 2002
Weed Removal - July 20, 2002
Fire Ants - July 13, 2002
Cilantro - July 6, 2002
Cutworms and Mealy Plum Aphids - June 29, 2002
Anagallis - June 22, 2002
Blackberries - June 15, 2002
Mulches - June 8, 2002
Landscape Fabric to Control Weeds - June 1, 2002
Sprinkler Systems - May 25, 2002
Crane Flies - May 18, 2002
Anthracnose on Modesto Ash - May 11, 2002
Rose Rosette Disease - May 4, 2002
Damping-off Disease - April 27, 2002
Heat-zone Maps for Plant Selection - April 20, 2002
Codling Moths (part 3 of 3) - April 13, 2002
Codling Moths (part 2 of 3) - March 30, 2002
Codling Moths (part 1 of 3) - March 23, 2002
Forsythia - March 9, 2002
Planting a Home Vineyard - March 2, 2002
Pine Pitch Canker - February 23, 2002
Ground Squirrels - February 16, 2002
Citrus Care - February 2, 2002
Peach Leaf Curl - January 19, 2002
Moles - January 12, 2002
Tree Pruning - January 5, 2002
2001
Olive Fruit Fly - December 22, 2001
California Holly - December 15, 2001
Fire Blight - December 1, 2001
Scale - November 24, 2001
Oak Gall - November 17, 2001
Protect Against Frost Damage - November 10, 2002
Persimmons - November 3, 2001
Fire-safe Landscape - October 27, 2001
Pomegranates - October 20, 2001
Native Plants Go Well With Oaks - October 13, 2001
Eucalyptus Long-horned Borers - October 6, 2001
Pea Planting - September 29, 2001
Slime Molds - September 22, 2001
Biological Control of Aphids - September 15, 2001
Sedge Eradication - September 1, 2001
Fire-safe Landscapes - August 25, 2001
Wildlife Problems - August 18, 2001
Lawn Watering - August 11, 2001
Stink Bugs - August 4, 2001
Brown Rot on Fruit Trees - July 28, 2001
Spider Mites - July 14, 2001
Crickets - July 7, 2001
Whiteflies - June 30, 2001
Mason Bees - June 23, 2001
Elm Leaf Beetles - June 16, 2001
Bermuda Grass - May 30, 2001
Butterfly Bush - May 30, 2001
Compost - May 4, 2001
Fast-growing Shade Trees - April 28, 2001
Bees - April 28, 2001
Blood Oranges - April 14, 2001
Cyclamen Mites - April 7, 2001
Red-flowering Gums - April 7, 2001
Bird Attractants - March 31, 2001
Soil Testing - March 24, 2001
Seed Disease Resistance - March 24, 2001
Pacific Madrone - March 17, 2001
Planting Around Oak Trees - March 10, 2001
Compost - March 3, 2001
Gingko Tree Fruit Set - March 3, 2001
January Gardening Guide - January 13, 2001
Love-in-a-mist - January 13, 2001
Leaves in Gardens - January 6, 2001
Neem - January 6, 2001
2000
Pacific Madrone - March 17, 2000
Aphids
Apricot Trees
Bee Stings
Carpet Beetles
Black Calla Lillies
Carpet Beetles
Cockroaches
Eucalyptus Infestation
Fig Fungus
Fleas
Frost Resistant Plants
Hummingbirds
Husk Flies
Jumping Galls
Leaf Blight
Monterey Pines
Mushrooms
Oak Root Fungus
Rust
Shade Trees for Fall Color
Soil Amendments
Voles
Wasps
Yellowjackets