California Gardening

Cracks opening up in my backyard, soil too dry

Posted by californian May 31, 2008

6 Comments

armanali_netzero_netUpdated July 26, 2011 Thank you for the suggestions. I was terrified when I saw the crack in my yard, thinking the worst with $$$ to spend. The clay must have been really dried up from the heat. I will try to put new soil in that spot but it is about 6...

Fragrant plants for small sitting area

Posted by ashleysf(9 San Jose,CA) April 14, 2011

13 Comments

temmayUpdated July 25, 2011 I know this is way late, you've probably already chosen your plants, but one of my favorites to have on a deck or around a sitting area is sweet peas. I get the fragrant mixed color packs, and they are just beautiful. I also have ...

Another ID please

Posted by kathi_mdgd(92058) June 14, 2011

5 Comments

temmayUpdated July 25, 2011 It looks just like a tomatillo to me! They're excellent at reseeding themselves.

Washingtonia from ground to pot

Posted by ltecato(9) July 21, 2011

5 Comments

ltecato(9)Updated July 25, 2011 Thanks for the feedback everybody. I know the Mexican fan palm is a nuisance, but I thought it might look better in a pot than growing out of a crack in the sidewalk. If I go ahead with this, I'll be digging up a volunteer that wo...

Growing blueberries in wine barrels

Posted by jenn(SoCal 9/19) July 23, 2011

4 Comments

stanofhUpdated July 24, 2011 'Welcome Jenn! I really meant to say wicker baskets or reeds to cover a generic container like rubbermaids...but all that came to me was Macrame!-lol You have to excuse me for the mistake..I just recently had to put down my old 19...

Help/Ideas needed for small patio PLEASE!! :D

Posted by LucyLeben July 19, 2011

6 Comments

wcgypsy(10 / Sunset 23)Updated July 23, 2011 lol....Pretty...lol. and I see acre after acre of Queen Palms being grown for the poor unsuspecting people who buy and plant them....lol. They should come with a warning label..

Replacement tree for dying Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy'?

Posted by mc510(9b) July 19, 2011

11 Comments

landpersonUpdated July 22, 2011 Thanks, Al In the picture it looks a bit like an Oleander but with prettier softer flowers. Susan

Washington Navel loosing leaves

Posted by Chelsy.pl July 21, 2011

3 Comments

calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9Updated July 22, 2011 I agree with both the answers given. Before the leaves fell off were the tops of the leaves discolored in the middle of the leaf? Sunburn is easy to see and if the tree is moved from the shade into the sun, especially in Sacrament...

Anyone have a rainbarrel system in Northern Calif

Posted by kristimama May 5, 2008

20 Comments

ggarnerUpdated July 22, 2011 I installed 4 5,000 gal tuna can on my uncles property 2 summers ago in central CA and as i recall they are pretty cheap. I think it was about $1500 each delivered. Really depends how "into it" you want to get. If it wer...

Laying Sod

Posted by lkeisler March 5, 2009

7 Comments

hoovb zone 9 sunset 23Updated July 21, 2011 You are better off waiting for autumn if you are planting a cool-season grass (Fescue--Marathon is Fescue). Bermuda types are warm-season so now is tolerable if you are willing to water like crazy. If you want to go from bermuda t...

Is there a Fuchsia growing book for Californians?

Posted by peachymomo(Ca 8) July 18, 2011

12 Comments

bug_girl(17)Updated July 21, 2011 Oh, I did not know that. I only heard somewhere that there was something that came and wiped out all the fuchsias a while back like in the 70's. A blight? A mite? I don't know what, and that the ones that survived "old surviv...

Larner CA poppies seeds

Posted by tropical_thought(San Francisco) July 12, 2011

9 Comments

bug_girl(17)Updated July 21, 2011 I misspoke when I said they don't reseed. I only know that the other colored poppies which I can't find anymore, did not reseed, but the Larner could reseed, but I have been reseeding them myself with new ones, so I don't now if I...

benjamina is drying to die

Posted by kyuhayi July 19, 2011

6 Comments

hoosierquilt USDA 10A Sunset 23 Vista CA(10b Sunset 23)Updated July 21, 2011 Okay, agreed, whopping case of scale. Take it back to Home Depot and get your money back before it infects the rest of your house plants. Scale is almost impossible to get rid of, with either home remedies or big-time insecticides...

Scabiosa 'Fama' -- really BLUE

Posted by danty(z9CA) July 19, 2011

8 Comments

jenn(SoCal 9/19)Updated July 21, 2011 Thank you, Danty. Would you believe those roses were cut on Sunday morning? 4 days later, they still look good. I cut them while still buds and put them in lukewarm water with about 1 Tbsp. sugar added. I just changed the water fo...

What's eating our Sycamore?

Posted by dak56(9) July 17, 2011

5 Comments

dak56(9)Updated July 20, 2011 Thank you all so much for your input, I do appreciate your comments. I think I will try our extension office, that is a very good idea. Huachuma, this is the first year for us with this tree, we do see them in this area that are l...

Vine ID Please?

Posted by hoosierquilt USDA 10A Sunset 23 Vista CA(10b Sunset 23) July 19, 2011

4 Comments

hoosierquilt USDA 10A Sunset 23 Vista CA(10b Sunset 23)Updated July 20, 2011 This vine, if given enough water, will really fill in quickly. I have not had any skin irritation when handling it, and I have pretty sensitive skin (almost redhead), but worth mentioning since it's in the Euphorbia family. It wil...

Oleander next to Tomatoes

Posted by jenn(SoCal 9/19) July 19, 2011

3 Comments

jenn(SoCal 9/19)Updated July 19, 2011 Thank you. We'll be sure to wash the tomatoes well before eating them.

Ideas of some low plants to put under a Acer Japonica or Acer Pal

Posted by leannejh July 11, 2011

6 Comments

deep___roots(ca9/sunset15)Updated July 19, 2011 If the acer is in a lawn, impatiens (an annual) look quite nice in a circle around the tree. In this photo, my acer is next to the deck and has some impatiens in pots underneath so you can get some idea. There is a daphne planted ...

Mimosa Tree--yea or nay?

Posted by Katalina(24 CA) June 21, 2005

48 Comments

hoosierquilt USDA 10A Sunset 23 Vista CA(10b Sunset 23)Updated July 18, 2011 Joy, you really should start a new message for yourself, instead of tacking onto a 6 year old thread. That way, you can check off the auto notification box so you know when you've gotten responses. Patty S.

Ideas for plants/trees in front yard - newbie

Posted by bitmaster20 June 28, 2011

10 Comments

onederwUpdated July 18, 2011 I have a couple of Forest Pansies, as do my neighbors. No root conflicts with the foundation, and one of mine is fairly close to the house.

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