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7,103 Garden Web Discussions | California Gardening
Grewia occidentalis- freeze to ground or just lose leaves?
Posted by elvie
2 Comments
gyr_falcon(Sunset 23 USDA 9)Updated I live in Orange County. Infrequently we will get some frosts that brown the fronds of tree ferns and turn non-hardy aloes into mush. But I don't recall my Grewias showing any damage at all.
Are my tulips done?
Posted by imahousenewbie
9 Comments
Errant_gwUpdated I'm in the mountains and tulips and daffys are about the only thing I can grow successfully!
Small rodent in back yard - on walls
Posted by Lars(Z11a, Sunset 24)
26 Comments
devoletUpdated I'm not a fan of rats running around the garden either and have had damage from roof and river rats running through the downspouts. And they just freak me out. The dogs chase them. I found a veritable rodent condo complex in the j...
trees in wine barrels
Posted by Vasquez11
2 Comments
devoletUpdated Spray the interior of the barrels with water seal, one of the more safer formulas and let dry as the barrels will last longer. Or oil them to season the finish. They will rot slower and not disintegrate as I have had happen to me....
Silver lupine and slugs.
Posted by melle_sacto(Z9/Sunset 14 CA)
6 Comments
devoletUpdated Iron Phosphate is awesome and there are off brands of it that are less expensive than Sluggo. I have dogs in my garden and mutant slugs that would knock on the door at dinner time if they had knuckles. A sprinkle a day makes the t...
Looking for a defensive/security plant
Posted by CApug
14 Comments
devoletUpdated Dyckia Platyphlla Cherry Cola, it is dark, barbed, gorgeous, and mean. Puya plants which are a similar, and related to bromeliads; also barbed, one has turquoise blooms, and Firethorn as mentioned in earlier post. I have one, and ...
Hot Composting
Posted by fruit_n_vegetables
1 Comment
calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9Updated When your pile starts to cool off it is time to turn it. Also check the moisture content at that time. You are keeping alive the micro organisms that are making your green waste into compost. They require oxygen, provided when you...
Help! New to Composting
Posted by fruit_n_vegetables
1 Comment
napapen(ca 15)Updated It sounds like you are on the right track. I don't do hot compost but if you have time it is a good idea. You might consider a compost thermometer to see if you get up to 140 degrees. Hot compost mixes are usually a one time deal ...
Favorite blogs?
Posted by slowjane CA/ Sunset 21
3 Comments
wcgypsy(10 / Sunset 23)Updated Yes, hoovb's "Piece of Eden" blog "Digging"...Pam Penick's blog out of Austin, Texas (many similarities in climate) "A Growing Obsession" blog (Long Beach, Ca) "Danger Garden" (Portland, Ore...
Name of this plant
Posted by kristie_2007
2 Comments
wcgypsy(10 / Sunset 23)Updated Or a tiarella?
Harvesting agave pups
Posted by Colm
1 Comment
hoovb zone 9 sunset 23Updated Some Agave offsets come up a little ways--or quite a ways--from the parent plant. Others come up from right underneath the parent. The first type is easy--just dig up an offset, getting some root if you can, and transplant. Offset...
So Cal Strawberry Trials
Posted by MrClint
18 Comments
MrClintUpdated slowhands95128, I don't have an answer for your question. But I can say that your Sequoias would be hard to beat with a commercial variety that needs to ship and store well. My main takeaways from my own trials is that there are n...
LA/OC/SD Plant Swapping
Posted by cyh527
5 Comments
NorcoBillUpdated My pencil cactus is about twenty foot tall. I planted it after one of our plant exchanges ten years ago, and it was less than a foot tall. I can give you all the cuttings you want. They start very easily, just stick a cutting in t...
Where do you keep your vermicompost bin?
Posted by winstella(10b los angeles)
4 Comments
socksUpdated I gave up my worms, but when I had them, I kept them in a Rubbermaid bin on the north side of the house in the shade. Maybe you will get over hating worms because it's so wonderful to see the work they do. You know you can buy bag...
small compost area
Posted by belladom
1 Comment
cjccmc(z10 so CA)Updated I just used green plastic mesh fencing for mine. Has about 1 inch sized holes, about 3 feet tall, it's flexible so you can shape it to fit the space. I used pencil thin bamboo stakes about 3 ft long pushed into soil to support it....
pine mulch source in SF bay area
Posted by aeleva(USDA-9 CA)
6 Comments
stanofhUpdated You can always contact a local tree removal service and ask them to dump their next clients ground pine tree in your driveway. Somebody dumped a ground up pine in the empty lot next door,and I hauled as much as I needed. Darned if...
Pawpaw sapling to a good home
Posted by savoiu(9A (San Jose))
3 Comments
sf_rhinoUpdated I'm also interested if CC369 doesn't want to ship it/you still have it but don't know when i'd be near SJ to pick it up. What area of SJ are you? I work on the peninsula near 92 so could conceivably sneak out during the work day i...
Water Concervation
Posted by tal999(9a)
11 Comments
bahia(SF Bay Area)Updated Not green in color, but Dymondia margaratae fills in quickly, takes light foot traffic, is drought tolerant and stays very low. Another possibility is Myoporum parvifolium 'Dwarf Pink Form', doesn't take foot traffic as well, but ...
Pacific myrtle in inland so cal
Posted by aquilachrysaetos
1 Comment
OregonGrapeUpdated If you're talking about Myrica californica, my guess is that you'd have problems with it in sun in inland SoCal. At the very least, you'd have to water it twice a week and hope that it doesn't get root rot. Myrica californica is a...
Clerodendron quadriloculare. 'Starburst plant'
Posted by stanofh
2 Comments
stanofhUpdated Thanks Al. I had that one years ago,and never planted it out because I was warned about that AFTER i bought it. Then,it died going too dry. This one seems to be more warm needy. But,its early and I cant really tell what its going ...
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