It’s the time of the year when our national flower put on a dazzling show, cloaking plants with brilliantly colored, sweet-smelling blossoms. Are your plants bedecked with perfectly formed flowers, or by chance do you see what way too many gardeners do come June, roses with petals that resemble Swiss cheese, young buds that have […]
These Aren’t Ladybugs Read More »
The word soldier can evoke images of militant, aggressive, tough, warrior like beings – hardly something you’d want to have in your peaceful garden, right? If you’re referring to beetles however, you absolutely DO want them – lots of them, helping you combat unwanted garden visitors (the insect type of visitor that is). While the
Who’s that Bug? It’s a Soldier Beetle Read More »
What happens when you combine spring weather – cool nights and warm days, and a rain that lasts for a day or two? Well, besides the proverbial May flowers, it is the appearance of the BIG THREE fungal diseases of roses – powdery mildew, black spot, and rust. The bad news is that as long
The Big Three Rose Diseases Read More »
It’s March and hopefully this winter will be coming to a soggy close soon. Harbingers of spring – daffodils blooming, cherry and plum trees putting on a spectacular show, and deciduous plants begin bursting with new life – including loads of blemish-free green and mahogany-red foliage on roses. Along with this explosion of growth come
Rose Care for March Read More »
We’re deep into the winter pruning season. This is the brief period of time when roses in Marin go into semi-dormancy, and the best time to do your annual pruning of repeat flowering roses. If you’re not quite done, or are just getting started, here are some things that may be of help: Get the
Working on your pruning? Read More »
Thinking about adding some new roses to your garden? Bare root season is the BEST time to do so – more varieties are available, and prices are generally lower. Check out Tips for Choosing the Best Garden Roses before you start shopping; it’s a good idea to do a little homework and identify varieties that
Getting Ready for New Roses Read More »
Want fabulous plants? You need healthy soil. While garden soil will never be glamorous, it is the foundation for our gardens. What you can see going on with your roses above the ground is largely determined by what goes on beneath your feet that is all but invisible to you. The conditions the roots of
Get your Soil Ready for Planting Read More »
I love roses. There’s nothing quite like walking through the garden in May and feasting on a bonanza of beauty, color, form, and fragrance. To get a bounty of flowers, besides sun, water and good soil, roses need to be pruned. And now is prime pruning season. Even as an avid gardener, this is not
For Lots of Roses this Spring, Prune Now Read More »
Want to give your roses a slow deep watering, but aren’t ready for drip irrigation? A soaker hose might be the way to go. Most often made from recycled tires, the hoses’ rough surface contains millions of tiny pores that allows water to seep into the soil evenly and slowly. Available in a variety of
We are lucky to be able to turn a faucet, flip a switch, or program a dial and get good quality water. At a cost. The price of water in Marin continues to increase, and with the tiered systems used by Marin water providers, the more you use the more it costs. More importantly, during
Water – Use It Wisely Read More »