December Tips & Events for Santa Clara County |
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“The soil is the great connector of our lives, the source and destination of all.”
~Wendell Berry
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Around this time of the year, this large California native shrub produces an abundance of bright orange to red, berry-like fruits. You can find them in chaparral and woodland areas throughout California. It’s considered an All-Star plant by the UC Davis Arboretum, so you might also see it in people’s landscapes. Do you know what it is? Read to the end to find out. |
Photo credit: Erin Mahaney
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With Winter Rains Come Winter Weeds |
There’s an old garden saying that one year of seeding means seven years of weeding. Weeds such as henbit, little mallow, burclover, and filaree grow quickly from past years’ seeds. The flowers may be pretty, but the seeds that follow can linger in the soil for years. To get ahead of these weeds, pull or hoe them while they’re young, before they have a chance to go to seed. Act fast, because some, like annual bluegrass, can go from sprout to seed in just weeks. Your future self will thank you.
Photo: Henbit is a winter annual weed, Karen Russ, HGIC, Clemson Extension
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Did you know that poinsettia was first cultivated by the Aztecs in 14th-century Mexico? It became associated with Christmas in the 17th century and was later introduced to the US by Joel Robert Poinsett in the 1820s. The color parts of the plant are actually pigmented leaves, called bracts, which come in different colors. These leaves surround the plant’s true flowers and serve to attract pollinators. At home, you can keep it blooming by maintaining its temperature between 60 and 70 degrees, away from drafts. Water when the soil surface is dry, and allow water to drain. Do not leave it sitting in water. It’s possible to rebloom a poinsettia for the following Christmas, but you’ll need to follow a rather complex care regimen.
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Photo: Poinsettia, Ying Chen |
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Sooty mold is a fungus that looks just like you might expect: a heavy black dusting on leaves and fruit. It grows on a sticky substance called honeydew that is excreted by plant-sucking insects. Ants love this stuff and protect the sucking insects, so to reduce sooty mold, you might want to apply a sticky ant barrier like Tanglefoot around tree trunks. Is sooty mold ugly? Yes. Is it dangerous to the plant? No, unless the sooty mold is so thick that it blocks sunlight and interferes with photosynthesis. Just wash it off with a strong stream of water. And the washed fruit is fine to eat.
Photo: Sooty mold on a lemon tree, Barbara Krause
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Our warm winters may be the envy of East Coast friends, but we still get frost warnings between November and March. Protect tender plants like citrus and avocado trees, succulents, and perennials like fuchsia and bougainvillea. Move potted plants to warmer spots next to the house or under a patio cover. It may seem counterintuitive, but water plants before a frost because soil retains heat better when moist. Place stakes around plants and cover them with clear plastic or fabric without touching the leaves. Add some warmth with holiday lights (incandescent, not LED) around plant interiors. Frost isn’t all bad news though: it improves the flavor of broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and root vegetables like carrots!
Photo credit: Jennifer Baumbach
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Dealing with pesky surface roots disrupting your landscape? Many trees naturally have shallow roots near the surface. As the roots get bigger or the soil is worn away, they can become exposed and cause tripping and mowing hazards. So what can you do? Cutting the roots can damage the tree. Adding a thick layer of soil can deprive the roots of oxygen, causing them to die. The preferred solution is adding a 3-inch layer of wood mulch from near the trunk to the dripline or where the roots no longer surface. The mulch covers the roots while still allowing air to reach them. It also helps save water by retaining soil moisture. |
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Photo credit: Allen Buchinski
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Photo: Toyon berries, Erin Mahaney
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This is toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia), also known as Christmas berry or California holly. It is a large evergreen shrub that is identified by its glossy, dark green, serrated leaves. It is an important California native as it provides both food and habitat for wildlife. In summer, it produces dense clusters of small, creamy white flowers that are attractive to insects, and in winter, the berries attract birds and other animals. You can use it in your garden as an anchor plant, a hedge, or a screen. Toyon is drought tolerant and can handle a variety of soil types as long as the planting area drains easily in winter.
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No plant clinic November–February.
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Check our calendar for the latest schedule of events. Videos of many past presentations are also available.
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University of California Master Gardener volunteers promote sustainable gardening practices and provide research-based horticultural information to home gardeners. Visit our website for more information including:
Have a gardening question? Ask us. We’re here to help!
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