December Tips & Events for Santa Clara County |
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I don’t remember planting this…. ~Author Unknown
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If you’re not having guests in your home these days, is it okay to leave the cobwebs in place? If they don’t particularly bother you or you’re not in the mood for housework, you can consider the beneficial characteristics of spiders. They eat insects and even other arachnids. So in some ways they are cleaning your house. Most of the 45,000 species of spiders produce venom strong enough to kill insects, not people. The female black widow is the only local spider that is likely to pose a danger to humans, other than a possible individual allergic reaction. Although the spiders you see inside tend to be different than the ones outside, you can gently relocate the spiders to the yard if you really prefer that they do their beneficial work outdoors.
Photo: Mature female western black widow spider, Latrodectus Hesperus, by Rick S. Vetter
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If your citrus leaves have a black coating, you may have a sooty mold problem. This black mold can also be seen on citrus fruit, avocado leaves, magnolia leaves, hibiscus, other host plants, and even on sidewalks beneath trees. In order to find and address the problem, it helps to work backwards. The mold grows on “honeydew” which is the sticky exudate of insects which suck the sap out of plants and excrete excess sugars. It exists purely on the surface of a plant and is not a systemic issue. Aphids, whiteflies, and mealybugs can all contribute to this. In turn, ants protect the offending insects so that they can enjoy the sugars. So you can interrupt the entire chain of events by keeping the ants out of the plants. Pruning branches to allow better air circulation also helps. You can hose off the mold itself with a strong jet of water. And you can eat the fruit once you wash off the sooty mold.
Photo: Sooty mold on naval orange, by David Rosen
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This is the time of year that many of us bring a tree indoors, whether we celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or none of the above. Holidays will look different this year due to health advisories to avoid gatherings which can risk the spread of the novel coronavirus. We may not feel safe going to a tree lot. Perhaps we can cut down a tree. A living tree is another option and could be planted in your garden after the holidays. Maybe you were even able to save last year’s living tree and can re-use it. You don’t need a fir or spruce. You can use potted rosemary, kumquat, a bouquet of red flowers, branches, or just about anything green. A string of lights, a few ornaments, and some imagination, and you have a Christmas tree. Just remember to keep it moist and pest free.
Photo: Living Christmas Tree with ornaments, by Laura Monczynski
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Camellias can be planted in fall through spring. Since they bloom in winter, choosing a plant now will ensure that you know the color and shape and size of the flowers with which you will live for many years. Camellias are not native to our area so may need some extra attention in order to grow successfully. Our native clay soil does not drain well so it must be amended for camellias. Our alkaline soil needs to be acidified, and sulfur pellets are one way to achieve this. The plants need some shade and need to be kept moist. Mulch helps hold in moisture, and pine needles, redwood bark, and coffee grounds are all good organic materials that will break down over time and help improve the soil. Pick up flowers as soon as they fall to the ground to avoid the spreading of a disease called Camellia petal blight.
Photo: Camellia japonica ´Professor Charles S. Sargent’, by Barbara H. Smith, Clemson Extension
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Whether you’re putting together a gift wish list, dreaming of the spring, or tackling gardening for the first time, a key to successful gardening is having the right tools. It’s easy to get fancy or get carried away, yet a few basics will generally serve you well. What’s most important is to have good quality tools that fit your body as well as your gardening needs. For digging, consider a hand trowel with a soft handle that’s comfortable to hold and a shovel for larger jobs. Hold various shovels to see if you prefer the feel of a D-handle or a straight handle and the heft of a wooden handle or the lightness of a fiberglass handle. For weeding, a weeding fork will remove more of the root, while a hula hoe will allow you to work standing up. For pruning, use hand pruners for small branches or stems, loppers for branches an inch or two in diameter, and saws for larger branches. A rake is good for cleaning up just about anything that falls from a plant. Every gardener has his or her own preferences and will give different answers about the best tools; consider all the advice and then try tools out and see what works best for you.
Photo: Ceremonial shovels, UC Davis
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Check our calendar for the latest schedule of events. Videos of many past presentations are also available.
Photo: Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera buckleyi) is also known generically as holiday cactus
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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? Contact our Help Desk (for Santa Clara County residents). Start by reviewing our plant problem diagnosis tips and then:
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