“It seems like everything sleeps in winter, but it’s really a time of renewal and reflection.”

~ Elizabeth Camden

Save the Date

The 2026 Spring Garden Fair

Saturday, April 11, 2026

9:00 am–2:00 pm

Martial Cottle Park Demonstration Garden

Citrus Yellowing and Leaf Drop? 

Don’t panic if leaves on your citrus trees turn yellow and fall off now. Citrus naturally sheds older leaves throughout the year, and during winter, there is little new growth to replace them. Yellow leaves might suggest nitrogen deficiency, but this is probably not the case. That’s because cold, wet soil makes it difficult for roots to take up nitrogen, even when the soil has sufficient nutrients. Be patient; symptoms should improve as soils warm and dry in spring. If the tree doesn’t green up with warmer weather, give it some nitrogen fertilizer. Apply up to 1 lb per year for mature, full-sized trees, less for younger or smaller trees.

Photo credit: Allen Buchinski

Fruit Tree Grafting

Did you know that most fruit trees are grafted? Grafting is a technique where tissues from two compatible plants are joined so that they can grow together. One plant provides the root system—the rootstock. The other plant—the scion—is a bud or a shoot from the desired variety of plant. Growers can select a rootstock that is more disease tolerant and better suited for our region. You can graft additional scions onto your tree to get more varieties of fruits and enhance pollination—like this tree with 40 different kinds of fruit.

Interested? Join us to learn more and try grafting yourself.

Photo: Multiple grafts on a rootstock, by Ying Chen

“Garden Variety” Seed Catalogs

Seed catalogs have been a vital tool for gardeners since our nation’s early days. The Smithsonian Institution has a collection of over 10,000 seed and nursery catalogs dating back to the 1830s, with the colorful cover images available online. This is a record of improvements to our favorite flowers and vegetables over time. Today’s catalogs help you find great fits for your garden, like compact plants designed for small spaces, heat-tolerant varieties, or heirlooms perhaps once featured in old catalogs. Just remember to research each variety first to make sure you can provide the specific conditions it needs to thrive.

Photo: Schisler-Corneli Seed catalog front cover

Winter Rose Pruning

Giving your rose bushes a good, hard prune in winter is key to abundant blossoms in the spring. Begin by removing all leaves to see the plant’s form clearly. Prune out dead, damaged, or diseased branches and those that cross or are thinner than a pencil. Make cuts ¼ inch above an outward-facing bud at a 45-degree angle to encourage open growth and shed water. It may sound drastic, but it’s best to remove about 1/3 to 1/2 of last year’s growth. Learn more about rose pruning, see demonstrations, and hear more tips for beautiful roses by attending our rose events on February 7 and February 22.

Photo credit: creativefamily -stock.adobe.com

WUCOLS Updated

Interested in Composting?

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:

• More Monthly Tips
• A complete list of Upcoming Events and Classes
• Extensive Garden Help
• Videos of garden tips and past online presentations

Have a gardening question? Ask us. We’re here to help!