March Tips & Events for Santa Clara County

“You are reborn with the roses, in every spring.”

~Juan Ramón Jiménez
 
Monthly Tips

Quiz: What Is This?

These thin yellow tendrils may look like dead vines, but they are actually alive and can be a garden problem. They’re shown here growing on top of a tomato plant, but they can be found on other plants as well. Do you know what it is?

Photo credit: Joseph DiTomaso, UC
Tangle of thin yellow leafless vines smothering a tomato plant
 
An assortment of red and yellow peppers and tomatoes

Photo credit: Pixabay
Spring Garden Fair

Spring Garden Fair is April 26

If you’re dreaming of harvesting bountiful summer produce in a few months, then mark April 26 on your calendar. Our annual Spring Garden Fair is the ideal starting point for your summer garden, offering plenty of gardening talks, expert advice, booths, and educational activities for kids. Our giant plant sale features over 6,000 tomato and 2,700 pepper seedlings, plus a variety of ornamentals, herbs, succulents, and native plants. We offer varieties that have been tested and grown in our demonstration garden and chosen for exceptional taste, beauty, and performance in Santa Clara County. See you there!
 
 

Planting a Dormant Fruit Tree?

Are you planting a dormant fruit tree this year or have you already planted one? If you want to keep the mature tree to a manageable 6–8 feet tall, UC recommends cutting it down to 18–24 inches and pruning well-placed side branches to 2–3 buds. Remove the side branches if the trunk is ⅜ inch diameter or less. If you’ll need access underneath the tree, you can cut to 36 inches. It may feel shocking to do this—especially the first time!—and be left with only a short stick. But this style of pruning encourages low branching and balances branch and root growth.
An illustration showing where to make pruning cuts after planting, then what the pruned tree will look like afterwards

Illustration: UC ANR Publication 8048, Fruit Trees, Planting and Care of Young Trees
Fruit Tree Pruning
 

Shade Loving Plants
Shade garden with ferns, hostas, impatiens, and other shade plants

Wondering what to grow in that shady spot in your yard? Most home gardeners have one or more areas that are full shade, partial shade, or dappled shade. The plus side of shade gardens is that they offer a cool retreat on hot summer days. The trick for success is matching the plants to the type of shade you have. Ferns are a deservedly popular choice, with a wide variety available. There are many native plant options as well, which are often suitable for dry shade. Learn more at our March 8 talk.



Photo credit: Canva
Shade Loving Plants Talk
 

IPM and Pesticide Safety
Pile of three safety goggles

IPM (Integrated Pest Management) takes the approach of considering least toxic options first. But before treatment, it’s important to figure out what the pest really is. Our Help Desk and monthly Plant Clinic can help you with diagnosis and treatment options. If you choose to use a pesticide, make sure to follow safety recommendations and take appropriate precautions such as wearing protective clothing, eye protection, or a face mask. Learn more about pesticide safety at a UC IPM webinar on March 20 (or watch the recording that will be posted on the UC IPM YouTube channel).


Photo credit: Pixabay
Pesticide Safety Webinar
 
A clump of narcissus leaves after blooming

Mark Bulbs for Dividing Later

Have you ever planned to divide your bulbs, but when the time comes, you can’t remember where to dig? Mark where those bulbs are growing now, so you can find them for dividing once the leaves have died back. Overcrowded bulbs may produce fewer or smaller flowers due to competition for space and nutrients. By dividing and replanting your bulbs, you’ll rejuvenate your flower bed and have extra bulbs to plant elsewhere or share.

Photo: An overcrowded clump of narcissus waiting to be divided, Ying Chen
Spring Blooming Bulbs
 

Quiz Answer: Dodder

Dodder (Cuscuta spp.) is a parasitic plant with thin, twining stems that coil around host plants. Its seeds have enough energy for about ten days, during which seedlings must find and fasten to a host. Research suggests that dodder plants locate suitable hosts by detecting chemicals exuded by those plants. Several native species exist. While dodder doesn’t usually kill its host, it will weaken it, and many attachments can cause death. It seeds prolifically, with long-lasting viability, so remove promptly if spotted.



Photo: Mature dodder with flowers, Jack Kelly Clark, UC
Managing Dodder
Mass of thin yellow vines with tiny white flowers choking a tomato plant
 

More March Tips and To-Dos

For more gardening tips and to-dos, visit the monthly tips archive on our website. It is perfect for browsing, and while you may recognize some of the content, you’re sure to find something new. It starts with to-dos for the month, just the thing to review before heading out to your garden.
More Tips and To-Dos
 
 
 

Upcoming Events

Our monthly Plant Clinic Online is an opportunity to chat with a Master Gardener via Zoom to diagnose a plant problem. You can also listen and learn while other people ask questions. It takes place on the second Tuesday of the month (March 11) from 7–8:30 pm. Priority will be given to questions that are emailed in advance; instructions are in the Zoom registration confirmation. Registration required..


Mark your calendars: Our Spring Garden Fair is Saturday, April 26, at Martial Cottle Park!


PADG How to Work with Clay Soil Saturday, March 1, 10–11:15 am, Palo Alto Demonstration Garden, 851 Center Drive, Palo Alto


Quick Growing Vegetables for Spring Saturday, March 1, 10–11:30 am, South County Teaching and Demonstration Garden, 80 Highland Avenue, San Martin


Gardening for Beginners, 4 Week Course Saturday, March 1, 10 am–noon, Camden Community Center, 3369 Union Avenue, San Jose, $59 (San Jose resident), $63 (non-resident)


Learn How to Grow Blueberries Successfully Saturday, March 8, 10 am–noon, McClellan Ranch Preserve, 22221 McClellan Road, Cupertino


Planning Your Tomato Garden Saturday, March 8, 10:30–11:30 am, Gilroy Public Library, 350 W. 6th Street, Gilroy


Planning a Summer Vegetable Garden Saturday, March 8, 10:30 am–noon, Tully Community Branch Library, 880 Tully Road, San Jose


Growing Ferns and Other Shade Loving Plants Saturday, March 8, 10:30–11:45 am, Willow Glen Public Library, 1157 Minnesota Avenue, San Jose


Dealing with Invasive Shot Hole Borers Saturday, March 8, 11 am–noon, Central Park Library, 2635 Homestead Road, Santa Clara


Growing Great Warm Season Vegetables! Saturday, March 8, 1–3 pm, Sunnyvale Public Library, 665 W. Olive Avenue, Sunnyvale


Plant Clinic Online, Tuesday, March 11, 7–8:30 pm, Online


Planning Your Tomato Garden Tuesday, March 11, 5:30–6:30 pm, Morgan Hill Public Library, 660 West Main Avenue, Morgan Hill

 

Prepare for Fire! Creating Defensible Space Tuesday, March 11, 6:30–7:30 pm, Mountain View Public Library, 585 Franklin St, Mountain View


MCP Succulent Open House & Sale Saturday, March 15, 9 am–noon, Martial Cottle Park, 5283 Snell Avenue, San Jose


California Native Plant Sale Saturday, March 15, 9 am–noon, Martial Cottle Park, UC Master Gardener Pavilion, 5283 Snell Avenue, San Jose


An Introduction to Fruit Tree Grafting Saturday, March 15, 10–11:30 am, Guadalupe River Park Historic Orchard, 425 Seymour Street, San Jose


MCP Container Gardening! Saturday, March 15, 10–11:30 am, Martial Cottle Park, UC Master Gardener Pavilion, 5283 Snell Avenue, San Jose


Growing Great Tomatoes Wednesday, March 19, 7–8:30 pm, Los Altos Community Center, 97 Hillview Avenue, Los Altos


What Are You Wearing? Basic PPE for Pesticide Safety Thursday, March 20, noon–1 pm, Online


Tomatoes and Other Warm Season Crops for Your Summer Garden Saturday, March 29, 10–11:30 am, South County Teaching and Demonstration Garden, 80 Highland Avenue, San Martin


Gardening in Our Changing Climate: An Overview on Ways to Respond Tuesday, April 8, 6:30–7:30 pm, Online


Learn to Successfully Grow Tomatoes Saturday, April 12, 10 am–noon, McClellan Ranch Preserve, 22221 McClellan Road, Cupertino
Check our calendar for the latest schedule of events. Videos of many past presentations are also available.
 

About Us

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!
Connect With Us
Facebook  Instagram  Youtube  
 
 

University of California Cooperative Extension | 1553 Berger Drive, Bldg. 1 | San Jose, CA 95112 US

Unsubscribe | Our Privacy Policy | Constant Contact Data Notice