“I love spring anywhere, but if I could choose, I would always greet it in a garden.”

~Ruth Stout

Fresh Cut Flowers

Bringing fresh-grown flowers indoors is one of gardening’s great pleasures. Use our cut flower planting chart to learn when to plant. To keep your flowers blooming all season, deadhead spent blossoms. Pinch back new growth to encourage branching and more flowers. When it’s time to make a bouquet, cut stems at an angle in the cool morning. Immediately place them in lukewarm water and rehydrate in a cool spot for several hours. Remove any foliage below the waterline to reduce decay and arrange in a clean vase. Enjoy the fragrance!

Photo credit: Sergii Kolesnikov at iStock

Irrigation Tune-Up

Proper watering is important for plant health and productivity, but time can take a toll on irrigation systems. Rodents chew on tubing, connectors wear out, and shifting soil and plant growth may cause emitters to move. Now is the time to perform a thorough inspection of your irrigation tubing. When you first turn your system on, listen for rushing water and watch for geysers, which signal a hole in the tubing or a missing emitter. Check that each spray head is aimed correctly and not blocked. Finally, review your timer settings. These tips will ensure you water your garden efficiently.

Photo: Drip irrigation setup, ©Renee’s Garden. Used with Permission.

Fertilizing Citrus

Nitrogen is needed to maximize growth in young trees and for optimal fruit production in mature trees. A mature tree with a foliage diameter of 15 to 20 feet requires about 1 pound of actual nitrogen per year. Proportionally reduce this amount by area of tree canopy for smaller trees. Divide the application to two or three times a year: February or March before bloom, early May, and maybe a third application in June. Do not over-fertilize as this will cause excessive growth, which can make trees susceptible to diseases. Late-season fertilization may impact fruit quality. If you see yellowing of citrus leaves, check for issues before applying fertilizer.

Photo: Abnormally dark green grapefruit foliage from excess nitrogen (left), compared with uniformly pale citrus leaves due to nitrogen deficiency, by Robert G. Platt (UC IPM)

Lunar Legumes

Photo: Moon surface, by Stephen Rahn / CC0 via StockSnap.io 

Avoid Damping-Off

Seeds may rot before they germinate, shoots may decay before they appear or stems of seedlings may rot at the soil line after transplantation. These are symptoms of soil-borne fungal diseases called damping-off. Effective disease prevention relies on cultural practices. Plant in warm, moist, well-drained soils. Sanitize tools and pots. Use disease-free soils, and consider sterilizing seed-starting mix (video). Choose disease-resistant varieties and healthy plants. Rotate crops to enhance soil health. 

Photo: Seedling on right is wilting from postemergence damping-off, by R. Michael Davis, UC IPM

Medfly Quarantine

The Mediterranean Fruit Fly Quarantine that began last August in Santa Clara County is still active. For people living within the quarantine zone, do not share homegrown fruit or vegetables with others. Homegrown produce on the CDFA’s Medfly host list should be consumed at home. Unwanted homegrown produce should be bagged and secured tightly, then disposed of in the garbage (not green waste) until the quarantine is lifted. Please stay vigilant and help prevent the spread of this destructive pest.  

Photo: CDFA representative sharing Medfly quarantine info with the public during Spring Garden Fair, by Mary Werthman

Quiz Answer: All but One Are Lady Beetles

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:

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