November Tips & Events for Santa Clara County | |
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“The butterfly is a flying flower, the flower a tethered butterfly.”
~Ponce Denis Écouchard Lebrun
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Quiz: What Pest Caused This Damage? | What common pest can turn leaves into lace like this? There are actually multiple possibilities, but here’s a clue for the one we’re talking about: broccoli is a member of the brassica family, a.k.a. the cabbage family, and the pest we’re featuring loves brassicas so much that its common name reflects it. Though take note, it doesn’t confine itself to this family and can also be a pest for lettuces, nasturtiums, and alyssum. | Photo credit: Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org | |
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Photo credit: Canva stock photo | |
In winter, as your deciduous fruit tree goes dormant, you can do a few things to ensure a healthy and productive growing season next year. Thin or cut back branches to improve airflow and sunlight penetration. For pest and disease control, remove dead or damaged branches and mummified fruits from the tree. Dispose of diseased wood, fruit, and leaves from the ground. You can manage many insects and diseases with a dormant spray. Identify the issue you had this year, and choose the appropriate spray. Make sure to follow the instructions carefully as you apply it. |
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Winter is right around the corner, so it’s not too early to begin preparations for rose care during the cold season. Start now by cleaning up all fallen leaves from rose bushes. Roses are very susceptible to fungal diseases like black spot which overwinter on fallen leaves. Prune in the winter before spring growth emerges and disinfect pruning tools to help stop the spread of disease. Learn more about rose care at our talk and pruning demonstration on November 9 where you’ll also learn that now is the best time to buy bare-root roses!
Photo credit: University of Maryland Extension
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Dealing with critter problems in your yard? Whether it is a rat eating your fruit, a ground squirrel digging holes, or something else, these animals are often there to look for food, shelter, or a nesting spot, which may lead to more damage to your garden. Luckily, UC IPM has a vertebrate pest page that provides an overview of common critter pests as well as how to manage them. If you need help identifying what vertebrate pest you have, visit the Wildlife Pest Identification Tool which helps you narrow down the pest based on signs such as tracks or damage.
Photo: Characteristic crescent-shaped mound and plugged burrow opening of a pocket gopher, Jack Kelly Clark, UC IPM
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The internet offers a wealth of gardening information, but navigating the sea of information can be overwhelming. For reliable, science-based advice, add “site:ucanr.edu” to your searches to tap into University of California resources. Expand to other university extensions with “site:edu” if needed. While AI chatbots like ChatGPT can be useful, always fact-check their suggestions. These tools are evolving and may not provide current or region-specific information. By combining trusted sources with a critical eye, you’ll cultivate not just your garden, but your gardening knowledge as well.
Illustration: Canva
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Adjust Watering for Fall Conditions | If you think we’re having a particularly long dry spell without rain, you’re right. According to the US Drought Monitor, California is in an abnormally dry period right now. That could change of course—see the button link to the Climate Change Prediction Center. While we wait for rain, start now to reduce your landscape or garden irrigation. Shorter days and cooler temperatures mean plants are not growing rapidly and don’t need as much water. If you have an automatic watering system, now is a good time to reprogram it. In addition, check the timer batteries and inspect the system for leaks. |
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Quiz Answer: Imported Cabbageworm | The imported cabbageworm is a velvety green caterpillar with a huge appetite for the cabbage family. The little white butterflies lay eggs on plants that the larva will eat. Mature plants can withstand the damage but it can be devastating for young seedlings. What to do? Cover seedlings with floating row cover to keep the butterflies from laying eggs on them. Inspect the leaves, top and bottom, for little yellow eggs and flick them off. Handpick any caterpillars that you find. Spraying with Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis), a bacterial insecticide that targets caterpillars, is also effective. | |
Photo: Imported cabbageworm life stages | |
More November Tips and To-Dos | |
For more gardening tips and to-dos, visit the monthly tips archive on our website. Perfect for browsing, you may recognize some of the content, but 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. | |
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No plant clinic November–February.
Adding Mediterranean and California Native Plants to Your Garden Saturday, November 2, 10–11 am, Palo Alto Demonstration Garden, 851 Center Drive, Palo Alto
Winter Fruit Tree Care Saturday, November 2, 10:30–11:30 am, Gilroy Public Library, 350 W. 6th Street, Gilroy
Winter Care of Roses Saturday, November 9, 11 am–noon, Santa Clara Central Library, 2635 Homestead Road, Santa Clara
Roses - Choosing, Planting, Winter Care and Pruning Saturday, November 9, 11 am–noon, Mountain View Public Library, 585 Franklin Street., Mountain View
Sustainable Succulents: Perfect Plants Saturday, November 9, 11 am–12:15 pm, Tully Public Library Community Room, 880 Tully Road, San Jose
Save the Seeds! Sunday, November 10, 10–11:30 am, Eddie Souza Community Garden, 2380 Monroe Street, Santa Clara
Garden Club Tuesday, November 12, 7–8 pm, Saratoga Library, 13650 Saratoga Avenue, Saratoga
MCP Succulent Holiday Open House & Sale Saturday, November 16, 9 am–noon, Martial Cottle Park, 5283 Snell Avenue, San Jose
Climate Change and Your Garden - San Jose Saturday, November 16, 10:30–11:30 am, Willow Glen Public Library, 1157 Minnesota Avenue, San Jose
Top Ten Habits of Happy and Successful Gardeners Saturday, November 16, 1–3 pm, Fiction Room, Sunnyvale Public Library, 665 W. Olive Avenue, Sunnyvale
Climate Change and Your Garden Sunday, November 17, 1:30–2:30 pm, Rinconada Library, 1213 Newell Road, Palo Alto
Flowers and Herbs for Late Fall and Winter Tuesday, November 19, 6:30–7:30 pm, Morgan Hill Public Library, 660 West Main Avenue, Morgan Hill
Rat Management Thursday, November 21, noon–1 pm, Online
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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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