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How to Support Plants During Heat Waves
Caroline Gengo, UC Master Gardener, Yolo County
Heat waves and extra warm days send us inside with the air conditioner or outside in the nearest pool or river. How do our plants deal with these conditions? Plants are typically stuck where they are (unless they are in a pot that you move around) and do not have the luxury of moving to a more comfortable environment as the temperature changes. What’s a plant to do?
Similar to how your dog might pant in the heat and you start to sweat, plants can cool themselves through a process called evapotranspiration. Evapotranspiration is when small pores, called stomata, open up on the plant’s leaves and water evaporates out of them. Higher temperatures result in greater water loss from your...
Photo: Sara H. UC ANR
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An Introduction to Permaculture
Diana Herrera, UC Master Gardener, Yolo County
International Permaculture Day, which is celebrated on the first Sunday in May, is a day to practice and observe permaculture in action. So what is permaculture and how can we get involved?
Permaculture is a design method, a set of techniques, a philosophy, and a social movement developed in 1978 by David Holmgren and Bill Mollison that attempts to unify people to one another and to their landscape. The term permaculture is derived from ‘permanent agriculture,’ implying that it aims to develop regenerative systems, but it can be applied to more than just agroecological systems. The design methods and techniques are a framework for the development and management of systems in the behavioral, biological, and built realms, with a focus...
Permaculture Principle Wheel by David Holmgren, adapted.
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Love a Tree Day 2026
Kelly Mae Heroux, UC Master Gardener, Yolo County
Illustration by Kelly Mae Heroux
In celebration of National Love a Tree Day on May 16, this article invites you to take a moment to reflect on the many ways trees support human life and well-being. One useful starting point when discussing the many gifts trees provide humans is the concept of ecosystem services, defined as “the direct and indirect contributions of ecosystems to human well-being, which have an impact on our survival and quality of life” (Earth.org).
Framing nature’s value in terms of its service to humans is not without criticism. For example, it can be argued, quite rightly, that Earth’s ecosystems possess intrinsic value beyond human use or benefit. Nevertheless, to describe and celebrate some of the innumerable ways trees support us, the... ecosystem services framework offers a helpful lens.
Ecosystem services are typically organized into four categories. Provisioning services include the tangible products humans obtain from ecosystems, such as timber, food, and medicinal resources. Regulating services refer to the natural processes that ecosystems provide...
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Ask a Master Gardener
This column is written by the Master Gardeners of Yolo County each month. It provides answers to selected questions recently asked by Yolo County gardeners..
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QUESTION: Help! My garden is full of weeds. What do I do?
ANSWER: There’s that saying in the horticultural world: A weed is simply a plant growing where you don’t want it to grow. In other words, one gardener’s weed is another gardener’s plant. And while each of us has definite ideas about which are which we’re not always sure how best to get rid of the weeds...
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QUESTION: What phone- based apps are available to help identify native plants, domesticated and cultivated plants, plant diseases and abiotic disorders of plants? And, are there apps to help identify insects I may find in my garden?
ANSWER: A number of high-quality mobile apps now use AI, image recognition, and crowd-sourced data to identify plants, diagnose diseases, and...
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This two question article previously appeared in the Winters Express and Davis Enterprise.
Have a gardening question? Send it to jmbaumbach@ucanr.edu, with “Ask MGs” in the subject line. Include as much detail as possible and pictures if you have them.
Phone illustration by ijmaki on Pixabay
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May Garden Tips
Peg Smith, UC Master Gardener, Yolo County
One of the most common questions for Master Gardeners is ‘What’s wrong with my tomatoes?’
Here’s a general trouble shooting guide for tomatoes:
Weather
Tomatoes can be finicky, too hot or too cold, fruit setting is delayed. If an extended period of summer heat is forecast use an old sheet or shade cloth to cover your plants. Other causes of poor fruit set could be not enough...
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May Vegetable Planting Guide
Peg Smith, UC Master Gardener, Yolo County
May is the major planting time for the summer garden of warm season vegetables. Daytime and nighttime average temperatures are optimal for transplanting and direct seeding. Our local weather can oscillate between cooler or warmer than usual, so some judgement is needed. For warmer than usual temperatures, hold off on transplanting seedlings, or provide....
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Join Us at Our Events!
UC Master Gardeners of Yolo County have a great selection of in-person and online events. Check the website frequently as they are updated often. They are conveniently listed for you in date order with all of the information you need to plan your gardening adventures!
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Woodland Water-Wise Landscape Tour
Location: City Hall (300 First Street, Woodland
May 2 - 8am - 12pm
8am - Check-in at City Hall
8am - 8:30am - "Stories from a Water-Wise Garden" Presentation
8:30am - Noon - Self-guided tour
Join us for an engaging presentation from a local Woodland resident who has transformed their yard into a beautiful, low-water space. They’ll share why they made the change, lessons learned, and photos of the process from start to finish. After the presentation, enjoy a self-guided tour of the surrounding neighborhood, where you can explore a variety of inspiring, water-wise landscapes.
For past landscape tours, visit waterwisewoodland.weebly.com!
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UC Davis Arboretum Plant Sale
Location: UC Davis Arboretum Teaching Nursery, 1046 Garrod Drive, Davis
May 2 - Public Sale 9am to 1pm
May 16 - Clearance Sale (open to everyone) 9am - 1pm
Master Gardeners of Yolo County will have a table at these sales to answer any plant or gardening questions you might have.
Click here for more information.
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New Video on Gardens of Japan!
Maryellen Mackenzie, UC Master Gardener of Yolo County shows pictures of rose gardens she visited in her recent trip to Japan and describes cultural practices she learned about there. Maryellen has been leading the UC Master Gardener Team working on the rose gardens at Woodland Community Collage near the lathe house and the quad for many years. The video is part of a joint series of classes by Yolo County Library and UC Master Gardeners of Yolo County.
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Visit our Local Demonstration Gardens
Photo by Paula Haley
UC Master Gardener volunteers offer services and outreach to the public in more than 1,286 demonstration, community, and school gardens across 52 California counties. If you are looking for inspiration, visit our local demonstration gardens in Davis, Woodland, Winters, and Clarksburg.
For descriptions, photos, and locations of the eight beautiful demonstration gardens in our local area, go to the UC Master Gardeners of Yolo County Demonstration Gardens webpage.
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Free Compost is Available at Yolo County Landfill
Location: 44090 County Road 28H, Woodland
Monday–Saturday (6:30 AM–4:00 PM) and Sunday (8:00 AM–4:00 PM)
Nutrient-rich compost is available for pickup! No appointment is needed, but you must bring your own shovel and containers to fill.
Click the photo on the right for a PDF version of the flyer.
For more information see Compost Frequently Asked Questions.
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University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program
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Join UC IPM every third Thursday of each month from 12 to 1pm to learn about a wide range of urban pest management topics. This series is free and open to the public but advance registration is required.
Upcoming Webinars:
May 21 - Test your Pest ID Knowledge
Join this webinar for a fun and interactive session where we will “quiz” attendees on look-alike pests, causes of plant damage, good bug vs. bad bug, weed ID, and more. Register Here
June 18, 2026 - When Composting Goes Rotten
Decomposition is happening around us all the time but sometimes managing our compost piles gets complicated, and we encounter pests and problems. Learn the common mishaps to avoid when composting, as well as how to manage pests when they arrive. Register Here
Check the Urban & Community IPM Webinars page for their full 2026 webinar schedule
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Follow us on Facebook for gardening tips, information about pests and beneficial creatures, and announcements about upcoming events.
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Join us on Instagram for inspiration, entertainment, and information about gardening topics and our events.
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Watch our videos on Youtube. See recent presentations by Master Gardeners that will help you hone your gardening skills.
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Connect with us on Nextdoor to learn about the UC Master Gardener Program and upcoming events.
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The Yolo Gardener Newsletter is a monthly publication and the events posted here are based on information available at the time of publication. For the most up-to-date information on our events CLICK HERE. | | | | |
University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources (UC ANR) is an equal opportunity provider. | | | UC Master Gardeners of Yolo County2780 East Gibson Road Woodland, CA 95776 US | | | | |
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