Mycorrhizae are a collection of many species of beneficial soil fungi that help nourish a host plant.  The fungi produce very fine threads (hyphae) that attach to the plant’s roots and serve as an extension of the plant’s root system. This enlarged root system permits the plant to penetrate deeper into the soil to obtain additional moisture and nutrients.  Healthy soils are rich in mycorrhizal species and essential for a water efficient landscape. Read More…

Who doesn’t dream of a beautiful garden filled with flowers and butterflies fluttering around?  A butterfly garden is a sanctuary for butterflies to feed and thrive. However, it is easy to forget that butterflies come with the dreaded caterpillars…

Give your plants a winning path to becoming vigorous, drought tolerant and resistant to insects and disease.   The first year is crucial to provide plants a strong start in life.

Let’s all do our part to help restore the Monarch Butterflies by planting Milkweed, the only food source for the caterpillars as they grow.  There are many species which the caterpillars feed upon.  Learn about the different varieties and the considerations in making the proper choice in this feature. 

These fascinating insects are a true marvel. Their ability to capture prey three times their size and their voracious appetites make them a choice for controlling a wide variety of insects. This comes at an expense. Follow these tips for the best practices when using Mantids for insect control.

Top Dressing your garden with a nutrient rich blend of compost is considered to be the most beneficial practice in the entire garden. Read about the benefits here.

Vermiculture, Worm Composting, Worm Farming - whatever you call it, it is a great way to recycle many of your kitchen scraps into a super fertilizer. Worm castings and tea feed your plants while boosting their immunity and resistance to insects and diseases.

Seemingly overnight did the flower buds or new growth on the plants in your garden get covered with small, soft, bud? Normally it would seem impossible for an infestation of that magnitude to occur overnight, unless you have Aphids! Read more about these annoying pest insects…

What are Chill Hours, are they important and how they apply to fruit trees you may want or have in your garden.

Powdery Mildew - you don’t want it in your garden. This article covers ways to prevent and control Powdery Mildew.

Are your citrus leaves always yellow? Follow the guidelines in this article to cure the problem and get larger crops.

Ladybugs - Cute bugs with a voracious appetite for the pest insects in your garden. Learn More about them.

Does the inside of your citrus leaf look like an overhead view of a twisting country road? The silvery paths are created by the Citrus Leafminer. Read about care and treatment in this article.

Holey Apples? Here is a guide to managing the downright destructive moth and their caterpillars that destroy your apples.

 The answer is a resounding NO!  One of the many, wonderful benefits of living in the Bay Area is our temperate climate which allows us to plant perennials, shrubs and trees year-round.