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Do you have a gardening question? The UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County can help. Our volunteers are part of the University of California’s Cooperative Extension program and we are trained to use research-based information to educate our fellow residents on sustainable gardening and landscaping practices specific to our area.
Our monthly “Ask a Master Gardener” column will answer your questions and offer tips. Have a question? Email lifestyle@embarcaderopublishing.com.
Tree pruning — DIY or hire an arborist?
Answer: Whether you prune your own trees or hire someone, it’s important that whoever does the job knows about tree anatomy, plant health and the purpose of the plant (shade? privacy? fruit?). Knowing the difference between heading cuts and thinning cuts, how to locate a node to direct growth and how to open up a tree for air circulation are all part of good tree pruning. An improper pruning job can stress the tree, spread disease, invite pests and promote weak branching. These can lead to breakage, damage, and injury. The cheapest bid may end up costing more in the long run due to damage repair, lawsuits and additional fix-it pruning.
Take a class or read tree pruning guides if you want to do a good job yourself. If you hire someone, it is strongly recommended that you choose a certified arborist who has been specially trained and is insured. The International Society of Arboriculture can help you find a certified arborist in your area.
February garden tips
Plant sweet peas for a fragrant spring garden
Sweet peas are incredibly fragrant vining flowers that come in a variety of colors, mostly pastels. They are an annual flower so they must be planted again every year.
You can sow seeds anytime during the winter for spring bloom.
The seeds are hard and it can be helpful to nick them slightly before putting them in the ground. Sweet peas do best in full sun or light shade.
The plants will decline when it gets hot outside and they will need to be removed. Learn more about growing sweet peas here.
Dispose of unused pesticides and fertilizer
Winter is generally the off-season for gardening, making it a great time to get rid of unused pesticides and fertilizer – but disposing of them must be done carefully. Pouring garden chemicals down the drain is not only against the law, but water treatment plants aren’t designed to remove all toxic chemicals from wastewater, and street drains carry chemicals directly into rivers and the ocean.
Get rid of your unused pesticides and fertilizer by taking them to the free hazardous waste disposal sites offered by Santa Clara County.
To reduce your use of toxic chemicals, try using integrated pest management methods to solve garden problems. Identify the target pest, use non-chemical practices first, and if you need a chemical treatment, only purchase and use what you need.
Cut back ornamental grasses
Now is a good time to cut back perennials and bunch grasses. You can cut back some perennials all the way to the ground. These include yarrow, hummingbird sage, goldenrod, California aster and most kinds of California fuchsia. You can divide other perennials at this time, such as Douglas iris, alum root, seaside daisy, woodland and beach strawberry, yarrow, yerba buena, daylilies and chrysanthemums.
February gardening events
UC Master Gardener gardening events are happening all over the county this month. Here are some of them; more are listed on our events page.
Growing Fabulous Citrus – Mountain View, Feb. 11
Growing Vegetables from Seed: A Winter Start for your Summer Garden – San Jose, Feb. 15
“The Color Purple: the Veggies not the Movie” – Los Altos, Feb. 15
Spotted, Dotted, and Spongy: Have You Seen These Invasive Pests? – Online, Feb. 20
You can propagate bunch grasses, sedges and rushes by division this time of year. Examples of bunch grasses are purple needle grass (state grass of California), fescues, blue grama, leafy reed, oat and deer grass. Some sedges are the meadow, clustered field and San Diego sedge. Rushes include the common rush and the California gray rush.
Try Growing Asian Vegetables
You can easily grow some vegetables used in different types of Asian cuisine and found in Asian markets. They are not necessarily native to Asia but have found their way into various cuisines. One way to decide which food to grow yourself is to choose varieties that aren’t readily available or are more expensive in your local markets. It’s also fun to impress your family, friends and neighbors with something they may not have seen growing before.
With our mild climate, many Asian greens can be planted year-round, including in late winter. Possibilities include bok choy, napa cabbage, daikon radishes, gai choy in spring or winter, and sesame seeds, bitter melon, opo, sigua (loofah) in summer. For fun, you could grow a garden full of purple vegetables, both Asian and Indian.
For more information about purple vegetables, join us for “The Color Purple – the Veggies, Not the Movie.” The presentation is on Feb. 15 at the Los Altos Library and you’ll learn about the purple vegetables that grow in our Zones 9B and 10A.
Would you like to ask a UC Master Gardener about a plant problem? Submit questions to our Help Desk online.
You can also subscribe to our monthly Tips and Events newsletter. San Mateo residents can also find gardening advice on the UC Master Gardeners of San Mateo and San Francisco website.
