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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 specifically for our area. Our monthly “Ask a Master Gardener” column will answer your questions and offer tips. Have a question? Email lifestyle@embarcaderopublishing.com.
I’m thinking of adding native California plants to my yard, but I don’t know where to start. What suggestions do you have?
You’re thinking about adding California native plants at a good time. New natives respond well to wet winter weather, which promotes the extensive root development needed for spring growth and the hot dry summer months ahead.
Start by thinking about your landscape design. You’ll need to consider your yard’s sun exposure so you can choose the right plant for the right place. The Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County are presenting a class on Feb. 13 in Mountain View called Design Basics for Waterwise Front Yards that might help. You also can check out design ideas from Bloom! California to match the space and style of your yard.
Your next question may be what to plant. That depends on your planting site and the individual cultural requirements of the plant. To help, the California Native Plant Society (CNPS) has created a database where you can enter your address and find the plants do best in your neighborhood for the conditions in your yard, like sun or shade. Calscape’s Bay Area Garden Planner offers an online tool to help you choose the right plants for your landscape.
The CNPS website section on Getting Started with Native Plants will give you quite a bit of helpful information on selecting, planting and caring for California natives. Here’s another source: California Native Plants: Beauty and Many Environmental Benefits
Here are some events to help you get started. And good luck!
- Design Basics for Waterwise Front Yards, Feb. 13, Mountain View
- California Native Flowers for 95014, Feb. 21, Cupertino
- Converting Your Converting Your High-Water Lawn to a Lush Water-Saving Landscape, Feb. 29, Palo Alto
- Planning a Simple Native Garden for Beginners, March 20, Los Altos
- Growing Natives Garden Tour, April 13 (North Santa Clara County and Peninsula) and April 14 (South Santa Clara County)
February Gardening Tips
Fertilize your citrus trees
In California, most soils contain adequate nutrients for citrus growth, except nitrogen. Nitrogen is the primary nutrient trees require, and there are commercial fertilizers balanced specifically for citrus. One-year-old trees will need one-tenth of a pound of nitrogen, while mature trees need approximately 1.5 pounds. Divide these amounts into two to three applications.
Blood meal without all the fillers is an excellent source of nitrogen, or you can purchase a balanced product that contains zinc. Spread the fertilizer evenly over the entire root area and water in.
You should apply nitrogen in January or February just prior to bloom. Apply the second application in May and perhaps a third in June. Avoid late-season fertilization as it may affect fruit quality, delay fruit coloring, and make the rind rough. Dwarf plants or trees in containers with restricted root space may require less fertilizer.
Maintaining a good fertilizing program can help preserve a tree’s natural resistance to fungal diseases such as oak root fungus. Be careful not to overfertilize as this will cause excessive new growth, which makes trees susceptible to other disorders, such as bacterial blast. (Source: UC IPM)
Event: Growing Citrus in Santa Clara County, Feb. 10, Sunnyvale
Keep weeds at bay
While some weeds are edible (purslane, nettles, dandelions, miner’s lettuce), many are a nuisance and compete with your chosen plants for water and nutrients. Whichever variation of “One year’s seeds make seven years’ weeds” you prefer, the truth remains: A key part of weed control is not letting them go to seed. For best results, work on removing weeds before they can propagate. Hand pulling and hoeing are effective methods for killing many common weeds.
Knowing what kind of weeds you have and how it propagates can be helpful in choosing the best management method. If they propagate by seed, pull or hoe them before they flower and go to seed. If they re-grow from roots, pull up as much of the root as possible. Many weeds, like Bermuda grass, have multiple ways of multiplying. Only non-propagating parts are advisable to throw in the compost bin.
Event: Controlling Springtime Weeds, Feb. 15, online
More Information: UC Quick Tips on Weeds in Landscapes
Stake your trees, if needed
Not all new trees even need to be staked. Only stake if necessary for protection, anchorage or support. Don’t place the stakes too close to the trunk of the tree. Place stakes on opposite sides of the tree, outside the root ball. Make sure the stakes don’t rub on the trunk or branches. Ties should be added no higher than necessary to support the trunk. This allows as much freedom to move as possible, and movement builds trunk strength. Inspect the tree regularly to make sure there’s no damage. Remove the ties and stakes when the tree can stand on its own, generally after a year or so.
More Information: Tree Staking
Plant cool-season vegetables, again
Salad greens, carrots, beets, fennel, broccoli, and bok choy are just a few of the vegetables that you can plant now. The warming weather and longer days will help them mature quickly. By the time they’re done, it will be warm enough to plant summer vegetables like tomatoes and peppers. You can direct seed into the garden or get a head start by transplanting seedlings. Use our vegetable planting chart for a full list of suggestions.
Do you want to ask a UC Master Gardener about a plant problem? Submit questions to our Help Desk online. Find garden events and classes here.
You also can subscribe to our monthly Tips and Events newsletter and to our seasonal Thyme to Garden blog. San Mateo residents can find gardening advice on the UC Master Gardeners of San Mateo and San Francisco website.
