Master Gardeners

This is what we do!

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Pumpkin Centerpiece Workshop 2018

This workshop is SOLD OUT! Thanks for your interest. Our next workshop will be the Wreath workshop on December 1.

Join the UC Master Gardener Program of Colusa County to learn how to make a Pumpkin Centerpiece.

$25

October 18, 6-8pm

Market Street Grill

415 Market St., Colusa

Click here to pay.

Pumpkin Centerpiece 18

Do you want to become a Master Gardener?

The UC Master Gardener Program of Colusa County is now accepting applications for our 2019 training.

Training will start February 6 and end May 22. The training will occur in Yuba City but you will volunteer in Colusa County.

The Meet the Master Gardeners informational meeting is January 3 at noon. Applications are due at this time.

Download an application here.

Complete application, 2019

October in the Garden

What to plant:

• Cool-weather annuals like pansies, violas, snapdragons can be transplanted now.  Also, you can direct seed cornflower, nasturtium, poppy, nigella, portulaca and sweet peas.

• If you don’t have a winter garden, consider planting a cover crop to be tilled in next spring.
• Direct seed peas, spinach, radishes, lettuce, and carrots.
• Early in the month you should buy your new bulbs and refrigerate them for six weeks before planting them in the garden.

• October is also good time to consider reducing the size of your lawn. You can still rejuvenate a lawn with over-seeding.
• Put your spent annuals and vegetables (disease-free, of course) in your compost pile.
• Add compost to the beds that had the annuals and vegetables you are pulling out, before re-planting in those beds.
• This is also the month to dig, divide, and re-plant overgrown perennials that have finished blooming. Be sure to clear out any weeds that developed in the perennial bed.
• Check azaleas, gardenias and camellias for leaves yellowing between the veins. Apply chelated iron if this condition is present.
• If you had glads, dahlias or tuberous begonias they should be dug up and cleaned after the foliage dies. Store the corms and tubers in a cool, dry place.
• Be sure to deadhead your roses following the October bloom.
• Keep your compost bin covered with a plastic tarp when rains begin.

Water Trees First

Our trees are the most important garden asset. They provide shade, clean the air, provide habitat for wildlife, they are beautiful and increase your property value.

A new way of irrigating trees have been developed by the University of California. As you see in the picture you will circle the tree with a drip line or soaker hose to the edge of the canopy. You can purchase supplies at your local garden center or hardware store.

To get the deep watering need for trees, you will need to run the drip line for several hours but only irrigate every 2-4 weeks. The water needs to penetrate the soil about 2-3 feed deep.

For more information from the California Center for Urban Horticulture, click here.

Water-wise tips

CONSERVE WATER

Create drought resistant soil

1. By incorporating 2-4 inches of compost into the soil you will increase the water holding capacity of the soil.
2. Topdressing compost around plants will reduce water needs but not up to the plant base.       Space @ the base.
3. Mulch all exposed soil to reduce evaporation with bark, leaf litter or rocks
   

Benefit:

• Reduced water usage

Grow California or Mediterranean natives

Check out the UC Arboretum All-Stars

1. Plants thrive with little irrigation
2. Planting in the fall allows the roots to grow without competition
3. Irrigate until established
4. Minimize high water use ornamentals

Benefit:

• Reduce watering
• Reduce trimming
• Reduce fertilizing
• Reduce spraying

Minimize the Lawn

1. The use of native groundcovers, grasses, shrubs and trees make an eye catching garden
2. Reduce the size of the lawn and plant Tall fescue. It is a cool season grass that does well in summer. Most cool season grasses need a lot of water to look good
3. Avoid slopes, plant a ground cover instead of lawn

Benefit:

• Conserve water
• Conserve energy
• Conserve labor        

Hydrozoning

1. By grouping plants together by water and light needs plants tend to be healthy
2. When you group your plants together by water and light needs then you can properly water each micro-climate
3. Use California natives

Benefit:

• Healthy plants
• Conserve water
• Less pruning

Irrigation System

1. Remember to change your irrigation timer seasonally. Monthly adjustments are encouraged
2. Use an automatic controller on your irrigation system
3. Use drip for your flower and shrub beds
4. Replace old sprinkler heads with high efficient ones. If your system is over 10 years old check out the new sprinkler heads at your local garden center
5. Use multiple run times if you have a lot of run-off before the timer shuts off.  For example; you should irrigate every other day for 20 minutes but after 15 minutes the water is running off the lawn. Instead run the system for 10 minutes, wait 1 hour and run for another 10 minutes. This works especially well on slopes.

Benefit:

• Limit evaporation and run-off
• Limit disease
• Limit weeds

Irrigate according to the season

1. Know your watering needs
2. Adjust watering to the season, use chart in Lawn Watering brochure
3. Water early
4. Water slowly
5. Water deeply

Benefit:

• Appropriate watering slows plant growth
• Promotes plant health
• Reduces pruning and mowing
• It is estimated that overwatering causes 85% of all landscape problems

Make every Drop Count                 

1. Water wisely and slowly.
2. Mulch is one of the quickest, easiest and most cost-effective ways to save water
3. Repair leaks and broken sprinklers
4. Reduce overspray areas
5. Adjust the system frequently to the season
6. Mulching exposed soil reduces evaporation.
7. Prevent urban drool

Benefit:

• Conserve water
• Save money
• Urban landscape water use can be reduced by 50%

More information:

8 Smart Gardening Practices

How to save water in your garden

Keep Plantings Alive under Drought Conditions

Lawn Watering Guide for California

Lawn Watering

Rules of Thumb for Water Wise Landscape

Water Conservation checklist

Water Conservation Tips

Websites

California Garden Web

UC Guide to Healthy Lawns

River Friendly Landscaping

UC Davis Arboretum

UC Master Gardeners of Sacramento County

UC Master Gardeners of San Joaquin County