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Pruning Roses Between Blooms
While rose pruning will vary by type and species, most to all roses need light pruning after blooming. The purpose of this is to remove spent blooms, to prevent the rose from putting its energy into producing seeds (and therefore slowing production of the next round of blooms), to clean out any spent or dead […]
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Chlorine, Soil, and Watering Gardens
August 6, 2017
Down and Dirty Southern California Gardening
/ The Mighty Garden Archive
By: C. Darren Butler
GardenZeus receives commissions for purchases made through links in this post. There is no additional cost to you. Down and Dirty Southern California Gardening A weekly GardenZeus article series to help gardeners succeed in Southern California’s unique climates and growing conditions. This is the first of two articles dealing with watering gardens in urban landscapes. […]
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Rats in the California Home Garden: Misconceptions about Rats (Part 2 of 6)
August 4, 2017
Stop Bugging Me: Organic Solutions for Insect Pests
/ The Mighty Garden Archive
By: C. Darren Butler
Rats in the California Home Garden Part 2: Misconceptions about Rats I know there aren’t any rats in my house, on my property, or at my neighbors’ properties so it couldn’t be rats eating the fruits on my fruit trees or the vegetables in my garden. Roof rats may forage for food at distances of […]
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Down and Dirty 14: “Summerer” in Southern California’s Coastal Areas (Summerer Part 3)
July 30, 2017
Down and Dirty Southern California Gardening
/ The Mighty Garden Archive
By: C. Darren Butler
Down and Dirty Southern California Gardening A weekly GardenZeus article series to help gardeners succeed in Southern California’s unique climates and growing conditions. Post 14: “Summerer” in Southern California’s Coastal Areas (Summerer Part 3) “Summerer” is what I call the extended period of warmer weather in Southern California that often occurs from August through October. […]
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Rats in the California Home Garden: Norway Rats and Roof Rats (Part 1 of 6)
July 29, 2017
Stop Bugging Me: Organic Solutions for Insect Pests
/ The Mighty Garden Archive
By: C. Darren Butler
Rats in the California Home Garden Part 1: Norway Rats and Roof Rats By any measurement, rats take first place as the most generally destructive and harmful mammalian pests in California urban areas. They are ideally evolved to coexist with humans in our cities, homes, and landscapes. In many California cities and urban areas, infestations […]
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Acidify Your Soil With a Vinegar and Water Soil Drench
July 28, 2017
GardenZeus Northern California
/ GardenZeus Southern California
/ The Mighty Garden Archive
By: Ann Clary
Alkaline soils can be acidified with a solution of 1 tablespoon white vinegar per gallon of water used as a soil drench. To determine the alkalinity of your soil, GardenZeus recommends the following articles: Down and Dirty 5: What is the Mother of All Southern California Landscape and Garden Problems? Down and Dirty 7: Mud […]
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The Organic Weed Killer in Your Kitchen
July 28, 2017
Stop Bugging Me: Organic Solutions for Insect Pests
/ The Mighty Garden Archive
By: Ann Clary
Boiling water makes an excellent weed killer, especially for those difficult areas that are beyond the reach of mechanical weeders. Simply boil water in your teapot or other pot and pour. Boiling water is the ultimate organic solution: the heat kills the weeds, but leaves no residue. To view customized gardening information for your area, […]
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3 Things to Know Before You Harvest Pumpkins
3 Things to Know Before you Harvest Pumpkins. When to Harvest. Pumpkins are often left unharvested until the end of a long growing season when plants have died back. Different varieties may have unique clues or signs that fruits are mature. Most varieties are ready for harvest when fruits are in full color, rinds are […]
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3 Tasks Not To Do This Week in Your Southern California Garden
Sometimes we are so focused on what TO DO in the garden, we wind up doing things we should leave alone. Here are three gardening tasks you should NOT DO this week if you live in Southern California. Do not add large amounts of nitrogen fertilizer. Add nitrogen with caution in active beds and near […]
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