Spring Planting (when it is cold and wet)
When starting seeds or planting seedlings the soil temperature should be considered. Here is a good guideline for
soil temperature for seed germination from the University of California. The soil moisture content is an important factor in plant seedling survival. Penn State Extension's article on
Soil Temperature and Germination is a good read to guide decisions about when the seeds know it is spring. When the soil is too wet it causes problems for the small seedlings, as described in the University of Florida's article about
Soggy Soil Can Make Plants Sick.
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Planting Trees
According to the UC publication on Planting Landscape Trees: "The performance of a landscape tree depends a great deal on how it is planted. Survival after initial transplanting, rate of growth and establishment, root development, and many other ...
Planting on a Hillside
Here are some resources about hillside planting: Gardening on a Hillside, Sonoma County Master Gardeners Planting a Steep Hillside for Erosion Control, Contra Costa Master Gardeners (attached PDF) Prevent Soil Erosion on Your Property, Natural ...
Chill Hours
Many fruits and nuts require a certain number of chill hours in order to produce. The UC Home Orchard website describes chilling as "the number of hours below 45°F, is an important climatic factor that influences bud break, fruit set, and fruit ...
Citrus Tree Problems
If you have problems with a citrus tree—including orange, lemon, lime—UC has resources that may help: Citrus Diseases and Disorders of Leaves and Twigs covers a range of problems including branch dieback, sooty mold, yellow leaves, and more. This ...
Hardening Plants
Excerpt From: California Master Gardener Handbook, Second Edition. “Hardening is the process of slowing plant growth to withstand changes in environmental conditions that occur when transplants are transferred from a greenhouse or home to the garden. ...