Rooting softwood and semihardwood cuttings

1. Prepare containers first. Use cleanpots or flats with drainage holes. Fill them with a half-and-half mixture of perlite and peat moss, or with perlite or vermiculite alone. Dampen the mixture.2. Gather cuttings e

Planting annuals

The best time to plant annuals depends on the specific plant and your climate. Annuals are designated as cool-season or warm-season, based on their hardiness and ability to grow in cool soils.Cool-season annualsCool

Q&A: More help for dog-friendly gardens

Q: Can you recommend a good book on dog-friendly gardening?A: For a practical and thorough overview, check out Dog Friendly Gardens, Garden Friendly Dogs (Dogwise Publishing, 2004; $20; www.dogwisepublishing.com or

Divide plants

Basic gardening guideClumping perennials in containers - such as agapanthus - can become crowded.Step 1: Gently ease the plant out of its container.Step 2: Using a sharp tool, slice the plant into roughly equal sect

Julie test multi-image

itd be nice if this worked. lets see.... • Graptophyllum pictum Chocolate. Tender perennial to 1½ ft. tall. Glossy, oval, dark chocolate leaves are splashed down the center with an irregular band of caramel cream; s

Basic pruning cuts

There are four basic pruning cuts, each aimed at producing a different effect. For cuts that involve cutting above a growth bud, angle it at about 45 degrees, with the lowest point of the cut opposite the bud and ev

Flowering trees

 MAGNOLIASCarePurchase trees in bloom to find your favorite flower shapes and colors.Plant in full sun or part shade in an area thats shielded from hot, dry winds. Protect shallow roots by positioning trees away fro

The basics: Gardening in containers

With their rainbow of colors and long bloom season, annuals are naturals for container gardens. Perennials and bulbs offer still more colorful, interesting choices. Shrubs or small trees add structure to a group of

Fruits

Fertilization, the process leading to the production of seeds and fruits, occurs after compatible pollen has been transferred to the stigma of a flower. A pollen grain contains two cells. One of these germinates and

Sooty Mold

Caused by a number of different fungi, this disease can afflict any plant. It shows up as a powdery, dark brown or black coating on leaves--hence the name sooty mold. The responsible fungi live on a plants natural s

Buying and storing seeds

Be sure the seeds you buy are fresh; they should be dated for the current year. For many plants, seed may be sold in three different forms: loose, pelletized, and in tapes. Loose seeds, traditionally sold in packets

How to plant bulbs

Plant daffodils, hyacinths, and tulips for spring bloom.Where fall temperatures regularly drop below 32°, plant in October and November; in warmer climates, plant into December or January.Choose a sunny bed with wel

Cut greens for boughs and swags

Your garden may contain all the foliage you need for holiday decorations.Long-lasting choices include Douglas fir, evergreen magnolia, fir, holly, holly-leaf osmanthus, juniper, pine, and redwood.When you cut greens

Pruning roses

When should you prune? Repeat-blooming roses are usually pruned just before dormancy ends in late winter or early spring. Roses that bloom only once a season are traditionally pruned just after the bloom period ends

Mugho pine (Pinus mugo mugo)

• Evergreen• Climate zones 1-11, 14-24, 32-45• Full sun• Regular to little wateringAlso called dwarf mountain pine, this little conifer eventually achieves a height and width of 4 feet, with branching, upright stems

Plant a no-mow lawn

Choose a grass thats a natural for your area. These grasses can live on rainfall alone in their native Western ranges, and they need mowing just once or twice a year to keep tidy. Details and sources below.Desert: F

Water-thrifty gardens to visit

Here is a selection of water-wise gardens; for others in your area, contact your utility district or water agency.Alameda County Water District Drought Tolerant Demonstration Garden exemplifies the principles of dro

Your freshest Caesar

Determined chefs go out of their way to find the freshest, most tender heads of romaine lettuce available. Grocery shoppers, on the other hand, are often limited to big heads with tough, strong-tasting leaves.Luckil

Northern California Checklist October

PLANTINGBulb covers. Sunset climate zones 7-9, 14-17: Cool-season annuals planted over bulbs provide a colorful show before and after bulbs bloom. Choose colors to complement the bulbs ― blue violas with white daffo

Protect plants from frost

Citrus, succulents, and other tender plants require protection when nighttime frost is predicted. To shelter tender plants in garden beds, try one of these methods. For small plants. Cut out the bottom of a large c