White Birch Trees

Question from Barbara: Do white birch trees grow in CA? Answer from Pat: You are the second person today who has written to ask about European white birch (Betula pendula.) I agree it’s lovely looking tree. No doubt about that. Also, yes it will...

Transplanting Young Avacado Tree

Question from Mark: I had emailed you once before and now have another question. I finally got the oppty to transplant a very young avacado tree, about 6 ft tall, out of a large clay pot into the ground. Unfortunately the root ball split into two and...

Concrete Bag Steps for Cold-Winter Climates

Question from Monetta: We’re going to our cabin in Idaho with all the family over the July 4 week and thought we might try your concrete bag steps on a steep hillside down to the river. If we do it, I’ll take some photos for you to see. Answer...

Baby snails killing our Blue Star Creeper

Question from Roger: Pat, I don’t know if you are willing to help readers of your book but am hoping you do. We had a beautiful area of Blue Star growing on well drained soil among our natural stone patio. This spring the blue-star started to blossom...

Multi-media Garden Mural: How to Create

Question from Heidi: I was hoping to speak with you at the Master Gardener Fall Seminar on Oct. 2. Unfortunately, with the room changes & my duties as a “badge checker” in other classes (your’s is always the first to get fully...

Potting Soil or Potting Mix?

Question from Fred: We are a bit confused about what to plant our Sweet 100 cherry tomatoes in. I have a 10 gallon container and need to know whether to use potting soil or potting mix and whether the brand is important. Also, if I use potting soil what...

Fruit Trees

The main reasons for fruit trees “not being amazing” are incorrect watering, inadequate fertilizer, application of fertilizers at the wrong time of year, incorrect pruning for the variety, under-pruning or over-pruning, and most importantly...

Pollinating by Hand

Q: I’m a writer for a small newspaper in San Diego and in reading one of your books on month to month organic gardening in Southern California, I was interested by your idea on hand pollinating fruit tress due to lack  of bee activity. I’m...

Planting Summer Crops

1. Choose a site in full sun. 2. Build raised boxes or plant in ground. 3. For raised beds: Nail 1/8 ­1/4 hardware cloth on bottom of each box to keep out gophers. 4. Fill boxes with good-quality topsoil. 5. Cover the ground surrounding the raised boxes...

Heesey Residence Slope Failure

Question from Denise: Dear Pat….these are the problems I emailed you about… they have since been cleaned over and jute stapled on….I will send some more current pictures this afternoon when the weather clears…(of the new repairs) I...

Feeding citrus trees

When all danger of frost is past, begin feeding citrus trees. (If your garden gets frost in February, wait until March.) Citrus are heavy feeders. A mature citrus tree in clay soil needs one pound of actual nitrogen a year. For example, if you choose...

Invasive roots

Q. How can we prevent roots from shrubs from invading our sick looking fruit trees? A. Invasive roots are a serious problem in California, especially in old gardens. The best solution is to install a root barrier. The method is to dig a two or three-foot...