Message From Pat

Dear Reader: This site contains more than one thousand answers to garden questions on a wide range of subjects common to Mediterranean climates. Among them, we hope you find the answer to your question.  Please take this opportunity to share your experiences,...

Too Late to Prune Blackberries

Question from Sharon: I have some blackberry bushes that have been in the ground here in rural Del Mar about a year and a half. I missed pruning the “old canes to the ground” in November as you suggest in your book. I am wondering if I should...

Pruning Lavendar

Question from Heather: I live near the coast. When is the best time to prune back lavendar? I did it a few months back, but not aggressively. Now they are even larger, too big in fact. Answer from Pat: Prune lavendar as soon as the main blossom season...

Growing Kiwi’s in La Mesa

Question from Jon: I hope you are recovering well from your surgery and feeling better.  My mother (who is 90) has also had several joints replaced as well as heart valve.  Hopefully the technology will continue to improve by the time I need something...

How to Prune Perennials

Question from Carla: I have several perennials in my very small garden and I am not sure when or if I should cut them back. I live in Southern California. Some of my plants are Mexican heather, calibrachoa, and Marguerite daisy. Answer from Pat: People...

California Pepper Tree (Schinus molle)

Question from  Melanie: Should CA Pepper Trees be pruned? My tree is about 15 feet from the house and about 2 stories high. I think it’s 25 years old. One year ago, my son trimmed the ends of those branches which were scraping the house. The...

Dwarf grapefruit tree overpruned

Question from Chuck: I made the mistake of pruning my dwarf grapefruit tree 3 years ago. I haven’t had a grapefruit since. What can I do? The tree is beautiful and healthy looking, but no fruit. Answer from Pat: If you cut your grapefruit tree...

Heavy pruning of olive trees while fruiting

Question from Kathleen: The condo complex I stay in started heavy pruning of all the fruiting olive tree today, 9-1-10. Is it healthy for the tree to be lose 80% of its leaves while developing its fruit? I do energy analysis and I thik the poor...

Long Reach Pruner

Question from John: Where did you get the long pole you used in one of your videos to reach under your plants.  It was a long pole with a handle and a gripping part at the end.  I have MD and it would be a great help to me Answer from Pat: Many years...

Peach Tree Problems and Solutions: Pruning, Fertilizer, and Dormant Spray

Question from Michael: My peach trees are about 7 yrs old and I have never trimmed them because I do not know how. I live in Illinois . About 4 yrs ago I had a good yeild of peaches and i canned them. Every year after when I get peaches, they seem to...

Time to Prune

Question from Csaba: I am totally confused about the time of pruning, advises from friends, nurseries, experts, gardening books are completely perplexing. Southern California, San Clemente area, half way between Los-Angeles and San Diego. 3 blocks from...

Lavatera maritima

Question from Charlie: It’s me again – the Lakeside woman that got married in Alice Menard’s garden. I was pruning my lavatera maritima last weekend and noticed a lot of large dead wood on it, as well as it appears to be more spindly...

Duranta “Sweet Memories” Pruning

Question from Cheryl: I am NOT a gardener and have had a dirt yard for 11 years. I finally had a friend install sprinklers and plants and promptly move away and left me on my own. Against my fence he put a Duranta and in six months it has grown to 8...

Pruning of Ground Morning Glory (Convolvulus)

Question from Randy: One more question. When ground morningglory is done blooming how much can I cut it down? I’ve never had much luck with this plant after a year or two. I have some that looked great thru the bloom now look horrible. Cut them...