IN THE GARDEN

• Gopher activity is early this year. Generally, early spring heralds gopher breeding season. It's important to trap them now, while you can catch multiple gophers in a single run. Managing the gopher population now pays dividends later in the year. Here is a link to our Integrated Pest Management presentation from last spring.
• Spring cleaning is in order.
  • Rake leaves and twigs.
  • It's important to remove weeds in your garden before they flower and set seed so the population remains manageable. If you still have areas of wet soil, take care not to compact the area while weeding.
  • For continued weed suppression, lay down cardboard on weeded paths and cover with several inches of woodchips.
• Local planting schedules are listed in the Resources section.
  • If you missed our seed starting class for tomatoes, peppers and eggplants from seed, the video and presentation is now listed in our class resources page.
  • If you are reusing planting containers, wash with mild soap and water to clean it. Disinfect planting containers with a 10% bleach solution, meaning 1 part bleach to 9 parts water.
  • Transplant perennial edibles such as artichokes, rhubarb and asparagus crowns.
  • Plant cool-season veggies such as greens, lettuce, brassicas (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage) and peas.
  • In our area, you can plant beets, radishes and carrots from seed directly in beds.
  • If you are interested in potatoes, order them now and plant them by mid-March.
• Transplant cool season annuals, like pansies, poppies, sweet peas.
• Plant bare root fruiting vines, such as blackberries and raspberries.
• Citrus trees should be fertilized now and then again in the spring. Here is a guide to fertilizing citrus trees. Note citrus in containers generally require less fertilization.
• Review the deciduous fruit tree maintenance schedule listed in the Resources section.
  • It's not too late to plant bare root fruit and nut trees. Here is a fruit tree selection and planting guide from UC Santa Cruz Center for Agroecology.
  • For established trees: Now that you can see tree structure branches, dispose of any old, molded fruit above and below, which can harbor disease and pests.
  • Check out our winter pruning class for tips and techniques. Note that winter pruning encourages growth. Do not prune apricot or cherry trees in winter.
  • Watch your fruit trees for bud break. Bud break occurs when new buds begin to open. These buds may open to become leaves, flowers, or twigs. Between bud break but before they blossom, apply a final dormant oil spray. 

• Remove diseased plant material and discard them in your green waste can. Do not add diseased plant material to your home compost or leave them in your garden beds. Some diseases can overwinter!
• Take a look at your irrigation system and make repairs and seasonal adjustments. 
• If you need help determining how to deal with pests or disease, please submit a help request with photos at our gardening advice line. 

CLASSES & EVENTS

Winter Pruning Techniques

GARDENING RESOURCES

Planting Schedules: Santa Cruz County (PDF) | Monterey County (PDF)

Class Resources
Our collection of class resources features links to our online classes, presentations and handouts, including Irrigation Basics, Backyard Composting, California Native Plant Seed Collecting, Container Gardening with Veggies and more.

Soil Health: Introduction to Healthy Soil

Growing Berries: Growing Berries in Your Backyard

Growing Deciduous Fruit Trees: California Backyard Orchard | Fruit Tree Maintenance Calendar for Home Orchards

Growing Citrus: California Backyard Orchard: Citrus

Growing Vegetables: California Garden Web Guide to Growing Vegetables | Plant Diseases for Vegetables and Melons