Newspaper and on-line articles written for local Master Gardener column by UCCE Tuolumne County Master Gardeners

 

Issue	Articles
Mountain Misery	Learn some of the good and bad features of this oft-maligned and ecologically important plant.
Preparing Tools for Winter	Lots of ideas to help you maintain the tools that help you through the gardening season.
The Right Mulch for the Right Plant	California native plants don't all require organic material and enriched soils. Find out which plants like what kind of mulch and how to tell the difference.
Leaf Litter: Environmental Boon	Interesting information to help you feel comfortable with "leaving the leaves."
Autumn Gardening	Suggestions and tips on things to do in the garden in autumn, when temperatures are cooler and it's a joy to work outside.
Fire Safe Landscaping	Important tips to help protect your home from wildfire by creating defensible space.
Native Blue Oaks	A description of California's signature landscape, the oak savannah, and some tips on how to help these beauties regenerate.
Plastics Recycling is a Team Effort	Some facts and tips about how to handle those long-lived plastic containers.
Autumn "Fire Colors" at Higher Elevations	The Sierra Nevadas host a wide range of evergreen plant forms, but with a little thought and preparation you can have autumn color among the evergreens.
Birds, Birds, Birds! (And Water)	Many of us enjoy feeding birds, but not all birds are attracted to feeders. However, they all need water and here are some ways to supply it.
Garden Edgings: That Finishing Touch	Depending on the type of garden you have, here are some suggestions for adding borders and edgings.
County Library Gets New Books	UCCE Tuolumne County Master Gardeners have donated several gardening and landscaping books to our local county library. Read the about the books here.
Master Gardeners Launch Hotline	Contact information to reach the new UCCE Tuolumne County Master Gardener Hotline
Dealing with Deer in Your Garden	Tips and techniques for reducing deer damage to your garden plants.
What's Wrong with My Tomatoes? Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus	Diagnosis, prevention and control of this "uncurable" tomato disease.
Good Reading for the Dog Days of Summer	When it's too hot to garden, here are some good suggestions for alternative summer activities
Wildlife Gardens Revisited	After achieving National Wildlife Federation certification as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat, what kind of wildlife appears?
The Zen of Watering	Thoughts about the soul-soothing and water-smart properties of hand watering.
Water Use during Drought Conditions	Interesting facts about California's future water supply, along with ideas about how to use water more efficiently.
Reduce Your Lawn to Save Water	In honor of July being "Smart Irrigation Month," here are some more fun and creative ways to reduce water use in your landscaping.
Watering the Hot Summer Garden	In honor of "Smart Irrigation Month," Master Gardeners will offer a series of articles about water use and effective irrigation techniques.
Saving Water and Money in the Garden	With our current economic woes and water rates increasing, with water supplies in California becoming more critical, let's take a look at some ways to save water and money in the lawn and garden.
Silver-Leafed Plants Save the Day	Here are some "cooling" additions to the flower garden that are soft, aromatic and drought-tolerant
Sustainability Issues	UC Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources core issues highlight sustainable practices.
Spiders	Find out why spiders in your garden are a good thing
Community Gardens	Information and How-tos about a recent trend
Ugly Tomatoes	What causes those strange bumps and splits? How can a gardener cure the problem?
Peppers	Some suggestions for growing your favorite peppers
Thrifty Gardeners Live Lightly on the Land	Some ways to save money, energy, water and other natural resources.
Garden Paths	Ideas for creation of paths to surprise and delight your garden visitors
Recycling	More ideas for reducing the waste that goes into the landfill
Earth Day 2009	Some suggestions for ways to make Earth Day every day and recycle problem trash.
California Natives to Plant in the Spring	Here are some suggestions for Sierra foothill-adapted natives that can survive, and may even prefer, spring planting.
Aquifers: A Source for Mother Lode Water?	Wells have an impact on available water in the Sierra Nevada foothills
Buffalo Grass: a Water-Wise Lawn	Comparisons of buffalo grass to turf lawns and the characteristics of different varieties of buffalo grass
Pollinating Those Veggies	Advice on how to increase your garden vegetable yield by knowing a bit about their pollination requirements.
Gardening with Wildlife Indoors	How to protect your favorite houseplants and your favorite animals from each other
Grow Your Own Food	Want some ideas for growing your own fruits and veggies, even if you don't have a lot of space? Here's how...
Wildlife in the Winter Garden	With our recent snowstorms and heavy precipitation, it's a good time to think about our wild friends.
How to Cut through the Herbal Hype	A discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of herbal remedies
Garden Clean-Up	Just in time for spring, here's an overall view of the tasks and timing for spring garden preparation.
Gophers	As our own Groundhog Day celebration, Master Gardeners offer some tips on how to foil those pesky plant predators
Rose Pruning for Spring and Summer Beauty	Review the guidelines and suggestions for successful, healthy rose pruning
Green Garden Challenge	Take the quiz to determine if your garden is as "green" as it could be
Arboretum All-Stars	An introduction to the U.C. Davis tested top-100 plants for use in the Central Valley and Sierra foothills
Resolve to "Live More Green"	At a time when we review the past year and set new directions for the coming year, here are some ideas for living in a way that can be described as "greener."
Recycle Your 2008 Christmas Tree	Local options for "greener" disposal of natural, cut Christmas trees