gardening

SAN DIEGO ANIMAL SANCTUARY & FARM REVEALS NEW ORGANIC GARDEN

Farm fresh veggies are harvested daily

East County News Service

August 21, 2023 (Alpine) - San Diego Animal Sanctuary & Farm (SDASF), a 20-acre animal sanctuary in Alpine, announces the first harvest of its new, organic garden, which is available for sale. Funds earned from garden sales will go directly to the animals and sanctuary. Produce includes lettuce, carrots, radishes, kale, squash, zucchini, chard and more, harvested daily. In the growing stage, the farm also has a variety of tomatoes, spinach, fruits, bell peppers, corn and more. 


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2023 WINNING FLOWER AND VEGETABLE VARIETIES

By Melinda Myers



Photo: the strong stems of Doubleshot snapdragons produce a plethora of stunning orange flowers all season; photo courtesy of All-American Selections.

 

January 3, 2023 (San Diego) -- It’s never too early to start planning new additions to this year’s gardens and containers. Start compiling your list now so you are ready to place your seed order or buy plants early when the selection is the greatest.


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WAYS TO CREATE A MORE WATER-FRIENDLY COMMUNITY

By Pat Woodard
 
Photo: Lawnstarter (Source)
 
July 28, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) – “Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink.” When Samuel Taylor Coleridge put that line into his Rime of the Ancient Mariner in 1798, he left out lawn watering. Being from Soggy Old England, having enough water for a proper garden or lawn wasn’t a priority for the author.

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ENJOY YOUR GARDEN AFTER DARK WITH LANDSCAPE LIGHTING

Enjoy an after-dark glow on your patio or deck with retro Edison-bulb solar lights.



By Melinda Myers

Photo courtesy of Gardener’s Supply Company/gardeners.com

May 17, 2022 (San Diego) - Enjoy your garden and landscape once the sun sets with strategically placed and attractive landscape lighting. Select the best type of light that complements your garden design and best accomplishes the intended purpose.


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BOOST YOUR GARDEN’S HARVEST WHILE REDUCING PAST PROBLEMS

By Melinda Myers

March 1, 2022 (San Diego) - Boost this year’s harvest and reduce pest problems with less effort, while being kind to the environment.  Employ row covers, chicken wire cloches and crop cages to prevent damage without the aid of chemicals.

 

Floating row covers of spun-bonded or woven materials let air, light, and water through to the covered plantings. The warm air that is captured protects the plantings from frosty temperatures. The coverings also prevent birds from dining on newly planted seeds and eliminate damage by certain insects like flea beetles, onion maggots, seed corn maggots, and leafhoppers that may infect lettuce, celery, and carrots with aster yellows disease.


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EXPAND YOUR GARDEN PLANTING SPACE

By Melinda Myers

 

March 9, 2021 (San Diego’s East County) -- When your plant list is longer than the available gardening space it is time to expand your planting options. Create new gardening space by adding raised bed gardens, elevated planters and containers wherever space allows. 


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GROW FRILLY, BOLD AND UNIQUE AMARYLLIS INDOORS THIS WINTER

By Melinda Myers
 
Photo: Sweet Nymph double amaryllis has layers of creamy white petals decorated with coral pink stripes.
 
Photo credit: Courtesy of Longfield-Gardens.com
 
November 29, 2020 (San Diego's East County) -- When squirrels are busy storing nuts for winter, it’s time for gardeners to start gathering amaryllis bulbs to sustain them through the dreary months ahead. Ordering now will ensure you have lots of choices, so you can select an assortment of different flowers styles, colors, and bloom times.
 
The flowers of double amaryllis are packed full of petals and sure to brighten any day. Double King lives up to its name with three or more layers of brilliant red, velvety petals. Each bulb produces multiple flower stems, so you’ll enjoy weeks of blossoms.
 
Sweet Nymph is another double and its softer coloring is equally beautiful. The flowers feature layers of creamy white petals with coral pink stripes and are sure to add a bit of romantic charm to your winter.

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WHAT TO PLANT IN YOUR SOCAL GARDEN IN LATE SUMMER

By Amy Okafor

Photo:  Showy Penstemon via Tom Hilton on Flickr 

August 27, 2020 (San Diego’s East County) -- The dead of summer doesn't mean you have to put up with a wilted, drab landscape – even in Southern California where summers are warm and dry. Thanks to SoCal's mild winters, you can have a great yard almost year-round – if you know what to plant in your SoCal garden in late summer.


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KEEP YOUR LANDSCAPE LOOKING GOOD WITH LESS EFFORT

By Melinda Myers

July 1, 2020 (San Diego) - Keep your garden looking its best and reduce your workload by enlisting practices that provide multiple benefits. Your garden will flourish and you’ll have more time to enjoy its beauty.


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LET’S GROW TOGETHER SAN DIEGO: NEW STAY-AT-HOME GARDEN RESOURCES FROM MASTER GARDENERS

East County News Service  
 
April 24, 2020 (San Diego) -- San Diegans looking to plant their first Victory Gardens, refresh some tired succulent beds or maybe teach their children how to grow food from seed can get their garden questions answered any time of the day thanks to Let’s Grow Together San Diego, a free online effort  launched this week by the University of California Master Gardener Program in San Diego County.
 
Need to get rid of weeds? Grow herbs for cooking? Plant spectacular roses or bring butterflies to your backyard? Folks still staying close to home can visit www.MasterGardenerSD.org   and take their pick from how-to videos and dozens of articles on all kinds of flowers, vegetables, and fruit trees plus tips on saving water. Since it will be a while before the Master Gardeners can make presentations at large county-wide events, their refreshed website is filled with targeted information to help San Diegans required to stay-at-home.
 
Let’s Grow Together San Diego is meant for gardeners of all ages and skill levels. There are fun projects for caretakers who want to get seniors back into the garden and for parents needing some home-school lessons. Beginning gardeners are offered step-by-step instructions and even seasoned pros will find in-depth details on hundreds of plant species. And many of the video lessons are offered in Spanish.

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START YOUR GARDEN RIGHT

An ounce of preparation while you're sheltering at home can yield a summer of garden bounty

Courtesy of Soil Science Society of America

April 16, 2020 – Gardeners, are you eager for winter to lose its icy grip? There’s no time like the present to improve your garden knowledge! Soils Matter, Soil Science Society of America’s science-based blog, provides insights to starting off the garden season.


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GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR TOMATO HARVEST

By Melinda Myers

Photo:  At the end of the season, pick tomatoes that are starting to show some color and allow them to finish ripening indoors.  Photo credit:  Melinda Myers, LLC

September 3, 2019 (San Diego) - Nothing beats the flavor of fresh-from-the-garden tomatoes and when they’re left on the plant five to eight days after the fruit are fully colored, the flavor only gets better.


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FLOWER CARE MAINTENANCE KEEPS GARDENS LOOKING THEIR BEST ALL SUMMER LONG

By Melinda Myers

Photo:  Removing spent flowers on many perennials will encourage additional boom and keep gardens looking their best, courtesy Melinda Myers, LLC

June 18, 2019 (San Diego's East County) - A bit of grooming and care will keep your flower gardens looking their best throughout the hot summer months and into fall.

Remove the flower stems of salvias, veronicas and similar flowers as the blooms begin to fade. Use a pruner or sharp garden scissors and cut just above the first set of leaves or above the side shoots where new flower buds are forming.


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LA MESA BEAUTIFUL CULTIVATES HARMONY WITH NATURE IN EAST COUNTY

 

Upcoming spring events April 10 and May 19 reap harvest of community opportunities

By Elisabeth Handley

March 18, 2019 (La Mesa) -- Spring heralds all things new, so what better time to plan a new garden or landscape renovation? La Mesa Beautiful’s spring events are the perfect venues to get ideas, talk to experts and have a lot of fun in the process.


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FREE WATER WISE LANDSCAPING WORKSHOP AUG. 25 AT RAMONA RANCH VINEYARD AND WINERY

 

East County News Service

July 26, 2018 (Ramona) - Ramona Ranch Vineyard and Winery will host a free water-wise landscaping workshop August 25th from 5 to 7 p.m. The winery is located at 23578 Highway 67 in Ramona, CA 920650.

Learn how to create a less thirsty and environmentally friendly landscape! Join Solana Center for this presentation where you will learn the basics of water wise gardening. Using trial-tested advice and interactive demonstrations, our expert educator will teach you all you need to know to get started with a garden that fits San Diego's semi-arid climate.


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SUMMER CARE FOR PERENNIAL GARDENS

 

Story and photo by Melinda Myers

Photo:   Removing faded flowers before they can set seed, also known as deadheading, encourages an additional flush of flowers on many perennials including daylilies.

June 27, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) -- Keep your perennial gardens looking their best throughout the hot summer months with a bit of midsummer grooming and care. Investing time midseason means you’ll be enjoying beautiful gardens now through the end of the growing season.


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ALPINE SCHOOL OPENS DISTRICT'S FIRST ORGANIC GARDEN FOR STUDENTS

 

By Jo Moreland, Alpine-Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce

Photos courtesy of Alpine Elementary School Volunteers and Staff

May 1, 2018 (Alpine) - Students cheered at the grand opening of the new organic garden on April 27 at the Alpine Elementary School in AlpineThe garden, aimed at teaching students healthy eating, organic gardening and the importance of exercise was put together by students, teachers, parents and an array of businesses and organizations. It is the first such garden in a new Alpine Union School District program.


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FAMILY GARDENING PROVIDES MORE THAN A BOUNTIFUL HARVEST

 

By Melinda Myers

March 15, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) -- Gardeners know digging, planting, harvesting and even viewing a garden is good for the mind, body and spirit. It improves strength and flexibility, lowers blood pressure and elevates our mood. And this is true for all members of the family from the very young to the more seasoned.


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WINTER GARDEN CARE: LEARN PROPER PRUNING JAN. 14

 

Source: Water Conservation Garden

January 2, 2017 (Rancho San Diego) – Caring for your landscape in winter leads to thriving spring gardens.  On Saturday, January 14 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., the Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College will offer a class titled “Winter Garden Care: Proper Pruning Practices.”


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HOMEGROWN FLAVOR FROM AN INDOOR GARDEN

Energy efficient and long-lasting high intensity grow lights will provide the greatest yields when growing tomatoes and other fruiting plants indoors.  Photo courtesy of Gardner's Supply Company. 

 

 



By Melinda Myers

 

January 18, 2016 (San Diego's East County) - Add some homegrown flavor to your winter meals.  From microgreens to tomatoes, it is possible to grow produce indoors.


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DEFENSIBLE SPACE IN THE DROUGHT

East County News Service

May 28, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – Creating defensible space around your home is more important than ever amid the drought.  But that doesn’t mean hacking down landscaping to bare earth.  Now Cal-Fire has posted information on plants that are fire resistant and drought tolerant. These ideal choices not only provide color and beauty with minimal water – they also provide a safe area for firefighters to operate and increase the odds that your home will survive a wildfire.  

For details, click “read more” and scroll down, or visit http://www.ReadyForWildfire.org/landscape_ideas.


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ASK THE EXPERTS: NOV. 15 AT WATER CONSERVATION GARDEN

East County News Service

Drought got you down? Need garden tips, conservation insights and ideas for drought-resistant plants to make your fall landscape more beautiful with less water?

Get help at Ask the Experts, an event set for Saturday, November 15 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College in El Cajon. Presentations and exhibits include a home compost workshop, toss the turf class, life after lawns, horticultural displays, how to hire a landscape contractor and save money, ask the designers, personalized landscape design consultations, free garden tours, and shopping for water-saving plants.


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MASTER GARDENER REPLACES LAWN WITH WILDLIFE-FRIENDLY PLANTS

 

 

 

September 28, 2014 (San Diego) -- With San Diego knee-deep in a drought, it might be a good idea to ditch that thirsty turf grass in favor of a vibrant, easy-care garden that's also a haven for butterflies and other native species. San Diego County News Service met up with a San Diego Master Gardener who did just that.  Click the video to check out her beautiful yard.


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LEARN WATER-WISE GARDENING TIPS

 

January 31, 2014 (El Cajon ) -- Amid our worst drought in California history, here are some options for learning how to reduce water use in your garden.

The Water Conservation Garden on the campus of Cuyamaca College in El Cajon is offering two garden workshops on Saturday, February 1 from 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon. Those interested can choose “Toss the Turf,” a workshop to learn the variety of ways to remove your turf once and for all, and what to do with your yard once it's gone.  You must register at www.thegarden.org.

The other choice is a free Home Compost Workshop, also on Saturday, February 1st from 10:00 a.m. – 12 noon, where participants can learn the basics of composting, how to compost with worms, and how to save in the process.


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FALL GARDEN FESTIVAL- NOV.10: HOW TO BE A SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GARDENER

"Ask the Experts" and the most diverse water-wise plant sale in the County

November 8, 2012 (Rancho San Diego) -- Considering fall and winter as, “prime gardening months” would be scoffed at in many parts of the United States, but not in San Diego.

With its Mediterranean climate, characterized by mild-to-cool wet winters, and warm-to-hot dry summers, the Fall Garden Festival, held at the Water Conservation Garden from 10am-4pm on Saturday, November 10, 2012, helps San Diegans make the most of the region’s fall-to-spring planting season…and save water while they do it!

 


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URBAN FARMING IS FOCUS OF SPRING GARDEN FESTIVAL APRIL 28

 

 
 
April 15, 2012 (El Cajon) Join the Water Conservation Garden, the Heritage of the Americas Museum and the Ornamental Horticulture Department at Cuyamaca College on Saturday, April 28 from 9 a.m.to 5 p.m. as they present the 19th annual Spring Garden Festival.  This year’s theme is “Urban Farming” and will include experts on raising urban chickens, beekeeping and vegetable gardening. 
 
 

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WATER AGENCIES HOST SAN DIEGO COUNTY GARDEN FRIENDLY PLANT FAIRS THIS SPRING, INCLUDING SEVERAL IN EAST COUNTY

 
Events feature discounts on low-water-use plants, information from gardening experts

February 21, 2012 (San Diego County) -- San Diego County residents interested in making their yards and gardens more attractive and water efficient will have an opportunity to get information from gardening experts and save up to 50 percent on select varieties of low-water-use plants at San Diego County Garden Friendly Plant Fairs this spring at select The Home Depot locations.
 

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"SUSTAIN LA MESA" ENVIRONMENTAL FESTIVAL OCTOBER 8

 

 September 19, 2011 (La Mesa) -- La Mesa's  Environmental Sustainability Commission is holding the fourth annual "Sustain La Mesa" Environmental Festival on Saturday, October 8, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Harry Griffen Park, 9550 Milden Street, La Mesa, 91942.[Additional Info]

 

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WATER CONSERVATION GARDEN HOSTS A FRESH CROP OF FALL/WINTER EVENTS

 

 

Fall Home & Garden Festival, Backyard Flock, Build a Scarecrow, Tamale Making 101, From Laundry to Landscape, Small Space Garden, and Gardening on a Rooftop

 

September 3, 2011 (Rancho San Diego)--The Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College invites the public to enjoy its 2011 fall and winter events.  Gardening classes help residents save water and money by focusing on water-smart landscaping techniques and plants.  Classes are taught by professionals , with offerings for both adults and children. 

 

Scroll down for details on new classes sprouting up this season.


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SHEAR JOY: SUMMER FRUIT PRUNING WORKSHOP

June 30, 2011 (La Mesa) -- On Saturday, July 9, La Mesa Live Well and Grow is holding a free Summer Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop from 12:00 to 2:00pm. The Workshop will be held in the La Mesa Police Department Community Room at 8085 University Avenue.

Learn about new garden volunteer and educational programs in and around La Mesa including gardening classes, backyard garden builds and fruit tree harvesting for donation to nonprofits serving neighbors with limited incomes.


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