Replant Disease
Have you — or, more precisely, one of your newly planted fruit trees or roses — ever been a victim of replant disease? Now that spring is upon us in earnest, planting decisions are being ...
From Aleppo Pine to Silk Tree
“For about 8 years we enjoyed a lovely Aleppo pine on my hillside yard. This tree was purchased in a large box and was quite mature when we brought it in and it flourished for many years. We ...
Life is a Process of Planting Seeds
“Life is a process of planting seeds for the future. This is how Adam (from adama, the Hebrew word for earth) got his name. For the virtue of earth is found in the plants that grow out of it and in...
Slope Planting, Plumeria Pruning
We moved to a new house in Castaic twenty-seven years ago. There is a steep slope in back. It requires a combination of trees, bushes and ground cover to keep the soil in place. We have sprinklers ...
7 Plant Wonders of Los Angeles
Below is a list of what are, in my humble opinion, the seven wonders of the Los Angeles plant world, as well as some honorable mentions. 1. I initially thought of making such a list many years ago w...
The Benefits of Rain
How long has it been since we had rain like this? A long, long time. So long, in fact, I had forgotten what a significantly rainy winter could do for a garden. The beneficial effects of this wet wi...
Rough Bark vs. Smooth
It happened that a certain student, full of philosophical curiosity, went to a sage, someone steeped in ancient wisdom, and complained, “I don’t understand,” the student began. “Why did God create a ...
Erharta erecta & Commelina benghalensis: How do you control them...
Sharon Reeve, from La Mesa near San Diego, has a problem with Erharta erecta and Commelina benghalensis. Anyone with these weeds have experience in their control?
Flowerless Anthurium and Buggy Eugenia
I have been puzzled as to why one of my Anthurium plants will not bloom! I have one that puts out so many “flowers” and is beautiful. They are a light pink color. The other one had red...
Musk Roses and Black Flowers
I’m in love with a ballerina. A ‘Ballerina’ rose, that is. ‘Ballerina’ is a hybrid musk rose and hybrid musks, for reasons beyond comprehension, are seldom seen in the nursery trade. Hybrid musks are...