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| Do you have a gardening question? The UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County can help. Our volunteers are part of the University of California’s Cooperative Extension program, and we are trained to use research-based information to educate our fellow residents on home horticulture, pest management, and sustainable landscape practices specific to our area. Our monthly “Ask a Master Gardener” column will answer your questions and offer tips. Have a question? Email lifestyle@embarcaderopublishing.com. |
Why are mushrooms at the base of my tree?
Answer: Mushrooms at the base of a tree could signal a problem with the tree. Armillaria Root Rot is a fungus that can live in the soil for many years. It can rot the roots and cause leaves and branches to die and can eventually kill a plant. Another common term is Oak Root Fungus, although it affects many different species of trees and even some herbaceous plants. Often by the time the fruiting bodies (mushrooms) are visible, much damage has already been done. It feeds on both live and decaying wood. Cutting back a small section of bark can reveal white fan-shaped or black stringy fungus which aids in diagnosis. Keeping the plant healthy provides some defense. Fungi thrive in moist conditions, so do not overwater the area. Also, keep mulch and other plants away from the trunks of trees so as not to hold moisture against the crown (base). The best defense against this disease is to plant resistant varieties. More information: Armillaria Root Rot
January gardening tips
Leave the leaves
While you are tidying up your ornamental garden this winter, consider leaving some leaves and plant material in your yard and waiting until late spring to remove them. Stems and blocks of wood give many native bees places to nest. Leaf litter offers extra protection and cover for hibernating bumble bees and beneficial insects overwintering in various stages of life. It also acts as a natural mulch for your plants, providing weed suppression, moisture retention and nutrients. In the food garden and orchard, do clean up plant debris and fallen fruit, as these materials can harbor overwintering pests.
Prune roses
Winter is the best time to prune roses even if they haven’t gone completely dormant. The old advice was to cut the canes down drastically, but that isn’t necessary for our climate. Instead, just cut back about one-third to one-half of the total height. In other words, take a 4-foot bush down to about 2–3 feet. When cutting back a cane, make the cut at an angle just above an outward pointing bud. Take out any dead or diseased canes, remove suckers below the graft union and branches that are crossing or growing toward the middle of the plant to improve airflow. Clean up old leaves on the plant and ground to reduce rust and black spot. Learn more about rose care here.
Choose seeds for spring planting
While curled up inside the warm, dry house poring through seed catalogs, how do you decide among all the delightful descriptions? First, be clear on the purpose of your garden. Are you trying to grow exotic food? Do you want to attract native butterflies? Are you interested in flowers you can cut and bring inside? Next, think about the conditions of your site. Is it warm and sunny or is there a lot of shade? Do you have heavy clay soil? Choosing seeds that do well in your area makes for healthier plants with less work. If you would like to save seeds in the future, then choose open-pollinated seeds, including heirlooms. Heirlooms are open-pollinated seeds that have been around for multiple generations. Otherwise, you can plant hybrids that have the best traits of their parent plants but will not reproduce true to type from saved seeds. Follow planting directions on the packet for the best results. More Information: Seed Saving
Upcoming Gardening Events
UC Master Gardener gardening events are taking place throughout the county this month. Here are some of them, with more listed on our events page.
Hands-on Workshop: Dormant Fruit Tree Pruning – Saturday, Jan. 10, San Jose
Fruit Tree Pruning for Health! – Saturday, Jan. 10, Santa Clara
Winter Fruit Tree Pruning – Saturday, Jan. 10, online
Pests of Backyard Chickens – Thursday, Jan. 15, online
MCP California Native Plant Sale – Saturday, Jan. 17, San Jose
Bringing Nature into Your Home with Houseplants – Saturday, Jan. 17, San Jose
Winter Care for Roses – Wednesday, Jan. 21, Los Altos
Healthy Houseplants 101 – Saturday, Jan. 24, San José
Basics of Landscaping – Saturday, Jan. 24, San Jose
Winter Fruit Tree Pruning – Saturday, Jan. 24, Sunnyvale
Growing Fabulous Citrus – Sunday, Jan. 25, Palo Alto
MCP Winter Fruit Tree Pruning – Saturday, Jan. 31, San Jose
Container Confidence: Grow a Garden Anywhere! – Saturday, Jan. 31, San José
MCP Winter Fruit Tree Pruning – Saturday, Feb. 7, San Jose
Cut back flowering vines
Vines are plants that climb or sprawl and can easily outgrow their spaces if not pruned annually or more often. Many are pruned in the winter when they are dormant. This reduces shock to the plant and allows you to better see the structure when pruning. If the vines are still flowering, wait until after the blooms have finished. Some vines get cut back almost to the ground to renew them. Some are cut back to the beginning of the herbaceous growth, leaving the woody vines. Others are pruned simply for shape or size. The UC Davis Arboretum All-Stars brochure includes several flowering vines that have been tested and proven to thrive in California and includes pruning requirements. It also has photos, characteristics and requirements for the plants if you are looking for new plants. More information: Pruning Ornamental Trees and Vines
Would you like to ask a UC Master Gardener about a plant problem? Submit questions to our Help Desk online. You can also subscribe to our monthly Tips and Events newsletter. San Mateo residents can also find gardening advice on the UC Master Gardeners of San Mateo and San Franciscowebsite.
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