Category: The Garden Guru

Hello again, Westside Gardeners! As we enter early winter, many of our woody, herbaceous perennials and shrubs still show signs of summer stress. Foliage is disfigured and burnt. Stems are discolored and weak. How can we help...

Hello again, Westside Gardeners! As a certified master arborist, I would like to discuss our local shade trees within our city parks and street trees and how to invigorate them into a healthy stage. As we all know, our native...

Hello again, Westside Gardeners. What is phyllophobia, and why is it such a harmful horticultural practice? Phyllophobia, also known as CRD (Compulsive Raking Disorder), is the fear of allowing any fallen leaves to remain on the...

Hello again, Westside Gardeners. The anticipation of autumn weather means continued warm days and nights in the Westside. It’s also the optimal time to accomplish certain garden duties before the weather cools and seed-eating...

Hello again, Westside Gardeners. Most of us think about pruning deciduous stone fruit trees in the winter, but now is an optimal time for tree height reduction. When deciding which laterals to keep and which ones to remove, keep...

Hello again, Westside Gardeners. I hope everyone is well and hydrated, using plenty of sunscreen and wearing a wide-brim hat while gardening. Quite often, I’m called to residences and asked, “What is going on with my yard and...

Hello again, Westside Gardeners. This article is for new property owners in new development homes in our Westside, where the landscapes are planted at the bare minimum: a few shrubs, a small patch of lawn, and, if you’re lucky,...

Hello again, Westside Gardeners. It is hot and sultry outside as I put my thoughts together after a busy week. We are entering the dog days of summer. Yes, days are getting shorter, but the hot weather doesn’t diminish, and we...

Hello again Westside Gardeners. I watched the raindrops roll slowly down the windowpanes while listening to the gentle taps of water hitting the window and the soft brush of rain on the grass and young tender foliage on trees...

Hello again, Westside Gardeners. I am often asked, “What can I do about my soil, and why won’t my plants grow?” Let’s face it: our native soil here is lousy since it has little to no nutrients, including no organic matter. When...

Hello again Westside Gardeners. After recent blustery storms, I thought it would be appropriate to write this article. In most cases, a healthy tree can usually withstand strong winds, up to a certain degree, but when you add...