Plant labels, catalogs and magazines all mention that this-or-that plant is suitable for this-or-that “zone.” But what does “zone” really reference? And why should you care? If you search “hardiness ...

Farmers aren’t the only ones who start the day by checking the weather report. Backyard gardeners do it, too. We like to be warned if frosts or polar vortexes are headed our way. If all I grew were ...

Are you are confused by plant catalogues or magazine articles using different climate zone maps to describe the appropriate environment for particular plants? You are not alone. The two primary ...

WHAT HELPFUL, readily available tools can a Marin gardener use as a guide for choosing plants that will be successful in the garden? One basic tool is the USDA’s 2012 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. This ...

Whether or not you are a gardener, you've probably heard of the United States Department of Agriculture's Plant Hardiness Zone Map. This map divides the country into zones according to winter ...

Have you ever gone into a garden center with the idea that if they are selling the plant there then it must be good for the area? Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Some plant tags contain a ...

Mulch helps suppress weeds, keeps soil moist, and helps regulate soil temperatures. Adding a second layer of mulch after the ...

Did you know that Rubus can be considered an herb? Yes, Rubus was the 2020 International Herb of the year primarily for its ...

Carla Albright, a Master Gardener with the Oregon State University Extension Service, grows a garden at her home just north of Tillamook.jpg Carla Albright, a Master Gardener with the Oregon State ...

Q. I am converting my lawn over to a more drought-tolerant landscape and wondering if you can recommend some hardy, drought-tolerant shrubs that can be grown successfully in Redding? A. In Redding, a ...

Houston-area gardeners are bound by the idiosyncrasies of our Zone 9ish climate, bless our sweaty little hearts. Because summer reaches an early boil and winter is generally oh, so mild, we often ...

Thomas Jefferson was not only one of America’s Founding Fathers; he was a founding farmer and weather pioneer, too. At the plantation he called Monticello, he grew hundreds of varieties of fruits, ...