Ideas about sustainable gardening practices have really become part of the mainstream in many ways.  It is common to see people composting green waste and mulching their gardens.  There are more efficient irrigation systems that respond to weather demands and most people have installed automatic irrigation controllers.  Even though we are doing these things, there is so much more we can be doing.  We can be keeping more of our green waste on site.  We could be using less fertilizer and even less pesticides.  We could be collecting rainwater and creating raingardens.  If you want to learn more about creating a more sustainable garden, then you may want to attend the Smart Gardening Conference being held at the Ramada Inn in Fresno on Feb. 27, 2010 from 8:00 to 5:00.  Classes include vegetable gardening, bees, native plants, herb culture, low maintenance gardening, water conservation, garden makeovers and so much more. 

I will be there to discuss sustainable landscape practices for 2010 and beyond.  Hope to see you there. 

I am of an age that when I was a child we got to burn our fall leaves in the gutter outside our house.  I remember the pungent and sweetly smoky smell of the burning leaves.  I am only occasionally blessed with a passing whiff of that smell and when I do smell it, all of those childhood memories come flooding back.  However, it is generally now unacceptable to burn leaves because of air quality restrictions.  That is really okay because there are so many good things you can do with all those leaves without burning them.  One of the best ways to deal with the mounting pile of leaves is to rake them into a low “windrow” on the lawn or driveway and then take the mulching lawn mower and run it over the leaves.  Rake or sweep up the “shredded” leaves and place them in a 3-4 inch layer into your flower beds as mulch around your shrubs, trees and perennials.  You could just put unshredded leaves into the beds but what tends to happen is that the leaves stack upon themselves in tight airtight layers and they can create water impenetrable surface.  The shredded leaves remain "loose" and accepting of water and oxygen.  They will eventually compost and you may hasten it if you chose to by adding poultry manure or other sources of nitrogen rich compostables such as grass clippings or kitchen scraps.  However, it is better if you just allow the leaves to remain in place as mulch without significant or rapid composting.  The mulch will prevent weed growth and add nutrients to the soil slowly.  They will keep the roots of plants cooler in the summer and reduce water evaporation from the soil.  By keeping the fallen leaves on your property, you also reduce the amount of material that must be processed at composting facilities or that goes to the landfill. 

WORKSHOP REGISTRATION CLOSED--SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!
Winter is a great time to prune many of your evergreen trees and shrubs.  You can use the clippings and create beautiful holiday wreaths and swags to decorate your home for the holidays.  Join me in this hands-on holiday traditional workshop. Participants will learn how to prune evergreens properly and then take those evergreens and make them into beautiful wreaths or swags to take home.  Cost is $40.00 per person and includes all supplies for a large wreath, refreshments and handouts.  Bring your best friends, your garden snips and start your own holiday tradition.  This class is held outdoors at the Historic Mills Orchard, Hamilton City, CA  (please dress appropriately for the weather.)  If rain, a heated, protected area will be used).  To register on-line:  go to http://ucanr.org/wreaths/

Or make your check payable to UC Regents and send to UCCE, P.O. Box 697, Orland, CA 95963

 Cheryl Wilen, IPM Specialist in Weed management provides tips on using weed block fabric to effectively manage annual weeds as well as how to manage small infestations of nutsedge can be viewed on a U-Tube Video.  Each video is about 2 minutes.  To view go to: 

http://www.youtube.com/Ucanr#p/a/u/0/Cv2QO7fus20

http://www.youtube.com/Ucanr#p/a/u/1/3I4BR5Q8mT0