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Chicken Wire vs. Hardware Cloth for Gophers
Chicken wire cannot stop gophers but hardware cloth can. Compare mesh size, durability, and cost for protecting your Santa Cruz garden from burrowing pests.
Can You Grow a Productive Garden in Shade?
Many edibles thrive in 3 to 4 hours of sun, including lettuce, herbs, and root vegetables. In hot areas, shade actually prevents bolting and improves quality.
Your June Garden Checklist for Santa Cruz County
Your complete June garden checklist for Santa Cruz County. Garlic harvest, fog belt gardening tips, powdery mildew prevention, and fall brassica seed starting for every zone.
Cedar vs. Redwood Raised Beds: Which Lasts Longer?
Redwood outlasts cedar by about 5 years in raised bed applications, and it is locally available in Santa Cruz County. Here is how to choose between the two.
Can You Grow Blueberries in California?
Southern highbush blueberry varieties thrive in California's mild climate. The trick is acidic soil, not a cold climate. Here is how to grow them.
California Natives vs. Mediterranean Plants Compared
California natives use slightly less water and support local wildlife better, but Mediterranean plants are more available. Here is how to combine both approaches.
Can You Compost Citrus Peels? (Yes, You Can)
Citrus peels compost just fine despite what you may have heard. Here is how to add them to your pile or worm bin without problems.
Bush Beans vs. Pole Beans: Which Produces More?
Pole beans outproduce bush beans in small spaces, yielding two to three times more per square foot. Here is how to decide which type fits your Santa Cruz garden.
Are All Butterflies and Moths Good for Gardens?
Butterflies are beautiful, but many moth and butterfly larvae are serious garden pests. Here is how to protect crops while still supporting pollinators.
BT vs. Hand-Picking for Caterpillar Control
BT kills caterpillars that eat treated leaves while hand-picking removes them instantly. Here is when to use each method in your Santa Cruz garden.
Will Bought Ladybugs Stay in Your Garden? (Nope)
Those bags of ladybugs at the garden center seem like a great idea, but 80-95% fly away within two days. Here is how to attract your own instead.
Your May Garden Checklist for Santa Cruz County
Your complete May garden checklist for Santa Cruz County. Final warm-season planting, irrigation startup, strawberry harvest, and pest management as the dry season begins.
Blossom End Rot vs. Sunscald on Tomatoes
Blossom end rot is a dark patch on the bottom of tomatoes from inconsistent watering. Sunscald is a bleached patch on the sunny side. Here is how to fix both.
Are Beer Traps Really the Best Slug Control?
Beer traps are a popular slug remedy, but they can attract more slugs than they kill. Here is what research says works better for California gardens.
Beneficial Insects vs. Pesticides for Aphids
Beneficial insects provide self-sustaining aphid control while pesticides require constant reapplication. Here is why Santa Cruz gardeners should go biological.
Are Banana Peels a Good Garden Fertilizer?
Banana peels contain only 0.9% potassium, far less than real fertilizer. Burying them near plants can attract pests and temporarily rob soil nitrogen.
Bare-Root vs. Container Fruit Trees: Best Value?
Bare-root fruit trees cost 30-50% less and establish faster than container trees. Here is how to choose the right buying option for your Santa Cruz garden.
Do All Bees Sting? Why Your Garden Needs Them
Most of California's 1,600+ native bee species are gentle and many cannot sting. Your garden needs them for pollination. Here is why you should welcome them.
Bagged Soil vs. Bulk Soil: Which Is the Better Deal?
Bulk soil saves 40-60% over bagged soil when filling raised beds. Here is how to calculate what you need and find the best mix in Santa Cruz County.
Does Adding Sand to Clay Soil Improve Drainage?
Adding sand to clay soil sounds logical, but it can create a concrete-like mix that drains worse than before. Here is what actually works for California clay.