The Stanislaus Sprout

Gophers are well-known and certainly unwelcome pests in landscapes, gardens, lawns, and athletic turf. More correctly called pocket gophers, these rodents mostly remain hidden underground in tunnels and feed on plants from below, sometimes pulling whole plants into their tunnels.

Citrus trees can be planted any time after the danger of frost has passed, which in our area is usually around mid-to-late March. It's a good idea to plant citrus early try to have your trees in the ground by May because a sudden hot spell may damage trees that are not well established.

When asked about my favorite spring/summer veggie the answer was easy cucumbers. This humble green, and somewhat odd-looking vegetable, has graced my table, and my garden, for as long as I can remember.

Ready to get your spring garden in the ground? Not so fast! In Stanislaus County, our weather patterns have featured rainstorms, low temperature drops, and highs in the 70's, only to repeat the rainstorms and low temperatures. These periods of sunshine remind us that spring is on the way.

Do you keep notes on how your garden performs each year to help you remember what is working well and what is not? Maybe this is your year to start. Barb Fick, Home Horticulturist with the Oregon State University Extension Service, explains that there are many good reasons to keep a garden journal.