Stanislaus

Happy winter fellow gardeners, I hope this message finds you well! Last summer we asked Stanislaus County residents to take a quick survey if they have taken one of our classes, visited our booth at a local event, or spoke to us on our Help Line regarding a gardening question.

We are now in the midst of winter with its often foggy and dreary days. Many trees are bare, most insects are dormant, and numerous bird species have flown south, so our gardens can seem gray, bare, and quiet. However, some birds spend winters here, so there are still some bright spots.

As of January 1, 2025, pesticides containing neonicotinoids will not be available for sale in retail nurseries and garden centers in the state of California. In addition, this group of pesticides cannot be possessed or used by unlicensed applicators.

There is still time to prune fruit trees if you haven't done so already. Why is pruning fruit trees so important? Proper pruning improves the look and health of trees and improves the production of fruit. This post will focus on deciduous fruit trees. For information on citrus, see below*.

There's still space in our Tool Maintenance Workshop this Saturday, January 11, 2025 that starts at 9:00 a.m. See live demos to help you better understand the process and get your questions about tool maintenance answered.

Next time you drive through your neighborhood, count the number of citrus trees you see.

Garden tools looking sad? Your hula hoe doesn't dance anymore? Got rust on your shovel?

Tis the time of year when you may see a traditional holiday decoration of mistletoe hanging in people's homes.

According to University of California Integrated Pest Management (UC IPM), Peach leaf curl is a fungal disease that affects peach and nectarine trees. Peach leaf curl, also known as leaf curl, is caused by the fungus Taphrina deformans.

This Giving Tuesday, we raised $600 for our program! Thank you to those who were able to give. We understand that not everyone is able to make a monetary contribution.