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February is a great time to show some love to your garden. It may still feel like winter, but in Lodi’s Zone 9 garden, this is one of the most important months of the year. What you do now sets the stage for a healthy and beautiful spring — whether you’re gardening at home or helping care for our public spaces. Credits: Wix.com Finish winter pruning. February is the final window to prune roses, deciduous fruit trees, and grapevines before new growth begins. At Micke Grove Ros

Winter may look quiet, but beneath the surface the garden is very busy. Roots are stretching, earthworms are tunneling, and soil life is slowly preparing for spring. This is the perfect season to care for the garden in gentle, thoughtful ways. Using cardboard or newspaper in the garden is one of our favorite winter tricks.  Plain, untreated cardboard or newspaper laid over the soil helps suppress weeds, retain moisture, and improve soil health over time. Simply remove tape an

It's December and most likely you are knee deep in a holiday-to-do list! Even though it is cold outside, don't neglect your garden. With a little effort and planning in December, your garden will emerge from winter flourishing! 1. Protect Tender Plants from Cold Snaps Even in Lodi’s mild winters, December can surprise us with a frost or two.I’d make sure my frost cloths or old sheets are nearby and ready. Citrus, succulents, young perennials, and anything newly planted get

Fall in the garden. From Flower Garden to Veggie Garden, November is the time to tackle the garden clean-up! Planning ahead for the next Spring gets your garden ready to flourish. Here are some tips to help you: Flower Garden Prune lightly and deadhead  annuals and perennials to keep beds tidy. Avoid major pruning until late winter. Plant spring bulbs  (tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, freesias, ranunculus). Chill tulips and hyacinths for 4–6 weeks before planting. Plant winter

Paperwhites Fall just started. It's a great time to think about blooming bulbs as gifts for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Timing is...

Yes, summer flew by. Here in Zone 9, we have wonderful weather in late summer, early fall. It's a great time to work in the garden. ...

August can be especially hot in Lodi, CA. While the climate of warm days and cooler nights is great for winegrape growing, it can be...

As gardeners in Zone 9, we’re fortunate to have a diverse and beautiful climate for outdoor gardening. However, the colder months or our...

Photo Credit: Wix.com If you’ve ever watched a hummingbird hover in place, wings buzzing like a miniature machine, you know the magic...

Gathering Pollen | Photo credit: Wix.com Looking to add some buzz to your garden—literally? Bees are not only essential pollinators,...

Dragonflies are incredibly beneficial insects to have in your garden, especially in USDA Zone 9, where warm temperatures and water...