Alyce Peterson

March is one of the most exciting months in the Lodi garden. The soil is warming, daylight is increasing, and spring growth is just beginning to take off. Life is showing itself in the garden. Take hold of it and a little preparation and timing make all the difference for a productive and beautiful garden season ahead. Prune Fruit Trees (Before Full Bud Break) March is your last window to finish pruning deciduous fruit trees before vigorous spring growth begins. In Lodi, most fruit trees are...

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 Rose Garden or your...

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 and staples, lay...