Gardening Resources?
June 4, 2014 9:05 AM
We just bought a house in the Bay Area with a small yard that I would like to maintain and improve on. I have the wonderful book Golden Gate Gardening, but I'm looking for a community to ask questions - preferably online? Things that might come up - diseases and how to treat them, plant ID, where to buy stuff at good prices. Local blogs, Facebook community pages, mailing lists etc might also be helpful. Offline resources are welcome, too, but I don't have a lot of free time to spend at club meetings etc.
I am reasonably informed about gardening in general - no 101s needed -, however, I've moved to a different country/climate zone and am a bit lost on details. For example, I was surprised to learn that Cape Oxalis is considered a weed around here...I'm just missing the 1000 little details that you learn by having a local garden for a few years. Where do you get your gardening info?
I am reasonably informed about gardening in general - no 101s needed -, however, I've moved to a different country/climate zone and am a bit lost on details. For example, I was surprised to learn that Cape Oxalis is considered a weed around here...I'm just missing the 1000 little details that you learn by having a local garden for a few years. Where do you get your gardening info?
In addition to the Master Gardeners suggestion already mentioned, you might try calling the local Cooperative Extension Service office in the San Francisco area. They are very helpful peeps. How do I know? I work for the Extension Service in NM. :)
posted by strelitzia at 9:24 AM on June 4, 2014
posted by strelitzia at 9:24 AM on June 4, 2014
I like the UC Davis integrated pest management pages for reference.
Also, the venerable Gardenweb forums generally get me Bay Area-specific results. (I usually search via Google). I don't post there; I can usually find some useful nugget in the archives.
posted by purpleclover at 9:24 AM on June 4, 2014
Also, the venerable Gardenweb forums generally get me Bay Area-specific results. (I usually search via Google). I don't post there; I can usually find some useful nugget in the archives.
posted by purpleclover at 9:24 AM on June 4, 2014
Where are you actually located. Bay Area microclimates are so variable, resources for Sunnyvale are really different from the Sunset are different from the Berkeley Hills.
posted by rockindata at 9:47 AM on June 4, 2014
posted by rockindata at 9:47 AM on June 4, 2014
I would like to offer that the East Bay Water Company (EBMUD) has some terrific resources from their water conservation program.
Save this PDF as I think it will answer a lot of your questions: Plants & Landscapes for Summer-Dry Climates Bay Area. You can also buy this in book format from EBMUD.
Also, EBMUD's Water Conservation Resources, including irrigation and watering guidelines, firescapes, etc is useful for a Bay Area Gardner.
posted by crayon at 9:48 AM on June 4, 2014
Save this PDF as I think it will answer a lot of your questions: Plants & Landscapes for Summer-Dry Climates Bay Area. You can also buy this in book format from EBMUD.
Also, EBMUD's Water Conservation Resources, including irrigation and watering guidelines, firescapes, etc is useful for a Bay Area Gardner.
posted by crayon at 9:48 AM on June 4, 2014
I came in here to recommend the EBMUD book but crayon beat me to it. It's been great for identifying the plants that were in our yard and around the neighborhood, but also giving us ideas of what else we should plant.
If you're in Alameda County you can also get a rebate for converting a lawn into water-efficient landscaping.
rockindata also makes a great point, where you live - even down to the neighborhood - matters. We moved across town and the gardens are completely different, but that's because my new hood has much more light and less fog than my previous one and it's only a mile away.
posted by kendrak at 10:12 AM on June 4, 2014
If you're in Alameda County you can also get a rebate for converting a lawn into water-efficient landscaping.
rockindata also makes a great point, where you live - even down to the neighborhood - matters. We moved across town and the gardens are completely different, but that's because my new hood has much more light and less fog than my previous one and it's only a mile away.
posted by kendrak at 10:12 AM on June 4, 2014
Is your town on Nextdoor.com? My town (Menlo Park) is, and a lot of folks use Nextdoor for all kinds of gardening-relating info- referrals for gardeners, offers of plants or plant exchanges, questions about beekeeping, news of sales at local nurseries, and so forth. It's also been a great way to find other local service providers as well.
posted by ambrosia at 1:53 PM on June 4, 2014
posted by ambrosia at 1:53 PM on June 4, 2014
I should have checked double checked, my 2nd link above is wrong. This is the correct link to EBMUD's Water Conservation page with useful gardening info & resources.
posted by crayon at 1:57 PM on June 4, 2014
posted by crayon at 1:57 PM on June 4, 2014
We're in North Berkeley, in case that yields more localized resources...thanks for all your suggestions so far.
posted by The Toad at 4:07 PM on June 4, 2014
posted by The Toad at 4:07 PM on June 4, 2014
North Berkeley seems fairly active on Nextdoor, so it's worth checking out. I would also probably look around your neighbor hood to see what people are doing in their yards that you like, and looks like about the amount of time and effort you'd be willing/able to commit, and use the EBMUD book as a potential guide.
You might also check out the nearest community garden. The one near us has regular classes on various topics that are nice to drop in as my schedule permits. The people are knowledgeable and very generous with sharing their knowledge. You also might want to check out Westbrae Nursery. I've been going there a lot for my gardening needs, and they've been helpful.
posted by kendrak at 5:18 PM on June 4, 2014
You might also check out the nearest community garden. The one near us has regular classes on various topics that are nice to drop in as my schedule permits. The people are knowledgeable and very generous with sharing their knowledge. You also might want to check out Westbrae Nursery. I've been going there a lot for my gardening needs, and they've been helpful.
posted by kendrak at 5:18 PM on June 4, 2014
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posted by Baeria at 9:15 AM on June 4, 2014