Davis Garden Show

Nursery pro Don Shor has been gardening and selling plants in Davis for more than three decades.

Join Don and co-host Lois Richter as they discuss and answer your questions on all things for the garden.

Submit a question (or a brag!) to DavisGardenShow@gmail.com 

Replays Thursday 12-1pm, Saturday 9-10am
Podcast
Music programs are only online for two weeks after they are broadcast.

Davis Garden Show, Sept. 2, 2021, butterflies and hanging baskets

Many, many questions this time!  (Some carried over to the next show.)

Gardening for butterflies,

hanging baskets for coastal zones,

time to plant brassicas (cabbage-family) and a winter garden,

persimmon trees struggling to establish,

tomatoes that didn't do well,  and more.

To send in questions, brags, comments, or commendations; write to Don Shor and Lois Richter at  DavisGardenShow@gmail.com

Davis Garden Show, August 12, 2021: Questions

Lots of listener questions today! 

Wide-ranging answers keep returning to common themes: beneficial insects -vs- applying poisons, hosing things off -vs- applying poisons, saving bees and other beneficial insects -vs- applying imidacloprid (a neo-nicinoid systemic poison that makes flowers poisonous to pollinators), thwarting phytophthora by watering deeper but less often, and conserving water in this drought year.

Specific discussions about:

plants for a dry front landscape [with LOTS of ideas!];

Colocasia ["elephant ears"] and taro root [for poi] CAN grow here!;

what ethylene gas is and what it does (ripening bananas and apples, strenghtening tree trunks) [including Don's suggestion for some kids' science fair projects!];

spider mites, predatious mites [which are small and red but are not chiggers!], and other beneficial insects;

'What causes leaf burn on maples?'; and

more about phytophthora [a word which traslates as "plant death"].

Davis Garden Show August 05 2021, Plant Death

Lots of science today!  Phytophthora [fi-TOF-thir-a] is an organism [no longer considered a fungus] that has invaded world-wide.  Many species exist. The one of concern in Davis and inland California attacks plants when ground conditions are HOT AND DAMP! (That is, high humidity and high temperature at the crown or roots for 48 hours.)  Since we don't have rain here for eight months, the only way there can be enough moisture to allow Phytophthora to grow is if HUMANS  apply water too often -- that is, they don't give the area time to dry out between waterings!  Luckily, Don Shor has studied this organism extensively and helps us understand Phytophthora's life cycle and so learn how to reduce our risk.  PS:  That word "Phytophthora" literally translated to "plant death"!!!  PPS: It's already here -- in the ground, on plant roots -- you can't avoid it if you garden.

Even old, established trees can be killed by Phytophthora if the watering changes.  This photo is Dr Milton Hildebrand standing beside a cork oak he planted in 1949. 

Davis Garden Show, July 29, 2021: Water 50% for ornamentals, 100% for food producers

NEW, EASY WAY to figure out your drought watering! Don shared the research from the University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources -- Center for Landscape & Urban Horticulture, showing how little water different plants can survive on. Not be happy, but survive.

Lots of info about watering -- trees, shrubs, food plants, and beneficial insects. (Lois asked about making an insect watering hole with wet sand.) One listener writes about her "spider mite apacalypse" and wonders how to keep her melons alive until harvest. 

Why do plants look stressed the third year in the ground when "they did fine last year"? How much water a plant needs depends upon how big it is! So as a young plant grows bigger, you need to give it more water (either water longer or add another sprinkler head).

"Grad Students Help with Soil" is the Davis Enterprise headline; "providing soil diagnosis [texture and pH test] and advice to gardeners" is the service; Saturdays (9:30-11:30) at Davis Farmers Market is the when/where. The service will continue every Saturday thru August 21.


Davis Garden Show, July 22, 2021: Tree roots, watering, and redwoods

Watering in  a drought. Reducing lawn water while keeping your trees alive. Root distribution of trees, "circle watering" strategy.

Coast redwoods in interior California. Many redwoods were planted in Davis years ago; should we add new ones now? What might we substitute for them?

What's wrong with these struggling tomato plants? 

Compacting soils can cause problems.  

"Mulch is for on top, not underground."

And more answers to listeners' questions. Submit yours for inclusion in a future show by emailing Don Shor and Lois Richter at DavisGardenShow@gmail.com

Davis Garden Show July 15 2021, Summer Pruning

Don Shor and Lois Richter talk about July pests -- what 's around now and how to handle things -- and lots about fruit trees -- including broken branches, thinning possibilties, reduced size method, and summer pruning. From that Facebook @ re feeding squirrels -- just don't!

And, of course, we talk about the GLORIOUSLY WONDERFUL WEATHER this week.

Davis Garden Show, July 8, 2021: Heat wave prep

Too many  questions to get to all of them! Come back next week and hear the rest.

Mid-June topics: 

La Niña and rainfall patterns. How to water -- and how not.

What plants want you to do when there's a heat wave. Or, better still, BEFORE one!

Privacy plants -- including avoiding undesired co-habitants (like raccoons and rats)!

Figuring out how/when to plant seeds. Some tips and tricks for certain seeds!

and more ...

Davis Garden Show, July 1, 2021 -- What's a hybrid?

What's a cultivar? What's a hybrid? What's a selection? What's a variety? We get a long answer to a short question about Ceanothus "Concha" and Ceanothus "Ray Hartmann."

Also today we have a discussion of soil pH (probably not the problem in the situation described); the challenges of planting in compost instead of soil; raised planter woes; and  details on local water issues and Davis' good situation. 

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Comments

Don and Lois,

Hi! I have some suggestions for last minute gifts that your listeners may be interested in. CafePress.com has beautiful as well as humorous t-shirts. This includes t-shirts for gardeners includeing special ones for Master Gardeners. They start at $9. These are both in mens' and womens' styles and sizes. Eric just reminded me that our local botanic garden, Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, has great holiday gifts too in their gift shop. He suggested I mention that public gardens in your area likely do the same thing. He also suggested that I mention the possibility of classes for the public to attend at your local public gardens. RSABG has these. Just something you might find of interest, I am a volunteer at RSABG, though I have not volunteered as much recently as I used to. You learn a lot volunteering. Thank you again for answering my questions. You both are great.

-Robin of Southern California

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 12/20/2010 - 8:21pm

Hi! Thank you for answering my last question. I found your answers very helpful and useful. I am currently relistening to the podcast where Eric called in. Hopefully one day I will do that too and then you can hear my voice. As far my question, i would like to know more about the 'Princess Maxine' rose. Eric bought it for me, but I can not find any information about it. What catagory of rose is it. Anything else you can tell me would also be helpful and useful. Roses are my specialty, but this has me stumped. It has lovely tiny light pink blooms. I have a picture of it, however it is not very clear. By the way, i am now working with Eric. He has hired me and i so enjoy working with him. Something else you might find interesting to know, Eric taps my mind for plant and gardening information, but I can not answer everything. So your answers are beneficial to the both of us. i am so excited that you answered my last question, that i look forward to your answer to my new question. your garden radio show is the best gardening radio show out there!

Robin, Southern California

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 11/29/2010 - 8:45pm

Hi! This is my first time writing to you, but I have been listening to your podcasts for a few months. I have a question about Irises for you, however I should mention that Eric in Southern California who has been e-mailing you is someone I know very closely.In fact he is the person who introduced me to your podcasts. I love it that you bring his questions onto your show. I feel such pride. As for my question, how do you get Irises (gladiolus too) to bloom again? I have a large pot where I have most of my bulbs planted. They all grow lovely leaves, but haven't flowered in several years. Thefreesias bloom year after year, but not the irises or gladiolus. I have them planted in a mix of potting soil and I now use Spray and Grow to fertilize.

Sincerely,
Robin Winderman
rkicker@rocketmail.com

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 09/28/2010 - 8:54pm

Hi Robin,
We discussed your iris/gladiolus question on today's show (9/30). We always enjoy Eric's questions; he gives us lots of ideas for seasonal topics.
Thanks for the note,
Don

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 09/30/2010 - 2:58pm

Hi, I work at a Garden Center and recently our company has begun to carry an Imidicloprid product (Bayer) for use on fruit trees and vegetables. My knee jerk reaction is horror. I know you'll be able to give me the real skinny, am I over reacting or is this a really bad idea? LOVE your show, "Hi Lois!: Greatly appreciated. Lori, San Luis Obispo County, CA

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 04/12/2010 - 12:17pm