Garden Central

Seasonal advice from our garden center team — what to plant, when to plant it, and how to keep it alive.

October 19, 2023 Seed Starting Advice If you’re itching to get your hands in the soil and get a jump start on your spring/summer garden but know that it is too early to […]
September 30, 2023 Containers as Focal Points Design Talk It can be a challenge to find that one element to act as a focal point around which we can build a cohesive theme […]
September 30, 2023 Westringia Fruiticosa Plant Profile Westringia is an evergreen shrub that comes to us from Australia, where it grows in exposed locations on coastal cliffs. Mature size…
September 29, 2023 Pennisetum messaicum: Red Bunny Tails Plant Profile This perennial grass of African origin forms a tidy clump 2ft high and 3ft wide that provides movement and textural contrast for your…
September 29, 2023 Got Mulch? Quarterly Feature An unusual event occurred in a recent winter and early spring, one that has been on hiatus for quite some time. That would be the…
January 29, 2023 Calandrinia Spectabilis: Rock Purslane Plant Profile This bloom heavy tender perennial from Chile is a fine choice for the summer-dry garden. Featuring bright magenta, poppy shaped blooms…
March 11, 2022 The 411 On Tomatoes Plant Profile Whether you call them tuh-MAY-to or tuh-MAH-to, almost everyone has questions about how, where or what types to grow. We’ll start from…
October 19, 2021 Hooked on Hydrangeas Plant Profile With names like Endless Summer, Incrediball, Vanilla Strawberry, Shooting Star, Pistachio, Fuji Waterfall, Snow Queen and Glowing…
October 19, 2021 For the Love of Roses Plant Profile My love of roses was kindled as a child in my aunt’s rose garden some 35 years ago. I can still remember the […]
October 19, 2021 Creating Winter Interest in Your Garden Design Talk Once the brilliant colors of fall have faded, winter in the garden can feel dull and drab. Many of us get spring […]
October 19, 2021 Fruit Tree Planting Season is Here Advice What could be more rewarding than being able to walk outside and pick fresh ripe fruit right off your own tree? And what […]
October 19, 2021 Know Your Friends in the Garden Advice The days are getting longer and warmer, signaling that spring will be here soon. This is when beneficial insects begin to emerge. Attracting…
October 19, 2021 Getting Down and Dirty with Soil Advice “You can’t have a healthy civilization without healthy soil. You can’t have junk food and have healthy people.” – Joel Salatin One of the […]
October 19, 2021 Bee Friendly Gardening Advice You’ve probably heard that bee populations have been declining. But did you know that 1/3 of plants we eat depend on bees for pollination?…
October 19, 2021 Agave and Aloe Plant Profile The name succulent may be a bit deceptive – I assure you, these plants do not suck! At first sight, the spines of some agave […]
October 19, 2021 Attracting Butterflies Plant Profile There’s something so enchanting about seeing butterflies flutter around your garden! You can encourage butterflies to visit your…
October 19, 2021 Low Light Plants Plant Profile Identifying the light situations in our homes and the plants that will thrive within those conditions is one of the most difficult…
October 19, 2021 Gardening Made Easy with a little help from these products Advice GopherHawk – Gopher and Mole Trap Finally, a gopher trap that is easy to set, retrieve, clean and reuse. GopherHawk trap takes the […]
October 19, 2021 Grow Your Own Fall and Winter Veggies and Herbs Advice Fall and winter vegetable and herb gardens require little effort and supply bountiful harvests. Early to mid-fall is the ideal time […]
October 18, 2021 Cool Season Vegetables Here in Northern California we can grow vegetables year round and it’s not too soon to start making plans for your fall and winter gardens. Cool…
October 18, 2021 Plant Bulbs Now for Spring Bloom Advice The beauty of seeing bulbs pushing their way through the soil and then blooming in the spring garden and containers is almost magical. […]
October 18, 2021 Winterizing the Garden Advice As winter approaches—Think spring! By preparing your gardens for winter, you will help ensure that the landscape will flourish in the spring.…
October 18, 2021 Anigozanthos – “Kangaroo Paw” Plant Profile This striking plant is native to the southwest corner of Australia, a Mediterranean climate region with hot dry summers and mild…
October 18, 2021 Garden Visit: Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden Quarterly Feature Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden is located 2 miles south of Ft Bragg and 7 miles north of the village of Mendocino, straddling […]
October 18, 2021 Cacti & Succulents Plant Profile Cactus and succulents are the ultimate water-wise and drought-tolerant plants for the landscape, with the added bonus of being easy…
October 18, 2021 It’s Camellia Season Plant Profile We are entering camellia season here in the Napa Valley. You may have noticed the swollen flower buds of these gorgeous glossy…
October 18, 2021 Join the 70’s Houseplant Craze in 2019 for Your Health! Plant Profile Back in the mid 1970’s, in my teens, I got caught up the houseplant craze, and that is […]
October 18, 2021 Growing Citrus Plant Profile When Life Gives You Lemons . . . . . . Be happy, as lemons are expensive! What could be more rewarding than walking into your […]
December 14, 2020 December in Your Garden 1. Plant winter blooming color such as primrose, cyclamen, pansies, violas, Iceland poppies and more. 2. Harvest winter vegetables as they are ready…
November 14, 2020 November In Your Garden 1. Force paperwhite bulbs indoors. For holiday blooms, force your paperwhite bulbs indoors. They will bloom 4-6 weeks after being planted. You can…
October 14, 2020 October in Your Garden 1. Plant Fall & Winter Flowering Annuals. Pansies, violas, primrose, cyclamen, calendula, ornamental cabbage and kale, stock, snapdragons, Iceland…
September 14, 2020 September in Your Garden 1. Fall is for Planting. The end of September marks the beginning of fall. Warm soil temperatures and rain on the way makes for prime planting […]
August 14, 2020 August in Your Garden 1. Keep up your slug bait applications. Slugs and snails are hungry beasts. We recommend applying Sluggo or Sluggo Plus every 2 weeks. 2. Keep up […]
July 14, 2020 July In Your Garden 1. Plant summer blooming color such as cosmos, salvia, annual vinca, zinnias, petunias, to name a few. These are all heat lovers and will flourish…
June 14, 2020 June In Your Garden 1. There’s still time to plant vegetables and herbs if you have more space or if you haven’t planted a vegetable and herb garden. Tomatoes, peppers,…
May 14, 2020 May in your garden 1. Plant tropicals . . . such as bougainvillea, hibiscus and mandevilla. Be sure to plant near a south facing wall or in a container that […]
April 14, 2020 April In Your Garden 1. Plant roses, shrubs, vines, grasses, perennials, trees, etc. It’s planting season, get out and garden. It’s good for the soul. 2. Prune…
March 14, 2020 March In Your Garden 1. Plant azaleas and rhododendrons. They are budded and blooming now, which is the best time to plant. 2. Plant bare root fruit trees and berries […]
February 14, 2020 February in Your Garden 1. Finish winter pruning of roses and fruit trees. 2. Plant potatoes, garlic, onions, asparagus, rhubarb and horseradish. Fill in veggie garden with…
January 14, 2020 January in Your Garden 1. Collect rainwater in barrels or garbage cans to use in spring for watering your garden. We sell 55 gallon used food grade barrels here. 2. […]
January 14, 2020 Dormant Season Rose Pruning & Care Advice January is the perfect month to get back out in the garden and prepare your roses for a flush of spring growth and […]
August 12, 2019 Edible Flowers Advice When we think of bringing flowers indoors, we often imagine a beautiful bouquet. But flowers can brighten up the dinner plate too! Edible…
August 12, 2019 Fall Is For Planting Fall is for planting, here’s why: The days are getting shorter, there is less intense sunlight, the night air is cooler, but the soil is still…