Pruning California Native Plants – Don’t Use a Bulldozer

Garden of Dreams Native Plant Garden - CSU Dominguez Hills
Good example of how not to prune native plants

Many California native plants require yearly pruning.   The best timing and methods differ depending on the type of plant.  But a bulldozer is NEVER the right tool for the job.    For more on the proper ways to time and prune native plants see:

·        http://mother-natures-backyard.blogspot.com/2014/11/maintaining-your-new-california-garden_15.html

 

·        http://mother-natures-backyard.blogspot.com/2012/11/pruning-common-native-plants.html

Life-Friendly Fall Pruning: Remember the Birds

Garden of Dreams near Child Development Center - 11/12/14. 
Some plants are still un-pruned to provide food for the birds.

Late fall and early winter are important pruning times in Southern California gardens.  Many California native plants, particularly those from drier low elevations, are dormant from late summer until the winter rains.  That’s why fall has traditionally been a major pruning season.  To get a better sense of the seasons in S. California gardens see: http://mother-natures-backyard.blogspot.com/2014/09/seasons-in-southern-california-garden.html.

If you garden in S. California, you’ve no doubt noticed that different birds visit your garden in fall and winter.   California is an important stop for birds migrating along the Pacific Flyway – a giant bird ‘freeway’ in the sky.  Some birds just stop to refuel; others spend the winter in our delightful wild-lands and gardens.  Either way, these birds – along with resident birds and insects – require food in fall and winter.

The past two years have been particularly hard on California wildlife.  Even with decreased water use, our gardens are still wetter and more productive than the drought stressed wild-lands.  That’s why we’ve seen more wildlife than ever in our gardens this year.   A recent visit to the 'Garden of Dreams' on campus demonstrated this dramatically.  There were at least 75 birds, of all sizes and at least 5 species, busily eating in that one little garden!

 

Goldfinch eating Annual sunflower (Helianthus anuus) seeds

 

From native pollinators and butterflies to large animals like deer, creatures are desperate for food and water - and so they come to our gardens.  As wild-lands suffer from climatic extremes, our gardens play an increasingly important role in providing food, shelter and water.  In all years – but particularly in years when food is scarce – we need to manage our fall pruning responsibly.  That's why the 'Garden of Dreams', 'Heritage Creek Preserve' and the 'Earth Sciences Garden'  will look a little more raggedy this month.  We're doing it to save the birds!

 

For more see:  

http://mother-natures-backyard.blogspot.com/2014/11/maintaining-your-new-california-garden_15.html

 

 

It's time for Fall Garden Crafts

 

Fall pruning and Fall garden crafts go hand in hand.  Learn to how to prune and take home some trimmings at our Pruning workshops.  Use your native plant trimming to create lovely hand-dyed yarn and cloth (http://mother-natures-backyard.blogspot.com/2013/10/garden-crafts-colors-of-california-dyes.html).  Then come to a crafts class to get inspired (see Calendar page at left).


 

Frost Damage to Your Garden Plants?

 

Frost damage on white-foliaged Catalina Silverlace (Constancea [Eriophyllum] nevinii).  Note drooping branch-tips
and leaves, as well as gray-brown discoloration.  This picture is about 5 weeks after a frost event.

 

Nighttime frosts can occur anytime from December to February in western Los Angeles county.  Read the following before pruning  your frost-affected plants:  http://mother-natures-backyard.blogspot.com/2013/02/frost-damage-dont-prune-yet.html