HOrT COCO-UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa

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Photo of Valley Oak acorns
Article

Growing Mighty Oaks from Little Acorns

September 23, 2024
By Help Desk Team
Note: This was originally published in the Contra Costa Times. Q: I know that acorns are the seeds of oak trees, but how do I plant them? A: Oaks are an important part of the California landscape.
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Photo of many different kinds of seeds
Article

Seeds Are Worth Saving

September 9, 2024
By Help Desk Team
It's getting close to the end of our summer gardening season. Now is the time to start thinking about next summer's garden.
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Photo of the Two-spotted spider mite
Article

Spider Mites

August 26, 2024
By Help Desk Team
Spider mites are very common pests found on many of our landscape and vegetable garden plants. They are tiny and difficult to see but once you learn about them, you might start seeing evidence of infestation on a wide variety of plants.
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Photo of a Dwarf Spider
Article

Spiders: Friends Not Foes

August 12, 2024
By Help Desk Team
This time of year, as the heat increases and things start to get dusty, you might see a number of webs on your plants. Uh oh.
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Photo of shade cloth covering herbs and lettuce
Article

Beat the Heat with Shade Cloth

July 29, 2024
By Help Desk Team
It's summertime! Our gardens are in full swing, tomatoes are beginning to ripen, berries are mostly done, and everything is lush and green. But beware, your plants can sunburn just like you.
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