Master Gardener Classes January 2011

Pruning Fruit Trees Saturday, January 8: 9 a.m. – noon


Master Gardener Walt Miller will present information on good pruning practices to keep trees healthy and under control. Proper pruning leads to more fruit production on fruit-bearing trees! Hands-on demonstrations using the proper tools will also be a part of the presentation.

Location: Veterans' Memorial Bldg. – 130 Placerville Drive, Placerville


Rose Pruning Saturday, January 15: 9 a.m. – noon

Join Master Gardeners Julianne Melchor & Eve Keener as they present a class on proper pruning of roses. The proper tools to use will be discussed as well as the right time of year to prune and different techniques for various rose varieties. There will be hands-on demonstrations.

Location: Veterans Memorial Bldg. – 130 Placerville Drive, Placerville


Living With Oaks Saturday, January 22: 9 a.m. – noon

El Dorado County is graced with handsome and enduring California Oaks. New construction, irrigated lawns and cultivated land can endanger them, and they need proper care to continue to thrive. Join Master Gardener Bill Gallant for a presentation on the various methods to maintain and protect these wonderful trees.

Location: Veterans' Memorial Bldg. – 130 Placerville Drive, Placerville


Fire-Safe Landscaping Saturday, January 29: 9 a.m. – noon

Master Gardener Robin Stanley, along with her husband, Mark (a retired CDF official), will present this very popular and important class on how to design and maintain attractive, fire-safe landscaping for your property.

Location: Government Center Hearing Room, Bldg. C – 2850 Fairlane Court, Placerville

Make a Christmas to Remember

One week left to add

a Living Christmas

Tree to your holiday

celebrations.


Make this year's Christmas a little bit more special by adding a Living Christmas Tree, which can be planted in your yard to be admired for years to come. One of our friends is planting a tree to mark their child's first Christmas. Another is using theirs to mark their first Christmas as a family. Or just plant a Christmas Tree to replace the trees that are cut down each year.

You have only one week left to get your Living Christmas Tree. We close for a winter break on December 12th. But don't worry we will reopen February 4th on our winter hours Friday through Sunday 10:00 to 4:00. If you need to contact us over our break you can call us at 530-647-0910 or e-mail us at caminogardencenter@hotmail.com we check these often.

Time use Pre-emergent

Amaze Grass & Weed Preventer2 provides four months of a broad spectrum of preemergent weed control of grassy and broadleaf weeds. It allows for multiple application sites, including over the top of ornamentals.


Irrigation is needed to activate Amaze.
Control:
crabgrass
lambsquarters
common purslane
other broadleaf weeds and grass weeds

Where to use it:
lawns
flowers
ornamentals

Living Christmas Trees are Here!

The living Christmas Trees are finally here.

Colorado Blue Spruce

Picea pungens Engelm.

Description:
Colorado blue spruce, or blue spruce, is an attractive tree often used for Christmas trees or as ornamentals, particularly in the eastern United States and Europe. It is the official state tree of both Colorado and Utah. The species generally reaches a height of 65-115 feet at maturity with a diameter of 2-3 feet. It has a narrow, pyramidal shape and cone-shaped crown. As trees become older, they often take on a more irregular appearance. While blue spruce grows relatively slowly, it is long-lived and may reach ages of 600-800 years.

Leaves (needles) are 1-1 1/2 inches long on lower branches but somewhat shorter on upper branches. They are 4-sided and have a very sharp point on the end. It is this point which gives the species its name "pungens", from the Latin word for sharp as in puncture wound. Needles are generally dull bluish-gray to silvery blue and emit a resinous odor when crushed. Some trees have a more distinct bluish-white or silvery-white foliage. The cultivated variety 'glauca' is noted for this type of coloration. Nursery managers also select for "shiners" which demonstrate this very desirable characteristic. Needles occur on small peg-like structures on the twig called sterigmata. The sterigmata persist on the twigs after needles have fallen, which is usually after the third or fourth year.

Both male and female flowers (strobili) occur in the same tree, although in different locations. Pollination occurs in late spring and cones mature in one season. In the fall, cones are 2-4 inches long and turn chestnut brown with stiff, flattened scales. Cones generally persist on the tree for one to two years after seed fall.

The bark is thin becoming moderately thick with age. It is somewhat pale gray in small flattened scales when young, then turns reddish brown and furrowed with age.

Blue spruce is moderately shade tolerant and grows best in deep, rich, gravely soils, often along stream banks and other sites with high moisture levels. It usually does not occur in large stands but is found in small groves or in association with Douglas-fir, lodgepole pine, Engelmann spruce or ponderosa pine. A deep penetrating root system makes the species resistant to being blown over.

Blue spruce is finding increasing popularity as a Christmas tree as a result of its symmetrical form and attractive blue foliage. The species has an excellent natural shape and requires little shearing. Additionally, needle retention is among the best for the spruces. Its popularity as an ornamental leads many consumers to use blue spruce as a living Christmas tree, to be planted after the holiday season.

Noble Fir

Abies procera Rehd.

Description:
In the wild, the trees are tall, beautifully symmetrical and grow to over 200 feet in height. The bark is smooth with resin blisters when young and changes to brownish-gray plates with age.

The needles are roughly 4-sided (similar to spruce), over 1 inch long, bluish-green but appearing silver because of 2 white rows of stomata on the underside and 1-2 rows on the upper surface. The needles are generally twisted upward so that the lower surface of branches are exposed.

The pollen cones are reddish and the seed cones are large (often over 5 inches long), heavy cones concentrated in the tree tops. They are erect and the cones scales are nearly concealed by shaggy-edged, sharp pointed bracts. The cones dissipate in the fall to release their seeds.

The original Latin name Abies nobilis had to be changed when it was discovered another tree already had been given this name. However, the common name has persisted because of the magnificent proportions of the tree and the large, heavy cones.

Grand Fir

Abies grandis (Dougl. ex D. Don) Lindl.

Description:
The grand fir is one of the tallest firs, reaching heights of 300 feet. It is easily distinguished from other Pacific Northwest firs by its sprays of lustrous needles in two distinct rows. They are usually horizontally spread so that both the upper and lower sides of the branches are clearly visible. The needles are 1 to 1 1/2 inches long with glossy dark green tops and two highly visible white lines of stomata on the undersides.

The pollen strobili are yellowish and the cones are yellowish-green to green, cylindrical, erect, 2 to 4 inches long, occur high in the crowns and dissipate in the fall to release their seeds.

The bark is grayish-brown, usually with white mottles, smooth with resin blisters when young, becoming rigid and then scaly with age. Like most other true firs, it is thinned barked and therefore very sensitive to fire. Control of fires in the drier southern parts of the northwest has allowed a widespread increase of grand fir over the last 50 years.

Douglas Fir

Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco

Description:
Douglas-fir is not related to the true firs.

This wide ranging species grows from 70 to 250 feet tall. The branches are spreading to drooping, the buds sharply pointed and the bark is very thick, fluted, ridged, rough and dark brown.

The needles are dark green or blue green, 1 to 1 1/2 inches long, soft to the touch and radiate out in all directions from the branch. They have a sweet fragrance when crushed.

Pollen strobili are small and reddish-brown. Young cones are small, oval shaped and hang downward. They are reddish-brown to gray, 3" long and do not dissipate to spread seed as do true firs (Abies sp.). The cones open in the late summer to disperse the seeds and will continue to hang on the trees through the fall.

Check out the website, we are constantly updating and improving:
http://www.caminogardencenter.blogspot.com/
You can always contact us at 530-647-0910 or e-mail me at stevenlauder@hotmail.com

Tomato Contest 2010

Our Barks

GARDENERS PROFESSIONAL DECORATIVE BARK — MINIMULCH
An extra-fine textured (1/8" x 1/4") bark well suited for small area ground cover, mulching, decorative top dressing for large containers

May be worked into the soil to improve drainage
Also suitable as a growing medium for many types of orchids

Available Sizes:
2.0 Cubic Feet

GARDENERS PROFESSIONAL DECORATIVE BARK — SMALL
A fine-textured ground cover that is best suited for walkways or general ground cover & mulching

Available Sizes:

2 Cubic Feet

GARDENERS PROFESSIONAL DECORATIVE BARK — MEDIUM
A medium-textured ground cover best suited for general ground cover & mulching

Available Sizes:

2.0 Cubic Feet

GARDENERS CEDAR MULCH
A long-lasting, decorative ground cover ideal for use in vegetable & flower gardens

Helps soil retain moisture & deters weeds
Fresh cedar aroma helps repel a variety of insects

Available Sizes:
2.0 Cubic Feet

Planting a Living Christmas Tree

Planting a Living Christmas Tree

1.Transition your tree from outside to in, place your tree in the garage or under the eves

of your home for a day or two to help your tree going from a cold wet environment to warm dry one. And do the same when transitioning the tree to the outside to protect it from shock. Living Christmas trees are outdoor plants and need to be taken outside every so often to keep them happy and healthy. You should take your living Christmas tree outside once every two weeks. Some people will leave the tree outside until just before Christmas then bring it inside for the holidays.

2.Remember you have a living Christmas tree and it needs to be watered often.
Woodstoves and heaters make for very dry conditions in the home. Check your living Christmas tree daily the soil should be moist but not soaking wet. Placing a tray of ice cubes on the base of the tree daily is an easy way to water without creating a mess on your floor.

3 Your living Christmas tree does not need to be planted right away, but leaving it in the pot requires that you water it more often. Your live Christmas tree can stay in the pot until springtime, but it is better to plant the tree before it comes out of dormancy. Being in a pot means there is less soil to hold water and feed the tree. Do not remove tree or shrub from Ball & Burlap. By leaving the plant in the Ball & Burlap you do not disturb the root system of the growing plant, this helps in preventing shock, and insuring healthy happy plants.

4.Place plant in planting hole. Cut strings away from the base of the plant and pull
burlap back until top portion of ball is showing. Bury remaining burlap in with tree, and amend soil with Garden & Bloom compost.

5.Make sure to water immediately after planting to lessen the chance of shock. And add
water once a week in the winter and daily in the summer.

Planting Ball & Burlaped Trees and Shrubs

Planting Ball & Burlaped Trees and Shrubs

1. Dig planting hole 6 to 12 inches larger that planting ball.

2. Do not remove tree or shrub from Ball & Burlap. By leaving the plant in the Ball &
Burlap you do not disturb the root system of the growing plant, this helps in
preventing shock, and insuring healthy happy plants.

3. Place plant in planting hole. Cut strings away from the base of the plant and pull
burlap back until top portion of ball is showing. Bury remaining burlap in with tree, and amend soil with Garden & Bloom compost.

4. Make sure to water immediately after planting to lessen the chance of shock.

Our Soils

GARDNER & BLOOME PLANTING MIX
Natural & Organic Premium Garden Soil All-purpose soil amendment or direct planting medium blended of all-natural composted ingredients including peat moss, earthworm castings, chicken manure, bat guano & kelp meal.


Excellent for direct planting in garden soil, raised beds or for mulching.

A favorite for bare-root planting.
Available Sizes: 2.0 Cubic Feet

GARDNER & BLOOME HARVEST SUPREME
Natural & Organic Premium Soil Amendment Organic, long-lasting ingredients including chicken manure, bat guano & kelp meal make an excellent fortified natural soil amendment for all vegetable & flower gardens.


Helps break up clay soils & improves soil drainage.

Formulated to provide abundant plant nutrients, improve physical soil structure & help balance pH when mixed with existing garden soil.
Available Sizes: 2.0 Cubic Feet

 GARDNER & BLOOME SOIL BUILDING COMPOST
Natural & Organic Soil Amendment Organic, long-lasting ingredients including chicken manure, bat guano & kelp meal make an excellent fortified natural soil amendment.


Helps break up clay soils, improves drainage, promotes healthy root growth & adds valuable micro-nutrients to the soil.

Great for bare root planting, mulching & seed top-dressing for new or existing lawns.
Available Sizes: 3.0 Cubic Feet

GARDNER & BLOOME POTTING SOIL
Natural & Organic For All Indoor & Outdoor Potting Organic, long-lasting ingredients including chicken manure, peat moss, worm castings & kelp meal.


Perfectly balanced with essential plant nutrients & special water-saving formula features for excellent growth.

Ideal for indoor & outdoor potting, container planting, raised bed applications & an excellent addition to existing garden soil.
Available Sizes: 2.0 Cubic Feet

Fall & Winter Lawn Food

Fall is the season to change your fertilizing habits.  Use Master Nursery’s Fall & Winter Feed for lawns.  This fertilizer is formulated to produce a rich green lawn, encourage root growth and improve the turf’s resistance to diseases. 

November Master Gardner Classes

November 6th Bonsai Classs

9:00 am to Noon
Location: Veterans Memorial Bld.

November13th African Violets Class
9:00 am to Noon

Location: Bethell-Delfino Agriculture Building

Plants that Attract Hummingbirds and Butterflies

Plants that Attract Hummingbirds
Annuals, Perennials & Vines


Agapanthus Lily of the Valley
Aquilegia Columbine
Campsis Trumpet Vine
Cosmos Cosmos
Daisies Daisies
Delphinium Delphinium
Dianthus Pinks
Digitalis Foxglove
Heuchera Coral Bells
Lantana Lantana
Lithodora Lithodora
Lonicera Honeysuckle
Mimulus Monkey Flower
Monarda Bee Balm
Nicotiana Ornamental Tobacco
Penstemon Summer Snapdragon
Salvia Sage
Helianthus Sunflower

Shrubs & Trees


Arctostaphlyos Manzanita
Budddeia Butterlfy Bush
Ceonothus Wild Lilac
Cercis Redbud
Chaenomeles Flowering Quince
Cotoneaster Cotoneaster
Escallonia Escallonia
Fuschsia Fuschsia
Grevillea Grevillea
Hibiscus Hibiscus
Lavandula Lavender
Lavatera Mallow
Syringa Lilac

Plants that Attract Butterflies
Annuals & Perennials


Alcea Hollyhock
Aquilegia Columbine
Aster Aster
Daisies Daisies
Dianthus Dianthus
Digitalis Foxglove
Lupine
Snapdragon
Penstemon Penstemon

Shrubs & Vines

Arctostaphlyos Manzanita
Budddeia Butterlfy Bush
Ceonothus Wild Lilac
Lavandula Lavender
Lonciera Honeysuckle
Spiraea Bridal Wreath
Syringa Lilac
Wisteria Wisteria

Food plants for Larvae

Artichoke Artichoke
Dicentra Bleeding Heart
Geum Geum
Nasturtium Nasturtium

Nectar plants for adults


Achillea Yarrow
Agapanthus Lily of the Valley
Chrysanthemum Maximum Shasta Daisy
Coreopsis Coreopsis
Cosmos Cosmos
Echinacea Purpurea Purple Coneflower
Erysimum Wallflower
Iberis Sempervirens Candytuft
Lathyrus Odorata Sweet Pea
Liatris Spicata Gay Feather
Lobelia Lobelia
Lobularia Maritima Sweet Alyssum
Monarda Bee Balm
Phlox Phlox
Ranunculus Ranunculus
Rubeckia Hirta Gloriosa Daisy
Salvia Sage
Sedum Stonecrop
Tegetes Marigolds

Map to Garden Center

Deer Resistant Plant List

Trees


Abies species Fir
Acer Maples
Albizia Julibrissin Silk Tree
Arbutus unedo Strawberry bush
Cedrus species Cedar
Cercis Redbud
Cotinus coggygria Smoke Tree
Cupressus species Cypress
Fraxinus species Ash
Ginkgo biloba Maidenhair Tree
Gleditsia Locust
Ilex species Holly
Juniperus species Juniper
Lagerstroemia indica Crape Myrtle
Liquidamber styaciflua Sweet Gum
Magnolia species Magnolia
Picea species Spruce
Pinus species Pine
Pistacia chinensis Chinese Pistache
Podocapus species Yew
Pseudotsuga menziesii. Douglas Fir
Quince. Quince
Sequoia sempervirens. Coast Redwood
Sequoiadendron giganteum. Giant Sequoia
Thuja species. Arborvitae

Shrubs


Arctostaphylos species. Manzanita
Artemisia species. Artemisia
Berberis species. Barberry
Buxus species. Boxwood
Ceanothus. Wild Lilac
Centranthus Jupiter’s Beard
Chaenomeles species. Flowering Quince
Cistus species. Rockrose
Cotoneaster species. Cotoneaster
Daphne species. Daphne
Erica. Heath
Euphorbia species. Spurge
Fatsia Japonica. Japanese Aralia
Ferns. All Types
Forsythia species. Forsythia
Genista species. Broom
Geranium. Cranesbill Scented Varieties
Grevillea species. Grevillea
Hypericum calycinum. St. John’s Wort
Ilex species. Holly
Lagerstroemia indica. Crape Myrtle
Lavandula species. Lavender
Hamamelis. Chinese Witch Hazel
Lupinus arboreus. Lupine
Mahonia species. Oregon Grape
Nandina domestica. Heavenly Bamboo
Philadelphus coronarius. Mock Orange
Pieris species. Pieris
Potentilla fruticosa. Bush Cinquefoil
Rhododendrons. Not azaleas
Rhus species. Sumac
Rosmarinus officinalis. Rosemary
Syringa species. Common Lilac

Perennials

Achillea species. Yarrow
Alcea rosea. Hollyhock
Aquilegia. Columbine
Artichoke
Aster species. Perennial Aster
Astilbe. Meadow Sweet
Bellis perennis. English Daisy
Bergenia. Saxifraga
Centaurea cineraria. Dusty Miller
Chrysanthemum frutescens. Marguerite
Coreopsis species.
Dicentra species. Bleeding Heart
Digitalis species. Fox Glove
Diplacus hybrids (Mimulus). Monkey Flower
Erysimum mauve. Wallflower
Euryops species.
Geranium incanum. Cranesbill
Gypsophila paniculata. Baby’s Breath
Hellaborus.
Hemercallis. Daylily
Herbs. Many Varieties

Heuchera saquinea. Coral Bells
Iris species.
Lavandula species. Lavender
Mimulus species. Monkey Flower
Monarda species. Bee Balm
Myosotis sylvatica. Forget-me-not
Nepeta faassenii. Catmint
Oenothera species. Evening Primrose
Papaver orientale. Oriental Poppy
Penstemon. Beard Tongue
Phlox subulata. Phlox
Rudbeckia hirta. Gloriosa Daisy
Salvia species. Sage
Scabiosa columbaria. Pincushion
Stachys byzantina. Lamb’s Ear
Tradescantia species. Spider Wort
Viola odorata. Violets

Vines

Campis species. Trumphet Creeper
Clematis armandii. Evergreen Clematis
Jasminum species. Jasmine
Wisteria species. Wisteria

Ground Covers

Ajuga reptans. Carpet Bugle
Hedra helix. English Ivy
Hypericum calycinum. St. John’s Wort



The plants listed here are just known as deer resistant from past experience. There is no guarantee that these plants will be deer resistant in all cases. These plants are deer resistant, and not deer proof.

Spring Blooms

 Are you not getting the results from your fertilizers you want?  The mineral Phosphate the main contributor to blooms is naturally deficient our foothill soil.  This mineral has difficulty penetrating soil and getting to the roots where it is needed.  Scratching the fertilizer into the soil and getting it down around the root zone of the plants will greatly increase the blooms next spring.  Using a fertilizer with a low or no nitrogen and a higher phosphorous in the fall will help produce the flowers in the spring.  We recommend using Super Phosphate or Ultra Bloom.  These fertilizers are good for all plants not just flowers.  Spring flowers produce the fruit we enjoy in the summer and fall.

2011 Seeds are here!

We have hand pick all the seeds for the coming year. We hope you will enjoy your custom selection.


Camino Garden Center has expanded our organic seed selection, almost tripling the varieties.

Fall does not mean your vegetable garden needs to sleep. It’s time to plant broccoli, cabbage, lettuce, spinach, onions, swiss chard, chives, carrots, beets, Brussels sprouts, peas, cauliflower, and radish. Come in now for our wide selection of winter vegetable seeds and plants.

Biggest Tomato Contest

Congratulations to our Biggest Tomato Contest Winners

Steve Stewart came in first place with scale tipping tomato of 33.96 oz.

Karen Cleveland’s tomato weighed in at 31.87 oz. landing her in second place.

Kim Dawson brought in a tomato weighing 27.49 oz.

In the Children’s division Maria Soto won with a tomato weighing 27.67 oz.

And Hudson Marsh’s tomato weighed in a 17.87 oz. giving him second place.
Thank you to all who participated making this year’s Biggest Tomato Contest better than last years.

Spring Bulbs are Here!!!

Daffodil blooms are always the first hint that spring is on its way. Checkout our selection of bulbs, we have Giant King Alfred Daffodils, Tulips, and Paper whites.

Daffodils and paper whites belong to the Narcissus family, which are deer and gopher resistant. According to Wikipedia: Narcissus in Greek Mythology was a hunter who was renowned for his beauty. He was exceptionally proud, and in that he distained all those who loved him. As divine punishment he fell in love with his own reflection in a pool, not realizing it was merely an image, and he wasted away to death, not being able to leave the beauty of his own reflection.

Deep Watering your Trees and Shrubs

DEEP DRIP Tree Watering Stakes aid in the watering and fertilization of your trees at the roots, in addition to better aerating the soil with oxygen. Deep Drip will deeper saturate the ground around your tree allowing the roots to grow deep and strong instead of horizontally at the surface, possibly resulting in exposed roots. This device is designed to work with a garden hose, flood irrigation, or in conjunction with your automatic landscape drip system. Your standard 1/4" drip line easily connects to the Deep Drip spike. And you can also add fertilizer into the shaft to continually direct nutrients to the root zone. Whether you have fruit, oak, or aspen trees, start watering your trees where the roots are and where you want them to be. Roots tend to follow the water source, so show your roots the path to grow deep. When you can get water underground faster, you can water for shorter periods, while practicing sensible water conservation. Our Patent Pending Deep Drip tree root watering devices come in three sizes: 14, 24, and 36 inches.

Building a Compost Tumbler

You can build a compost tumbler to make compost at home.  All you need is a large food grade drum some plumbing parts and a wood frame.  You can get your drum from a restaurant or a restaurant supply company.  I got mine from a friend who works with restaurants. 

Drill a large hole in the bottom of the drum insert a 3" pipe with holes in the side of the pipe for aeration.  Insert an axel through the drum for turning the composter.  For more instruction you can search youtube.com for building a compost tumbler.  There a lot of designs and you can have fun with yours.  I you need more help you can email me at stevenlauder@hotmail.com

Blossom End Rot on Tomatoes

Blossom end rot is a troublesome disease, familiar to most gardeners who have grown tomatoes. The disease is often prevalent in commercial as well as home garden tomatoes, and severe losses may occur if preventive control measures are not undertaken.




Symptoms may occur at any stage in the development of the fruit, but, most commonly, are first seen when the fruit is one-third to one-half full size. As the name of the disease implies, symptoms appear only at the blossom end of the fruit. Initially a small, water-soaked spot appears, which enlarges and darkens rapidly as the fruits develop. The spot may enlarge until it covers as much as onethird to one-half of the entire fruit surface, or the spot may remain small and superficial. Large lesions soon dry out and become flattened, black, and leathery in appearance and texture.



This disease does not spread from plant to plant in the field, nor from fruit to fruit in transit. Since it is of a physiological nature, fungicides and insecticides are useless as control measures. The occurrence of the disease is dependent upon a number of environmental conditions, especially those that affect the supply of water and calcium in the developing fruits. Factors that influence the uptake of water and calcium by the plant have an effect on the incidence and severity of blossom end rot. The disease is especially prevalent when rapidly growing, succulent plants are exposed suddenly to a period of drought. When the roots fail to obtain sufficient water and calcium to be transported up to the rapidly developing fruits, the latter become rotted on their basal ends. Another common predisposing factor is cultivation too close to the plant; this practice destroys valuable roots, which take up water and minerals. Tomatoes planted in cold, heavy soils often have poorly developed root systems. Since they are unable to supply adequate amounts of water and nutrients to plants during times of stress, blossom end rot may result. Soils that contain excessive amounts of soluble salts may predispose tomatoes to the disease, for the availability of calcium to the plants decreases rapidly as total salts in the soil increase.


Rot-Stop Tomato Blossom End Rot


Nutritional Calcium Corrects calcium deficiency. Controls blossom end rot on tomatoes, other vegetables. Apply to developing fruit and foliage after periods of heavy rain or rapid growth.

Glossary of Terms

Acid: An acid soil has a pH below 7.

Aeration: Supplying soil and roots with air or oxygen.

Alkaline: Refers to a soil with a pH over 7.

All-Purpose Fertilizer: A balanced blend of N-P-K;
All purpose fertilizer is used by most growers.

Amendment: Fortifying soil by adding organic
or mineral substances in order to improve texture,
nutrient content or biological activity.

Annual: A plant that normally completes it entire life cycle
one year or less.

Beneficial insects: A good insect that eats bad flower and
vegetable munching insects. Lady Beetles, Praying Mantis,
and Lacewing are all beneficial insects.

Biodegradable: Able to decompose or break down through
natural bacterial or fungal action, substances made of organic
matter are biodegradable.

Bolt: Term used to describe a plant that has gone to seed
prematurely.

Bonsai: A very short dwarfed plant.

Carbon Dioxide: (CO2) A colorless, ordorless, testless gas
in the air necessary for plant life.

Clay: Soil made up of very fine organic mineral particles.
Clay is not suitable for container gardening.

Compaction: Soil condition that results from tightly packing
soil; compact soil allows for only marginal aeration and root
penetration.

Companion Planting: The planting of several plants that
benefit each other.

Compost: A mixture of decayed organic matter.

Cross-Pollinate: Pollinating two plants having different ancestry.

Damping-Off: Disease that attacks young seedlings and cuttings
causing stem rot at base.

Deplete: Exhaust soil of nutrients, making it infertile.

Drainage: Way to empty soil of excess water.

Drip Line: A line around a plant directly under its outermost
branch tips. Roots seldom grow beyond the drip line.

Drip System: A very efficient watering system that employs
a main hose with small water emitters.

Foliar Feeding: Misting fertilizer solution which is absorbed
by the foilage. Best to do in the morning.

Fungus: A lower plant lacking chlorophyll which may attack
green plants; mold, rust, mildew.

Humus: Dark, fertile, partially decomposed plant or
animal matter; humus forms the organic portion of the soil.

Hybrid: An offspring from two plants with different ancestry.

Leaves: The external part of a plant attached to branches
and stems for the purpose of taking in light from the
sun's energy.

Leggy: Abnormally tall internode space, with sparse foilage.

Life cycle: A series of growth stages through which a plant
must pass in its natural lifetime.

Lime: Used in the form of dolomite to raise soil pH.

Loam: Organic soil mixture of crumbly clay, silt and sand.
Gardener's gold.

Moisture meter: An electronic device that measures the
exact moisture content of a soil at any given point.

Mulch: A protective covering of organic compost, leaves,
or bark. Mulch can be used to retain water in the summer
and heat in the winter.

Nutrient: Plant food, essential elements N-P-K, secondary and
trace elements fundamental to plant life.

Organic: Made of, or derived from or related to living organisms.
In agriculture organic means "natural".

Peat: Partially decomposed vegetation (usually moss) with slow
decay due to extreme moisture and cold.

Perennial: A plant, such as a tree or shrub, which completes its
life cycle over several years.

pH: A scale from 1 to 14 that measures the acid to alkaline
balance of a soil; in general most plants grow best in a
range of 5.5 to 6.8 pH.

pH: Tester Electronic instrument or chemical used to find where
soil is on the pH scale.

Photosynthesis: The building of chemical compounds from
light energy, water, and carbon dioxide.

Pollen: Fine, dust like microspores containing male genes.

Primary Nutrients: N-P-K (Nitrogen - Phosphorus - Potassium)

Prune: Alter the shape and growth pattern of a plant by cutting
stems and shoots.

PVC Pipe: Plastic (polyvinylchloride) pipe that is easy to work
with, readily available and used to pipe water into a garden.

Pyrethrum: Natural insecticide made from the blossoms
of various chrysanthemums.

Root Bound: Roots stifled or inhibited from normal growth,
by the confines of a container.

Roots: Their purpose is to anchor a plant and and provide
a means in which to feed and hydrate a plant.

Secondary Nutrients: Calcium (ca) and Magnesium (mg).

Seed Pod: A dry calyx containing a mature or maturing seed.

Soluble: Able to be dissolved in water.

Spore: Seed like offspring of a fungus.

Sprout: A recently germinated seed.

Stamen: Male, pollen-producing part of a flower.

Serilize: To make sterile by removing dirt, germs,
bacteria.

Stress: A physical or chemical factor that causes extra
exertion by plants.

Tap Root: The main or primary root that grows from the
seed; lateral roots will branch off the tap root.

Terminal Bud: Bud at the growing end of the main stem.

Thin: Cull or weed out weak, slow growing seedlings.

Transpire: The process of giving off water via the underside
of leaves. More transpiration occurs on windy days than
hot days.

Trellis: Frame or netting that trains and supports a plant.

Pruning and fertilizing your Rhododendrons

Spending time in your garden

Spending time in your garden


We get the question all the time “what is one thing they can do to have success in the garden.” “Should we water more, water less, or any number of things.” But the real key to a successful garden is spending time in your garden. Every problem you might have in your garden starts out small; a single aphid, a wilting flower top, and soggy soil next to a leaking pipe. Walking through your garden once a week will enable you to catch these issues before they become problems. Plants for the most part don’t just up in die over night. The plants tell you there is a problem before they pass. If you come across an issue you don’t understand, ask right away. Many problems can be avoided by simply taking action before it spreads. Should you find an issue, ask us. Bring the questioned leaf in a PLASTIC BAG into us. Please seal the plastic bag; you don’t want the problem to spread through your garden, and neither do we.

Spending time in your garden not only allows you to catch these issues but it’s also quite enjoyable. If you don’t enjoy your garden, then you are doing it wrong. We often are asked for plants that need no water, no fertilizer, and no care. One has to wonder why garden at all? Gardens are meant to be enjoyed, so walk amongst your flowers, touch and feel you ferns and coral-bells, taste your herbs and vegetables. It is the one place I can spend time away from all the problems of the world. The garden is meant to be enjoyed by you and your family, let it reflect what you like doing out doors. A play area for the kids, vegetable garden for the family cook, a place to rest and have a nice beverage.

Master Gardener Classes June 2010

Salsa Gardening
Saturday, June 12: 9 a.m. - noon

Join Master Gardener Kristin Rankin for her presentation on growing your own ingredients for south-of-the-border dishes.  Topics will include which peppers to grow for maximum flavor, what herbs to use and how to maintain these in the garden.

Location: Bethell-Delfino Agriculture Bldg. - 311 Fair Lane, Placerville


Natural Pollinators in the Garden
Saturday, June 26: 9 a.m. - noon

Do you want to learn how to attract natural pollinators to your garden?  Master Garden Steve Vandever will give a presentation on how to best accomplish this by using appropriate plantings in the landscape and decreasing, or eliminating, the use of pesticides.

Location: Government Center Hearing Room, Bldg. C - 2850 Fairlane Court, Placerville

Powdery Mildew

Powdery Mildew

Spring rains brings on powder mildew. Now is the time to prevent and control powdery mildew before is takes over your garden.


The new leaves, twigs, and flower buds are covered with a thin layer of grayish white powdery material. In extreme cases leaves can be curled and turn yellow or purple and drop off. New growth can be stunted and young canes can die. Badly infected flower buds will not open correctly.

This common plant disease is caused by a fungus (Sphaerotheca pannosa var. rosae). It is one of the most widespread and serious diseases of roses. The powdery covering consists of fungal strands and spores. The spores are spread by the wind to healthy plants. The fungus saps the plant nutrients, causing distortion, discoloring, and sometimes death of leaves and canes. Powdery mildew may occur on roses anytime during the growing season when rainfall is high or absent, temperatures are mild, nighttime relative humidity is high, and daytime humidity is low. Rose varieties differ in their susceptibility to powdery mildew.

An organic solution is Green Light Rose Defense
Rose Defense is three organic products in one: an insecticide, a fungicide and a miticide. It is a botanical product made from neem oil.

Prevent and control:
blackspots powdery mildew rust many more diseases
aphids scale whiteflies many more insects & mites
Where to use it:
flowers ornamentals trees shrubs

An inorganic solution is Bayer Advanced Garden Disease Control for Roses, Flowers & Shrubs
3-In-1 Insect, Disease & Mite Control
Triple protection for flowering plants, trees and shrubs

1. Kills and controls insects
2. Cures and prevents fungal disease
3. Controls Spider Mites

Protects up to two times longer against twice as many pests versus other brands
Systemic rainproof protection lasts up to 30 days

Happy Memorial Day

Camino Garden Center would like to say thank-you all our brave troops both past and present.

Dr. Earth Super Natural Lawn Fertilizer

Dr. Earth Super Natural Lawn Fertilizer


A superior homogenous blend of fish meal, fish bone
meal, feather meal, potassium sulfate, alfalfa meal,
calcium sulphate, seaweed extract, micorrhizae and
beneficial soil microbes.

This is a wonderful fertilizer. Dr. Earth promotes a hardy
root system thereby adding life to your lawn. It also
controls thatch build up. Best of all, it contains
Mychorriza which grows in your soil; greatly enhancing
the quality of environment for the soil that your lawn
grows in.

Benefits:

Controls thatch build up by digesting thatch (the organic debris layer produced by grass roots, stolons, and blades). This layer is located between the vegetative layer and the soil layer.

Adds life to lawns by providing a broad spectrum of beneficial soil microbes plus three micorrhizae strains. This ensures nutrients are made available to the grass roots more effectively and at a steady rate, even under stressful conditions (such as drought, low nutrient availability, poor soil structure, etc.)


Promotes a hardy root system in two ways. First, it stimulates roots to grow deeper in the soil to absort the organic nutrients made available by Super Natural. Second, micorrhizae develop a symbiotic relationship with the grass roots causing the root system to expand tremendously. With an expanded root system, more nutrients and moisture are available.

Fast results, plus continuous feeding for upto three months.
100% natural and organic.
People and pet safe.

Use to Feed:
Newly seeded lawns. Newly laid sod lawns. Cool season grasses Warm season grasses.
St. Augustine Fescue Blue grass

Don't forget Mother's Day

Don't forget Mother's Day this Sunday May 9th.  Light up your Mom's eyes with a garden this year.  Plant her flowers that will grow year after year.  We have a large selection of mountain hardy deer resistant flowers. 

If you have any questions please call us at 530-647-0910 or email us at stevenlauder@hotmail.com.

Favorite Tomatoes

We are asked all the time what our favorite tomatoes are.  So here they are

Steve - Red Currant A So. American species, not a true tomato, ideal for salads & snacks. 15-20 ¼” sized fruit per cluster a crunchy, fruity flavor, sweet yet tart.  Sweet 100  Huge, multiple-branched clusters of 1/2 inch very sweet fruit with high vitamin C content. Mouth-watering flavor. Vigorous vines bear abundantly until frost and need staking for best results. Indeterminate

John - Bull’s Heart Italian heirloom colorful pink/red fruit, wonderful sweet flavor. Heart shaped fruit 2 pounds and up.  Sun Gold Very sweet, bright orange cherry variety. Grows in long clusters, a real taste treat, sweet, fruity and delicious.

Lori - Brandy Wine Very old Amish heirloom smooth texture, legendary rich, succulent flavor fruits up to 1 – 2 pounds.

Dorene - Brandy Wine Very old Amish heirloom smooth texture, legendary rich, succulent flavor fruits up to 1 – 2 pounds.  Bull’s Heart Italian heirloom colorful pink/red fruit, wonderful sweet flavor. Heart shaped fruit 2 pounds and up.  Black Krim Dark brown-red tomatoes are large, 10 to 12 ozs., and very richly flavored with just a hint of saltiness. Color is darker in hot weather, and fruit seems to set well even in the heat. Prone to cracking, but a very heavy producer. Heirloom from the Black Sea of Russia. Indeterminate.  Lemon Boy  The first lemon yellow, not golden, tomato variety, and still one of the best. Extremely vigorous plants produce large harvests of attractive fruit that weighs 8 ozs. or more. Flavor is outstanding, mild and sweet yet tangy and definitely not bland. This one is easy to grow and understandably one of our most popular yellow tomatoes.

As you can see there are a wide range what we like, but the fun is in growing and trying new varieties.  So try something new this year, who knows you may find a new favorite. 

Master Gardener Classes May 2010

Growing Orchids
Join Master Gardener Heidi Napier for her presentation on growing orchids and caring for them in El Dorado County.  Plan to bring any of your orchids that may need attention or repotting, and you'll receive hands-on help.

Saturday May 1, 2010 9 a.m. - noon
Government Center Hearing Room, Bldg. C - 2850 Fairlane Court, Placerville

The Herbal Garden
Master Gardener Virgina Feagans will give a presentation on ornamental and culinary herbs.  You will learn how to incorporate herbs into a landscape design, learn which herbs grow best in El Dorado County and how to care for them successfully.

Saturday May 8, 2010 9 a.m. - noon
Veterans Memorial Bldg. - 130 Placerville Drive, Placerville

Container Gardening
Do you want to add a splash of color around your front door?  Are there times that your perennial beds lack color and bloom?  Container gardening is a great way to add new elements of interest and beauty to your garden.  Master Gardener Julianne Melchor will help you create a container garden that suits your needs.

Saturday May 15, 2010 9 a.m. - noon
Veterans Memorial Bldg. - 130 Placerville Drive, Placerville

Beekeeping
Bees are a critical part of gardening and without them, we would not be able to enjoy many of our fruits and vegetables.  However, bees are under threat of greatly diminishing in population, or even disappearing altogether, because of inappropriate use of pesticides.  Join Master Gardener Sharlet Elms for her presentation on how to raise bees and handle them safely.

Saturday May 22, 2010 9 a.m. - noon
Veterans Memorial Bldg. - 130 Placerville Drive, Placerville

Camino Garden Center
3400 Carson Ct.
Camino, CA 95709
stevenlauder@hotmail.com

Contacting Camino Garden Center

To contact Camino Garden Center you can call us at 530-647-0910 or email me at stevenlauder@hotmail.com.  Please do not press reply on emails from the website, I do not get these emails.  In fact these emails end up at one of our fellow customers inbox, I think I have taken steps to prevent them from receiving your responses, but in any case they are not coming to me.  Thankyou in your help in this matter. 

Steven Lauder
Camino Garden Center
530-647-0910
3400 Carson Ct.
Camino, CA 95709

Tomato Planting Guide

Tomato Planting Guide

First lets understand some terminology, many have heard of indeterminate and determinate tomatoes. But do you know what that means? Determinate tomatoes varieties tend to reach a fixed height and ripen all their fruit in a very short time. Some examples include many of the paste varieties, “Ace”, “Celebrity”, and “Patio.”

Most of the tomato varieties grown in home gardens are indeterminate vining tomatoes. They will continue growing until they are killed by frost and keep setting fruit throughout the growing season. Some examples are “Beefsteak”, “Big Boy”, “Brandywine”, and “Early Girl”.

Heirloom and Hybrids are other words commonly spoken when discussing tomatoes and vegetables. Heirloom tomatoes are vegetables people had saved the seeds and replanted each spring continuing the line of the plant over many years. Heirlooms are openly pollinated vegetables, which means they can produce seeds that can produce the same tomato the following year. Openly pollinated also means they can cross breed with other tomatoes in the area making a different tomato from the resulting seed.

Plant breeders cross breed compatible types of plants in an effort to create a plant with the best features of both parents. These are called hybrids and many of our modern plants are the results of these crosses. In the agriculture industry farmers are looking for more disease resistance to protect their crops. As a result many hybrids are more disease resistant. But farmers are also looking for fruit that hold up better to shipping and look real good in the stores, at times this has come at the expense of taste. Ultimately the decision is yours.

Wait until Mother’s Day to plant your tomato plants outdoors. You can start your tomatoes indoors earlier, but resist the temptation to plant them outdoors earlier than Mother’s Day.

Plant your tomatoes in Gardner & Bloome Harvest Supreme, its 15% chicken manure and earth worm casting will provide enough fertilizer to get your plants off to a good start. After a month you will need to start a fertilizing routine. Tomatoes are hungry plants; use Gardner & Bloome Tomato Food for an organic choice. Now is a good time to add agricultural lime to your soil, this will help in preventing blossom end rot. Blossom end rot is the brown leathery spot on the bottom of the tomatoes that can form from lack of calcium.

Pick a very sunny location to plant your tomato. Pull or cut the leaves off the bottom 3rd of your tomato and plant it deep enough to bury that portion of the plant’s stalk.

Watering your tomatoes is very important and the amount of water will very based the plant’s location, weather temperature and humidity. If using a pot ensure there is plenty of drainage for your tomato. In the hottest weather you will most like have to water everyday. It is important to maintain a consistent soil moisture to prevent fruit problems. Consider adding a small deep watering stake to aid in putting water and fertilizer directly on the roots of the plant.

Consider planting marigolds around your vegetable garden to aid in keeping bugs off your plants. This technique will not stop all bugs, but it will add some visual interest to your vegetables.

Dogwoods are Here!!!!!

Cornus Florida Rubra
Pink Flowering Dogwood

Height 20’

Spread 20’
Fall Color: Red
Flowers: Pink

Cornus Florida Sunset
Cherokee Sunset Dogwood
Height 20’
Spread 20’
Foliage: Variegated yellow and green
Fall Color: Red
Flower: Deep Pink to light red



Cornus Kousa Satomi
Satomi Dogwood
Height 20’
Spread 20’
Fall Color: Red
Flower: Pink

Cornus Kousa Milky Way
Milky Way Dogwood
Height 20’
Spread 20’
Fall Color: Bright red
Flower: Large creamy white



Cornus Nutallii Goldspot
Goldspot Dogwood
Height 35’
Spread 20’
Foliage: Varigated green splashed with yellow
Fall Color: Red
Flower: Large white blooms twice

Tomatoes Tomatoes Tomatoes

Camino Garden Center recommends waiting until after Mother's Day which is May 9th to plant your tomatoes.  But here is a list of some of the heirloom varieties you can look farward to in the near future.  We have begun to receive our first deliveries of tomatoes.

Abraham Lincoln is a sturdy vine that continues to produce until fall’s frost. Large clusters of bright red fruit up to 1 pound very meaty with few seeds.


Box Car Willie Very heavy crop of smooth red fruit. Excellent tasting fruit for a variety of uses, long lasting.

Brandy Wine Very old Amish heirloom smooth texture, legendary rich, succulent flavor fruits up to 1 – 2 pounds.

Bull’s Heart Italian heirloom colorful pink/red fruit, wonderful sweet flavor. Heart shaped fruit 2 pounds and up.

German Head Old-time favorite. Large, beefsteak-shaped, dark pink fruit. Excellent yields, crack free fruit 1 – 2 pounds.

Giant Belgium Dark pink fruit with delicious sweet flavor. Solid meat fruit 2 – 5 pounds, sometimes used to make wine.

Goliath Heirloom from the late 1800’s. Strong vigorous plants, huge red beefsteak type fruit up to 3 pounds.

Hillbilly Huge bi-colored yellow-orange fruit with red streaking, sweet and fruity flavored fruit 1- 2 pounds.

Red Currant A So. American species, not a true tomato, ideal for salads & snacks. 15-20 ¼” sized fruit per cluster a crunchy, fruity flavor, sweet yet tart.


Sun Gold Very sweet, bright orange cherry variety. Grows in long clusters, a real taste treat, sweet, fruity and delicious.

Again this is just a short list of some of the tomatoes that we will have on hand, there will be many more.

Do you like Johnny Jump-ups?

Do you like Johnny Jump-ups then try Penny Yellow Jump-ups?  They're everything Johnny is and more.  The Penny Yellow boasts the vigor gardeners have now come to expect from hybrid violas. Larger than normal viola sized blooms proliferate over lush green, compact foliage. A flower that is excellent for both spring and fall, the Pennys have multiple uses for bedding, landscape and container pots. Height: 4-6", 4-6" spread.

Time to place your Yellow Jacket Traps out

The New W·H·Y Trap for Wasps, Hornets & Yellowjackets

What it catches


The RESCUE!® W·H·Y Trap catches 7 species of Paper Wasps; Bald-faced Hornets and European Hornets; and 12 species of Yellowjackets.

How it works

The W·H·Y Trap has a top chamber and a bottom chamber. The top chamber is baited with two attractants -- one of which is a solid contained in a vial, and the other a liquid mixed with water. The bottom chamber is baited with a liquid attractant poured onto a cotton pad. Wasps, hornets and yellowjackets have two ways to enter: either through the top cap, or through the holes in the bottom cap.

Unique features and benefits


First and only trap to capture Paper Wasps, Bald-faced Hornets and European Hornets

Two-week attractant kit included

     Attractant refills available

     No extra food bait required

     Catches queens in spring before they build nests

     Catches workers from summer through fall

     Double-chambered design prevents insects from escaping

     Durable construction holds up for multiple seasons

     Attractant will not lure beneficial honeybees

What kills the insects

Once inside the trap, the insects cannot fly out and die either by drowning (top chamber) or dehydration (bottom chamber).

Where it's used

The RESCUE!® W·H·Y Trap can be used outdoors wherever there is a paper wasp, hornet or yellowjacket problem. We recommend the trap be placed at least 20 feet away from an outdoor activity area, such as a patio or deck. Generally speaking, the W·H·Y Trap will capture more paper wasps near a house structure, and more hornets and yellowjackets near a natural setting of bushes and trees. It can be highly effective to place multiple traps around the perimeter of a yard or area where insects are entering. The trap should also be placed at least 20 feet away from a known yellowjacket nest.


When it's used

The RESCUE!® W•H•Y Trap can be used in early spring when the queen paper wasps, hornets and yellowjackets emerge from overwintering to look for new nest sites. It can also be used throughout the summer and fall to capture foraging wasp, hornet and yellowjacket workers.

Gnomes have invaded!

Start your collection now or add to your growing numbers. We have all kinds of gnomes.  We also have other garden art.