Gardening Topics

Tips for Planting a Tree

Taken from http://cagardenweb.ucanr.edu/Landscape_Trees/ Choose a good location Consider soil quality, water quality and availability, drainage, and other conditions before selecting a planting location and the species to grow there. Determine proximity to structures, pavement, overhead lines, and underground utilities that may be damaged by growing roots. Determine how much light and heat occur at that...Continue reading→

Fruit Trees That Do Well in Alameda

While this list is certainly not meant to be all-inclusive, it does offer suggestions by your fellow Alamedans for fruit tree varieties they have found to do well and provide good quality fruit in our island soil and climate. Keep in mind that there are always special factors to consider, including: Think About Location Seasonal...Continue reading→

Plants Resistant or Susceptible to Oak Root Fungus

by Robert D. Raabe Department of Environmental Science and Management University of California, Berkeley Armillaria mellea is a common disease producing fungus found in much of California . It commonly occurs naturally in roots of oaks but does not damage them unless they are weakened by other factors. When oaks are cut down, the fungus...Continue reading→

Creating A Pollinator Garden

Tuesday, February 19, 2019, 7:00 – 8:30 pm Rhythmix Cultural Works, 2513 Blanding, Alameda What do zucchini, almonds and guavas have in common? They all need pollinators. Without pollinators, the world would be a less colorful, less tasty and less well-balanced place: all the more reason to learn how to create a garden that will...Continue reading→

Fighting Climate Change in Our Backyards

Tuesday, March 19, 2019, 7:00 – 8:30 pm Rhythmix Cultural Works, 2513 Blanding, Alameda Panel discussion with Birgitt Evans, Marla Koss and Damian Mason The term “Carbon Sequestration” is the turning up everywhere in the fight against global warming. It may sound intimidating or difficult, something to be done by governments or on a large...Continue reading→

Great Habitat Plants for Beneficial Insects and Pollinators

April 16, 2019, 7 to 8:30 pm Rhythmix Cultural Works, 2513 Blanding Avenue, Alameda You can not only grow food for yourself, but also support local pollinators, such as hummingbirds, bees and also other beneficial insects that help control pests. Many of the herbs and vegetables that we enjoy are also attractive to beneficials and...Continue reading→

Succession Planting and Interplanting for Summer Veggies

May 21, 2019, 7 to 8:30 pm Rhythmix Cultural Works, 2513 Blanding Avenue, Alameda Meet Alameda County Master Gardeners Sam Foushee and David Blood to discuss planting your summer vegetable garden. Here in the Bay Area we can garden all year long but it requires a bit of planning. We’ll examine how to plan your...Continue reading→

The Dreaded Peach Leaf Curl Disease: How to Prevent it in Alameda

by Holly Johnson, Alameda Backyard Growers Alameda Sun, Thursday, November 8, 2018 While several varieties of peach trees can do well in Alameda, these fruit trees are also susceptible to a fungal disease that makes them look unhealthy and, in fact, weakens their ability to thrive. The disease, peach leaf curl, is caused by a...Continue reading→

Alameda Greywater System Tour

Want to see rainwater and greywater systems in real life in Alameda? ABG has organized a tour of four Alameda sites that use rainwater and/or greywater to irrigate their gardens on Saturday December 1, from 10:00 am to 11:30 am. Register for the tour to receive the address of the sites. Hope to see you...Continue reading→

Rainwater Harvesting

Tuesday, November 27, 2018, 7:00 – 8:30 pm Rhythmix Cultural Works, 2513 Blanding, Alameda It’s FINALLY raining, and we’re hoping for a very rainy winter. But you never know. Even if we don’t get as much rain as we’d like, you can expand the water available for your plants by harvesting rainwater and using greywater....Continue reading→