August Tips & Events for Santa Clara County |
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“A late summer garden has a tranquility found no other time of the year.”
~William F. Longgood
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Quiz: Do You Recognize this Caterpillar? |
Hint 1: It loves a certain summer vegetable plant as much as we do.
Hint 2: You might notice leaf damage and frass (droppings) before you spot the caterpillar itself.
Hint 3: It turns into a large, night-flying moth.
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Photo credit: Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State
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Watch Out for Yellowjackets! |
Yellowjackets are aggressive now through fall as they search for food. They might sting if you shoo them away from food sources, like food at BBQs, garbage cans, overripe fruit, pet food, and the inside of soda cans. Since they nest in ground holes or inside walls and ceilings, you might encounter them on a hike or in your home. Avoid them if you suspect a nest, and keep food covered or indoors. If a wasp lands on you, don’t swat it—wait for it to leave or gently brush it away. Trap them by purchasing and hanging lure traps around areas you want to protect. Call a licensed pest control company if you find a nest in or around your home.
Photo: A western yellowjacket, Vespula pensylvanica, Kathy Keatley Garvey
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Apply Now to Become a Master Gardener |
Have you ever thought of becoming a UC Master Gardener? If so, now is the time to apply. We’re recruiting for the Class of 2025 and looking for people who love gardening, are interested in science-based horticulture, and would enjoy sharing their knowledge with the public. Volunteers are trained to give talks and classes, staff the help desk, work in demonstration gardens, answer questions at events, and more. Does this sound like you? If so, attend a mandatory information session this month to learn more. Applicants from all walks of life, backgrounds, and experiences are welcome!
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Photo: Master Gardener class of 2023 |
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How Can I Find the Right Tree? |
Are you looking for a tree with the right shape and height that is adapted to our area? Want something with flowers of a specific color, maybe even fragrance? How about a plant that has low water needs and can tolerate shade? All that and more is available on the Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute’s SelecTree website. You can enter your search criteria and get a list of suitable trees. There’s information about each tree, including site conditions and special considerations. It’s a great resource if you’re looking for something to plant now or want to browse for your dream tree!
Image credit: Robert O’Brien
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Prune Apricot and Cherry Trees Now |
Prune apricot and cherry trees in the summer, at least six weeks before the first fall rains. This is to reduce the chance of getting Eutypa dieback. The spores of this fungus infect fresh pruning wounds during rainfall, or splashing irrigation, with the greatest incidence in fall and winter. Symptoms take time to develop. In spring, you may observe faded leaves and wilted limbs. Later, cankers form and limbs die back. The tree will die if not managed. Remove infected limbs, make cuts at least 1 foot below the site of any canker, and cut until no discolored diseased wood remains below the cut.
Photo: Cankered bark and amber colored oozing due to Eutypa dieback, Eutypa lata, Jack Kelly Clark
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Bloom Alert: Native California Fuchsia |
It is summer in California. Though most plants have finished flowering, the California fuchsia (Epilobium canum) is just beginning to bloom, adding a burst of color to the landscape. California fuchsia is a California native plant and UC Davis All-Star. It is easy to grow and tolerates heat and drought. It is also a good source of nectar for bees and hummingbirds. The time a fuchsia blooms, its growth habit, and the shape and color of its leaves can differ depending on the fuchsia variety. It both self-seeds and spreads by rhizomes. When it is done blooming, cut the stems to the ground for fresh growth the following spring.
Photo: Epilobium canum ‘Everett’s Choice,’ Ying Chen
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Quiz Answer: It’s a Tomato Hornworm
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Tomato hornworms and their close relative tobacco hornworms are named for the horn on their back end. They both love to chomp on tomatoes. While the dramatic stripes stand out in photos, they actually provide excellent camouflage on the plant. Most gardeners notice the damage first because these 3- to 4-inch-long caterpillars can quickly devour a lot of leaves. Another clue is spotting their dark-colored droppings on leaves below. Handpicking is often the best control, but if you find one covered with little white cocoons, let it stay. Those are pupae from a parasitic wasp, and they will soon hatch to release more adult wasps.
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Photo: Tobacco hornworm covered with parasitic wasp cocoons, Purdue University |
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More August Tips and To-Dos |
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For more gardening tips and to-dos, visit the monthly tips archive on our website. Perfect for browsing, you may recognize some of the content, but you’re sure to find something new. It starts with to-dos for the month; just the thing to review before heading out to your garden. |
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Our monthly Plant Clinic Online is an opportunity to chat with a Master Gardener via Zoom to diagnose a plant problem. You can also listen and learn while other people ask questions. It takes place on the second Tuesday of the month (August 13), from 7–8:30 pm. Priority will be given to questions that are emailed in advance; instructions are in the Zoom registration confirmation. Registration required.
STDG Ask a Master Gardener, Saturday, August 10, 10 am–noon, Sunnyvale Teaching and Demonstration Garden, Charles Street Gardens, 433 Charles Street, Sunnyvale
Growing Culinary Herbs, Saturday, August 17, 10:30 am–noon, Garden to Table Silicon Valley, 200 W. Taylor Street, San Jose
Prepare Your Winter Garden, Thursday, August 22, 5:30–7:30 pm, Everett N. Eddie Souza Community Garden, 2380 Monroe Street, Santa Clara
SCTDG Three-Sisters Garden, Saturday, August 24, 9–10:30 am, South County Teaching and Demonstration Garden, 80 Highland Avenue (Corner of Monterey Road & Highland Avenue), San Martin
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Check our calendar for the latest schedule of events. Videos of many past presentations are also available.
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University of California Master Gardener volunteers promote sustainable gardening practices and provide research-based horticultural information to home gardeners. Visit our website for more information including:
Have a gardening question? Ask us. We’re here to help!
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