July in the garden: time to fertilize and mantain

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• October gardening chores center on cleaning up

  October gardening chores center on cleaning up

  Q: What jobs should I be doing in my garden in October? — Tish Keely, Santa Margarita

  A: October is one of the most pleasant months in the garden. The temperature is generally mild, the soil is still warm, there are treasures to harvest and winter rains are, hopefully, on the way.

  This is a perfect time for a thorough garden cleanup.

• January jobs in the garden: Plant, prune, prepare

  January jobs in the garden: Plant, prune, prepare

  Q. What tasks should I be doing in my garden in January? — Philomena Reid

  A: If you’re interested in working off that holiday fare, look no further than your garden. January is a quiet month, especially on the first, and meditation is never better than when working outdoors. But just because you have survived the holidays does not mean that it is now the time to sit back and watch the weeds grow.

  The Rose Parade may be inviting, but planting a rose bush of your own is infinitely more rewarding. January is just the month. Bare-root roses are available and ready to plant. Choose according to growth habit and your growing conditions. Along the coast, disease-resistant varieties thrive in cooler conditions.

• There’s plenty to do in your December garden

  There’s plenty to do in your December garden

  Q: Are there chores I should focus on in the garden during December? — Dennis Neil, Los Osos

  A: Wear an extra sweater and you’ll find that December is a beautiful time to work in the garden. You may need a breather from the holiday ruckus and keeping the garden tended will make for less work in the spring.

  Winter is a great time to assess what worked and what didn’t in your garden. Grab your hot coffee, tea or cider and take a stroll. The bones of your garden are more visible at this time of year. Now, you can set some goals for 2012.

• Even a small yard is enough for growing berries

  Even a small yard is enough for growing berries

  Q: I love fresh berries and would like to grow them at home, but I just have a small back yard. What can I do? — Kay Seaton, San Luis Obispo

  A: While you’re not likely to have a crop that will keep Smuckers supplied, it is possible to grow enough blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and strawberries to delight your family even in a small yard.

  Blueberries are popular in home gardens because they can be grown in a very small space. In our area these berries do better in containers or raised beds because they prefer acidic soil as opposed to our typical alkaline soil. Amending the soil in a smaller space before planting makes it possible to provide the needed conditions for a successful plant. Blueberries are self-pollinating, but do better if planted with another variety.

• Workshop tackles topics from weather to weeds

  Workshop tackles topics from weather to weeds

  The San Luis Obispo Master Gardeners are at it again with their monthly Advice to Grow By workshops.

  This Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon the workshop will discuss that odd piece of machinery that inhabits the center of the Garden of The Seven Sisters. As important as any growing element in the garden, the mechanical whirligig is not modern garden art; it is a stateof-the-art weather station that measures temperature, precipitation, wind speed and soil moisture. All information is recorded and can be downloaded for comparison and research purposes.

  Though often disregarded, weather is a key player when it comes to gardening effectively. The number and severity of frost days, temperature, inadequate or excess rain and high winds impact plant growth, fruit production and soil. The weather station is a tool that allows information to be extrapolated and interpreted in an accurate, clearly defined manner.