Fresno Gardening Green

After two consecutive years of normal and above-normal rainfall, trees, hedges and bushes whose growth was constrained during the drought years have shown a huge growth spurt this spring. My neighbor's magnificent loropetalum hedge is at least four feet taller and wider.

Enjoy the balmy early summer evenings with a poolside barbecue, homemade ice cream or outdoor dining. Tasks Be sure your watering schedule conforms to new guidelines. Check sprinkler timer settings at least once a month. Water citrus being careful not to overwater.

The heat has arrived in Fresno County, so how about a glass of mint-infused water to quench your thirst on a hot summer day! And it's so much more convenient if that mint comes from your garden, right? Before you plant that mint, read on.

I couldn't figure out why my African violets were losing their beautiful rosette shape. I kept snipping leaves in an attempt to restore the shape, but the leaves on my plants were getting more crowded. Then I learned that, as an African violet matures, it produces baby plants or pups.

I try to rely less and less on controlling nature. Instead I am learning to live with its chaos. ~ Mas Masumoto Tasks Monitor fruiting pear and apple trees for codling moth. To control powdery mildew on grapevines, apply sulfur every 14 days until fruit begins to taste sweet.