The Real Dirt

If the past few years have taught us anything, we must now admit that disasters happen close to home. Wildfires, drought, flood and the Covid-19 pandemic have given us many opportunities to help our neighbors and reevaluate our assumptions about where to turn in times of need.

Note: This is the third in a three-part series on native plants that have proven successful on the author's property along the Lindo Channel in Chico. The previous articles discussed large trees, small trees and large shrubs.

Note: This is the second in a three-part series on native plants that have proven successful on the author's property along the Lindo Channel in Chico. The previous article discussed large trees; the final article in the series will cover smaller shrubs.

Fall is an excellent time to plant trees and shrubs. The soil is still warm, so roots will have time to establish themselves long before the punishing heat of next summer arrives. If you are thinking of planting a large tree, here are several to consider.

The arrival of fall brings shorter days, cooler nights and a gradual winding down of garden activity. Flowers start to fade, while leaves turn glorious colors and begin to fall from the trees. For many gardeners, though, fall isn't a time to relax and put their feet up.