Nanette

What’s the Difference? Chemical vs Organic Fertilizers

Leave a Comment / Education, How to, Prevention, Protect / By

Fertilizing is often referred to as “feeding” plants, but that’s not accurate. Plants feed themselves, producing their own food, sugars, and carbohydrates, through the process of photosynthesis. Plants don’t know or care about the source of needed elements. Chemical (synthetic) fertilizers are manufactured or refined from natural ingredients to make them more concentrated. They are […]

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A Dastardly Duo of Diseases that can Plague your Roses

Leave a Comment / Damage to plants, Disease, Prevention / By

Gorgeous roses are a wonderful addition to any garden. But throw in a few days of spring rain and voila, you might end up with nearly naked plants. This dramatic effect is likely a result of infection by either blackspot or rust, the gardener’s plague of wet spring or fall months. Effectively managing these invaders

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Make Plant Choices to Prevent Pests and Disease

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Spring is around the corner, and there’s a whole lot of planting going on.  One of the features of the winter nursery is the availability of bare root plants.  Bare root plants are not actively growing plants. They’re usually dug when they’re dormant and then refrigerated until it is time to ship to the nursery

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Kick the Chemicals! Care for your Garden and Beyond Season 2!

Leave a Comment / Beneficials, Education, How to, Pollinators, Prevention, Protect, Rodents / By

Want to solve garden problems while creating landscapes that are in sync with the natural environment? Join us for our new season of webinars that will focus on attracting and protecting pollinators in your garden, successfully managing rats, and replacing that thirsty lawn – all without chemicals!  Co-sponsored by YardSmartMarin and Marin Master Gardeners, talks

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Unintended Consequences

Leave a Comment / Damage to plants, Pesticides / By

Herbicide phytotoxicity – whew!  That’s a mouthful!  What is it? Phytotoxicity is injury to plants caused by chemicals like air pollutants, fertilizers, and pesticides.  Herbicides aka weed killers, are designed specifically to kill plants, posing a significant risk of damaging desirable plants that are exposed these weed killers.  Landscapes can be injured as a result

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What is an invasive plant?

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“An invasive plant is a plant that is non-native to the ecosystem under consideration, and whose introduction is likely to cause economic or environmental harm, or harm to human health” says Plant Right, a California non-profit working with California’s nursery industry to keep invasive plants out of our landscapes and to promote the sale of

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Can Rat Poison Hurt Kids and Pets?

Leave a Comment / Education, Kids, Pesticides, Poisonous, Prevention, Rodents / By

You bet!  Rat poisons or rodenticides are pesticides designed to kill rodents, like mice and rats.  They are formulated as baits that include tasty ingredients like peanut butter, molasses, and grains to attract animals. These ingredients can be also attractive to children and pets. Rodenticide baits are not only poisonous for rodents, but they can

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