While many in this country are dealing with inclement weather, we lucky San Diego County residents are able to garden year-round. It’s a great time for both planting and yard cleanup. Prune and spray dormant trees and roses. And, if it rains, control weeds. Here are some San Diego gardening tips to beautify your winter garden.
Go Down Under
Many Australian plants come from climates similar to ours. Mo Price, a master gardener in Encinitas recommends Dampiera diviersifolia, Thryptomene, Dianella (Flax Lily), Eremophila (Emu Bush) and Grevillea lanigera (Woolly Grevillea). The flax lily and grevillea have also done well in my yard.
Add Bare-Root Edibles
It’s bare-root planting time. Bare-root roses might be the first thing you think of, but this is also a great time to plant artichoke, asparagus, rhubarb, cane berries and stone fruit trees like peaches, apricots and nectarines.
Make sure your fruit trees are the right varieties for our climate. Most of San Diego County only gets 100 to 400 hours of winter chill (temperatures between 32 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit) per year. You should be able to find low chill varieties for our climate in local nurseries.
Plant Winter-Bloooming Succulents
Aloes and other winter-blooming succulents will bring color to your garden when other plants aren’t flowering. In addition to aloes which come in all shapes and sizes, Crassula, Echeveria, Kalanchoe and others will bring color to your garden during the winter months.
San Diego Gardening Tips Source
A lot of information for San Diego Gardening Tips comes from the Master Gardener Association of San Diego County. They are a great resource for all of your gardening needs including planting, pests, vegetables, and water use. They even have a free hotline where you can get your home gardening and pest control problems answered.