SPRING PRUNING OF JAPANESE MAPLES
Did you know that pruning in the spring was good for your tree? Elizabeth Ruiz, an aesthetic pruner, will enlighten us as to how and why on one of her most favorite subjects.
May 18, Mill Valley, Sat, 10:30am (Miller Ave.)

HERBS AND EDIBLE FLOWERS IN THE HOME GARDEN 
Join Norma Novy of the Soil Sisters for a very informative talk on growing these tasty plants successfully.
May 19, Sun, 10:30am (Novato)

This urn (designed at our Sloat Blvd location) is filled with groundcovers: thyme, strawberry, dimondia and myoporum.

Strawberry Jam Session continues through May 12th at all Sloat locations.  Join us for beautiful strawberry plants that are ready to flower and fruit!

Read it to discover new Petunia and Calibrachoa introductions, Cordyline, Lavender, Sun hats, new Grafted Tomatoes, Hydrangea and more. 

http://www.sloatgardens.com/gardeners_notebook/default.htm

Strawberry Jam Session starts today and goes through May 12th. We'll have strawberries at all Sloat locations ready to flower and fruit, as well as everything you need to grow berries successfully. See you in the stores!

http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs154/1101812273737/archive/1113263290158.html

Give pets & plants plenty of water today.  It's hot out there!

Whew, it's warm out there. Cool down with the succulent "water" gardens that our container designer Jennie planted at our Sloat Blvd location!

Join us for Strawberry Jam Session --- May 3rd through May 12th. We'll have strawberries at all Sloat locations ready to flower and fruit, as well as everything you need to grow berries successfully. See you in the stores

Good morning!  Sloat staffer Rebecca found this robin's nest in a Norfolk Pine at our Mill Valley (e. blithedale) location over the weekend.  Happy spring!

These plants are usually left alone by gophers. It should be noted that many plants that are deer resistant are also gopher resistant.


Shrubs: Arbutus unedo, Buddleja, Callistemon, Ceanothus, Escallonia, Euonymus, Grevillea, Heteromeles, Hydrangea, Michelia, Nandina, Oleander, Rosemary, Westringia, Ilex, Coleonema, Citrus, Rhaphiolepis, Ribes, Cistus

Perennials: Begonia (fibrous), Dietes, Lantana, Lavender, Nepeta, Penstemon, Salvia, Vinca minor, Artemesia, Euphorbia, Shasta Daisy, Clivia, Heuchera splendens (scarlet Coralbells), Juncus, Festuca, Nierembergia, Digitalis

Bulbs: Scilla, Narcissus/Daffodil, Amaryllis belladonna, Allium, Muscari, Tulbahia, Onion, Garlic

Trees: Fraxinus, Eucalyptus,Apricot,Avocado, Pomegranate

Unfortunately, the following plants have been identified as sure bet gopher foods:  most bulbs, most vegetables. Especially carrots, peas, potatoes and parsley, Aster, Campanula, California Poppy, Lavatera, Miscanthus, Phormium, Rose, and Salvia uliginosa.

Trapping gophers:

Even though it's more time-consuming, the benefit to trapping gophers is that you have definitely eliminated the problem from your garden.

Choose areas that are being freshly dug by gophers. You will have to dig down to the main tunnel. Carefully position your trap. You will need to attach the trap to a stake with a wire or chain. The metal u-pins used to secure irrigation are ideal.

Wear gloves to keep the human smell off the trap. It is sometimes of benefit to use 2 traps, one facing in either direction. Re-cover the tunnel with a piece of sod but leave a small window for light to get through. Gophers do not like light in their tunnels and will come to investigate and repair. If you have not caught your animal in 2 days, move to another area.

Once you have caught a gopher at one site, replant your trap in the same location. Chances are there is more than one using the tunnel. This is especially true in the spring and early summer.

Lots of lovely plants that are deer resistant!

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151913594533266.1073741839.70812858265&type=1

Fremontodendron in bloom! From Alexandra at our Danville location.

Check out the Good Bug Tub/Tomato custom planters at our Mill Valley (E. Blithedale) location. These colorful planters are potted up with SF Fog tomatoes, Marigold and Alyssum.

This is the last day of Tomato Time. Celebrate Earth Day by planting tomatoes!

http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs154/1101812273737/archive/1113042591631.html

Celebrate Earth Day today and every day.  Get outside and plant something today!

Tomato Time goes through April 21st at all Sloat Garden Center locations. We'll have:

* 50+ organic tomato varieties 
* Mighty Mato, the grafted tomato, returns!
* Tomato growing seminars and tomato growing information

Shop during Tomato Time for the most abundant selection of the season. April is the best time to plant tomatoes! See you in the stores this weekend!

Succulent bicycle rim planter at the 3rd Avenue (sf) Sloat Garden Center -- designed by our custom planter designer Jennie!

Read all about growing tomatoes in our April Kitchen Gardener!
http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs154/1101812273737/archive/1112773100453.html

What are your plans for Earth Month? Join the @Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority this weekend for a FREE composting workshop at Sloat Garden Center in Danville on Sunday, April 21st from 12-1:30pm. All attendees will be entered into a raffle for a Soilsaver compost bin! 

This very pretty Takara Itoh Peony was snapped by our custom container designer, Jennie, at the Kentfield Sloat Garden Center store this morning.