Mulch to beat the heat

By Denise Cottrell

There is no denying it, summer is here, and it is hot. As a gardener, you might become an addictive weather watcher, checking daily temperatures to respond quickly and provide plants with the extra care they may need during days of extreme heat. One precaution to help your plants withstand the heat is to water early in the day. Watering when the temperatures of the day are cooler will mean less water loss from evaporation.

Adding mulch to your garden beds will also aid the soil in retaining moisture and minimizing water evaporation from the soil surface. Using an organic mulch such as shredded or chipped bark, grass clippings, or straw, in addition to slowing evaporation, will help to keep the soil and plants cool. As organic material breaks down over time, it contributes to the health of your soil. Apply a layer of 2 to 4 inches in garden beds. However, keep the mulch about 3 to 4 inches away from the trunk or stem of the plant to prevent rot. If you require further help with your garden during these times of excessive heat, contact the UCCE Master Gardeners -Yolo via the hotline at 530 6668736 or via email at mgyolo@ucdavis.edu.

The UCCE Master Gardeners-Yolo also provide help via their t0 12 p.m. At the Davis Farmer’s Market in Central Park, located at 4th and C Streets, UCCE Master Gardeners-Yolo are available from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. The “desk” is located between the Rose Garden and the Sensory Garden. In West Sacramento, UCCE Master Gardener-Yolo Janet Branaman will be on hand to lead the Question-and-Answer Desk at Lowes, located at 2250 Lake Washington Blvd, on Saturday, August 5, and August 19, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Questions-and-Answers Desk held throughout Yolo County. In August you will find the UCCE Master Gardeners-Yolo on Saturday mornings at the Davis and Woodland Farmers Markets. The Woodland Farmers Market is located on First Street across from Woodland Public Library. Here, Master Gardeners can be found ready to help you from 9 a.m.

The UCCE Master Gardeners-Yolo provides free workshops throughout the month of August. Workshops and talks provide a way to beat the heat and join with other gardeners, those who are just curious, or anyone who wants to learn more about a specific topic. Some workshops are available via Zoom. Think of it as gardening in air conditioning.

If you want someone as a guide for growing an edible garden, Kitchen Garden Chat is for you. Every month to learn how to Extend Your Cut Flower Growing Season. On Thursday, August 10 from 3 to 4 p.m., Janey Santos, and Kathy Guerrero, of the UCCE Master Gardener Program-Yolo, will teach how to extend your cut flower growing season by taking advantage of the “Cool Flower Method” for cut flowers. Learn how to achieve stronger, earlier blooms by sowing cut flowers in the fall. Learn tips for successful cut flower gardening, succession planting, cut flower seed sowing, and soil blocking.

Treva Valentine, of the UCCE Master Gardener Program-Yolo, provides tips and advice on what to do in the edible garden. Attend in August and learn the tasks for the best maintenance of your garden and hear some tips on how to get your winter garden started. In addition, find out what succession planting is and how to use it in the garden.

Join in this monthly meeting on Saturday, August 5, from 10 to 11 a.m., in person at the Leake Room of the Woodland Public Library, located at the corner of Court and College, or via Zoom, at https://ucanr.zoom. us/j/98028723763.

Don’t forget to bring all your gardening questions.

Would you like to extend your garden’s cut flower growing season? Attend the UCCE Master Gardeners – Yolo/ Yolo County Library Workshop via Zoom (https://ucanr.zoom. us/j/83818274328).

The second monthly UCCE County Master Gardeners-Yolo/Yolo County Library Workshop will be held on Thursday, August 24, from 3 to 4 p.m. Yvonne Rasmussen, Coordinator for the UCCE Master Gardeners of Napa County, will discuss Common Diseases in Plants, and provide information on accurate identification and possible treatment. The Zoom link for August 24 is https://ucanr.zoom. us/j/81941932482. For more information about UCCE Master Gardeners-Yolo/Yolo County Library Workshops and to receive

Zoom links, contact Jennifer Baumbach at jmbaumbach@ucanr. edu, or Joan Tuss at Joan.Tuss@yolocounty.org.

The UCCE Master Gardeners-Yolo workshop, Gardening for Year-Round Meals will meet on August 12, 2023, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the picnic table next to the hoop house at Grace Garden, located behind the United Methodist Church at 1620 Anderson Road, in Davis. The August session will provide specific information about planting beets and enjoying your basil harvest. If you find yourself looking for recipes to utilize for your August harvest, attend this workshop for summer garden recipes. UCCE Yolo County Master Gardener Pam McCabe will lead the discussion. Gardening For Year-Round Meals is held monthly and meets on the second Saturday of every month.

All UCCE Master Gardeners-Yolo events are free and open to the public. If you wish more information about the August workshops, please contact Jennifer Baumbach at jmbaumbach@ ucanr.edu or call the UCCE Master Gardeners-Yolo helpline at 530-666-8736.