Green Gardener Training - Fall 2019

Meet the demand for Green Gardening practices and expand your business prospects! Come take the Green Gardener Training in English (starting on August 28th) or in Spanish (starting on August 29th).

This ten-week series of classes will provide you with the key principles of Sustainable Landscaping or Green Gardening by learning practices that conserve water, enhance and protect the soil, and reduce the use of pesticides. Green Gardening creates a healthier garden for your client, a healthier work environment for you and your employees, and a better environment for our shared land and water resources. Those who successfully complete the classroom and hands-on training program by attending at least 80% and pass a final exam will receive a certificate and will be identified as Santa Clara Valley Green Gardeners and will receive free advertising and promotional referrals to clients seeking “Green”or sustainable landscaping services. 

For more information call (408)-522-2700 or click here.

July is Smart Irrigation Month

Today’s irrigation systems include sophisticated controllers that allow you to easily adjust watering schedules to fit different needs.

Get in the zone. Schedule each individual zone in your irrigation system to account for type of sprinkler, sun or shade exposure, and soil in that section. Different zones will almost always need different watering schedules.

Consider soil type. Type of soil determines how quickly water can be absorbed without runoff. Watering more than soil can absorb causes runoff and waste.

Don’t send water down the drain. Set sprinklers to water plants, not your driveway, sidewalk, patio or buildings.

Water only when needed. Saturate root zones and let the soil dry. Watering too much and too frequently results in shallow roots, weed growth, disease and fungus.

Water at the best time. Watering during the heat of the day may cause losses of up to 30 percent due to evaporation. Prevent water loss by watering when the sun is low or down, winds are calm and temperatures are cool — typically between the evening and early morning.

Water more often for shorter periods. For example, setting your system to run for three, 5-minute intervals lets soil absorb more water than watering for 15 minutes at one time, reducing runoff.

Adapt watering to the season. Familiarize yourself with the settings on your irrigation controller and adjust the watering schedule regularly based on seasonal weather conditions. Or invest in a smart controller so your system can make these changes automatically.

Thank you to the Irrigation Association for these great tips!  To find out more about how to water wisely - or for a free irrigation efficiency evaluation - click here.

Happy Pollinator Week!

The Pollinator Partnership has designated June 17-23, 2019 as National Pollinator Week.

Pollinator species such as bees, birds, butterflies, bats and beetles are essential for our food supply, and provide significant environmental benefits necessary for maintaining biodiversity and healthy ecosystems.

This year, you can celebrate pollinators by planting a pollinator-friendly garden of your own with native flowering plants, using less-toxic pest control products, and by participating in the Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz Challenge.

Happy Gardening!

Butterfly enjoying some buckwheat.

Got Sudden Oak Death? Identify the Pathogen and Prevent Spreading

Sudden oak death is a disease caused by an invasive plant pathogen, Phytophthora ramorum. Phytophthora species are fungus-like organisms related to algae. They thrive in warm and moist conditions. Most are soil-dwelling root pathogens but P. ramorum acts primarily as a leaf pathogen.

While most non-oak hosts are not killed by the disease, they do play a key role in the spread of P. ramorum. Oaks are considered terminal hosts, since the pathogen does not readily spread from intact bark cankers but instead becomes infected only when exposed to spores produced on the leaves and twigs of neighboring plants. P. ramorum uses natural openings in the bark to colonize the bark tissues, killing cells and clogging water and nutrient transport vessels.

Infections caused by P. ramorum cannot be identified on symptoms alone and must be confirmed in the laboratory, but presence can be determined through a process called “Pear-baiting”. Characteristic symptoms include presence of bark cankers, bleeding of a thick, sticky sap, large sap stains, leaf spots (usually brown tips surrounded by a halo of yellow), and beneath the bark you may find brown tissue often separated from healthy bark by a distinct black line. Check online mapping resources for the most current data on pathogen distribution: http://www.suddenoakdeath.org/maps-media/maps/

Inspect Nursery Plants Before Making a Purchase

Nurseries not located in cool, moist areas often create microclimates that support P. ramorum and allow it to grow and spread. Many common horticultural plants are hosts for P. ramorum. Carefully inspect the leaves of host plants for symptoms before making a purchase. Nurseries often use general fungicides that can mask P. ramorum symptoms. Check the condition of the roots by testing the root sheath to see if it is soggy and comes off easily when rubbed in a downward motion. Also, look for nurseries that keep plants out of direct contact with soil and consider quarantining new plants for up to eight weeks to see if symptoms manifest before transplanting.

Disposing of Plant Debris

Branches, twigs, and leaves from California bay laurel, rhododendron, and other host plants can harbor P. ramorum, even after they are removed from the plant. Composting can successfully kill the pathogen but must reach temperatures that are not practical in residential composting sytems. Removing plant debris from the property is recommended only if it is the first infected tree detected in the area or if fire risk is high. If infected wood is removed from your property, make sure it is utilized or disposed of in a way that does not spread the disease. Avoid leaving wood debris next to roads where unauthorized parties may tamper with it. If you have infected trees cut down, make sure the wood and other tree parts are not moved outside of the quarantine area.

Sanitation Measures to Minimize Pathogen Spread

Clean and disinfect pruning tools with butane gas/flame and/or bleach after use on confirmed or suspected infested plants. Sanitize pruning tools before pruning healthy plants. Clean vehicles and shoes of mud, dirt, leaves, and woody debris before leaving a P. ramorum-infested site and before entering a site with susceptible hosts.

Insecticides

Using insecticides to treat or prevent P. ramorum infections provides no control. However, treating individual, high-value landscape trees displaying early bleeding symptoms of Sudden oak death might be justified to control damage from secondary bark beetle attacks. If using an insecticide, apply it only if the disease is not at an advanced stage.

For more information check out the UC Davis IPM Pest notes page: http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74151.html

Special thank you to Pavel Svihra, UCCE Marin County, for the use of these photos.

Love Birds? Plant Oaks! (Part 2 of 2)

Among the “powerhouse” bird-food providers in California are oaks. In Santa Clara County, we have 15 species of native oak trees and shrubs!

“Re-oaking Silicon Valley” reveals how oak woodlands once carpeted the valley and, that by re-integrating oaks into our developed landscapes, we can increase shade, store carbon, provide food for wildlife, save water, and restore some of Santa Clara County’s “historical ecology.” Winter and early spring are ideal times for planting oaks, so get out and plant one (or many) today!   

By Zooey Elsa Diggory, Senior Biologist, Santa Clara Valley Water District

Love Birds? Plant CA Natives! (Part 1 of 2)

In urbanized areas such as much of Santa Clara County, our gardens are a vital part of the ecosystem on which birds depend for habitat and food. The birds so many of us love to see and hear in our gardens eat insects and grubs that have adapted over millennia in partnership with native plants. As such, native plants are the main hosts of the insects that native birds depend on.

Research by University of Delaware professor Doug Tallamy and his students on the connections between birds, bugs, and plants, has repeatedly demonstrated that lawns and nonnative ornamental trees and shrubs provide almost no food resources for birds, and that native plants, even in urban areas, can provide the food sources necessary to sustain birds. Their work has led to a series of books and lectures on “Bringing Nature Home” and practical guidance for replacing lawns and ornamental plantings with native gardens that can attract birds as well as pollinators. (Not to mention save water!)

Added bonus: if you replace your lawn with native plants, you may qualify for a rebate!

 By Zooey Elsa Diggory, Senior Biologist, Santa Clara Valley Water District

SPRUCING UP YOUR SPRINKLERS FOR SPRING

As we head into warmer months, many of us will be turning our irrigation systems back on to provide supplemental water to our plants.  Before you turn that irrigation timer on and walk away, take an hour or two to do a sweep of your irrigation system to make sure nothing’s gone awry.  Broken sprinklers, cracked pipes, clogged drip emitters and leaky valves can all go undetected over the winter and if left unfixed, can lead to significant water loss or even dead plants once watering resumes.  According to the EPA’s WaterSense Program, the average household leaks 10,000 gallons of water every year! Most leaks are easy to fix, and the tips below can help you find them in your landscaping.

Starting at your irrigation controller, if you have one, check to see if everything is programmed correctly then work your way down the system to the valves/backflow preventers, and then to the individual irrigation zones.  Here are a few of the things you should be looking for:

Irrigation Controllers/Timers:

• Is it programmed correctly? (Check out this helpful watering guide from San Jose Water Company for  scheduling tips.)

• Is there power to the controller and a backup battery? Backup batteries should be replaced once a year. When the power goes out, some irrigation controllers will reset to their factory settings resulting in a lot of wasted water.

Valves/Backflow:

• Are there signs of leaking, like dripping water, wet spots on the ground, algae growth, etc.?

• Are the valves responding to the irrigation controller and turning on and off when they are supposed to?

Sprinklers:

• Are there any geysers or broken, clogged, tilted, blocked, buried, or weeping sprinklers?

• Is there misting, overspray, runoff, or misaligned sprinklers?

• Are there any soggy or dry spots?

Drip irrigation:

• Are there any clogged emitters, pinched tubing, disconnected fittings, punctures or cuts, missing emitters, etc.?

• Has the filter been cleaned recently and is there pressure regulation?

• Do any additional emitters need to be added to growing plants?

Doing frequent or seasonal walk throughs of your irrigation system can help greatly reduce water waste and are well worth the time.   Luckily, Valley Water offers a free Water Wise Outdoor Survey to help you identify problems with your irrigation.  Residential customers in Santa Clara County* can sign up for a free one time outdoor irrigation survey by a trained irrigation professional by calling (408) 630-2000 or emailing WaterWise@valleywater.org.

*San Jose Water Company customers can request a water audit by calling (408) 279-7900.

During the survey, the surveyor will evaluate the efficiency of your irrigation system, noting and flagging problems that can be addressed or improved and will make recommendations for repairs, replacements, and upgrades.  You will also be given a personalized irrigation schedule, if appropriate, and a written report.  But perhaps best of all, you can follow along during the survey to learn what to look for from a professional so you can do your own irrigation system checks in the future. Check out a brief video below to see how a survey is done!

Did reading this make you think of a neighbor that could use help reducing water waste in their landscaping? Good news! When you report water waste to the same contact information above, our water waste inspectors will refer water wasters to Valley Water’s many water conservation programs and services, including the Water Wise Outdoor Survey. Please include photos, cross-streets, and landmarks when reporting water waste. Whether reporting water waste in your neighborhood or improving how to use water efficiently in your landscaping, call us at (408) 630-2000 or email WaterWise@valleywater.org

Happy Arbor Day!!

Happy Arbor Day!!! We have lots of reasons to celebrate trees; they are beautiful additions to our communities, and provide countless benefits to the environment. Read below to find out how they benefit you!

- Regulate Temperature! Trees provide more shade in the summer, cutting down on your air-conditioning bill, and making shaded areas up to 8 degrees cooler than surrounding areas. Plus, they can insulate areas in the winter by blocking wind, to keep your house warmer naturally, cutting heating costs by 10-15%.

 - Clean the air. This is especially important in large urban areas where the levels of carbon dioxide are higher. Not only do trees reduce smog, they absorb CO2 and produce oxygen. In fact, a single 25 year old tree will have absorbed 400 pounds of carbon dioxide in its life.

- Increase groundwater retention and flood protection. Tree roots soak up a considerable amount of water, which reduces flooding and erosion, and increases the amount of water stored in aquifers. Trees also filter water, which lessens the amount of pollution in our streams and creeks. 

- Provide habitat for countless rare, endangered, and threatened critters. Urban sprawl has a serious effect on native animals and insects by replacing their habitat with impermeable surfaces like concrete and asphalt. By planting trees in cities and neighborhoods, we provide food and homes for birds, pollinators, and other tree-dwelling animals.

To find out more about trees, or to ask about getting a tree for your yard, please visit these wonderful organizations:  Canopy.org   Our City Forest

Lastly, why not celebrate Arbor Day and Earth Day with the City of Santa Clara? Their celebration is at their Central Park (909 Kiely Blvd.) on Thursday, April 25th, from 10 am to 2 pm.

You can also celebrate by helping the Town of Los Gatos plant trees on Friday, April 26th.

Join us this Arbor Week in saying “thanks, trees”!

- By Abigail Stokes, Water Wise Ourdoor Surveyor and Tree Enthusiast, Santa Clara Valley Water District

Happy Earth Day!

Earth Day is officially Monday, April 22nd and there are a large number of Earth Day events in our area in the next few weeks for you to choose from:

Saturday, April 13th

• The City of Cupertino’s Earth Day and Arbor Day Festival is from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Civic Center Plaza, 10350 Torre Ave., Cupertino. Learn about environmental issues and solutions and enjoy activities such as yoga, a rock climbing wall, neighborhood tree walk, arts and crafts, live entertainment, food trucks and more. http://bit.ly/2Cr04mx

Thursday, April 18th

• Join the City of Morgan Hill for a FREE event in honor of Earth Day! Learn about our local environment and ways to get involved to make a difference. Don't miss out! For more information, visit www.morganhill.ca.gov!

Saturday, April 20th

• The City of Milpitas will be hosting an Earth Day Event on Saturday, April 20th from 12-4 pm inside the Milpitas Public Library.

• The City of Mountain View is having an event from 11a.m.-3p.m. at the Mountain View Community Center. For more information, go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mountain-view-earth-day-tickets-59025231055

• Join the celebration at the Alum Rock Park Earth Day event from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at  Alum Rock Park, 15350 Penitencia Creek Road, San Jose. Join volunteer projects run by the Alum Rock Park Rangers. Then enjoy Earth Day festivities with the Youth Science Institute and Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority. Learn about local pollinators and sustainable gardening, see live animals, and offset your carbon footprint by planting native seeds and a ceremonial tree. Free. For more info, go to:  http://bit.ly/2ufithE

Monday, April 22nd

• 2019 marks Saratoga's 12th year as a designated Tree City USA! Join the City to celebrate Arbor Day and Earth Day at 1:30 p.m. at Gardiner Park, 19085 Portos Drive. Enjoy refreshments, resources, and a tree planting.

Thursday, April 25th

• The City of Santa Clara is having a combined Earth Day/Arbor Day event from 10 am to 2 pm in the Central Park Pavilion. For more information, go to: http://santaclaraca.gov/residents/events/arbor-day-earth-day-celebration

Resolve to Save Your Rainwater! NEW Rebates for Rain Barrels and more!

We want you to capture the rain!! The Santa Clara Valley Water District is now offering Rainwater Capture Rebates within its Landscape Rebate Program. 

Rain gardens, rain barrels, and cisterns are all systems used to keep rainwater onsite for reuse within the landscape and are now available for a rebate.

For all rebates under the Landscape Rebate Program, including the Rainwater Capture Rebates, application submission and approval is required before purchasing any new equipment or starting any work.  Please visit the Water District’s website for more information or call our Hotline at (408) 630-2554.     

PLEASE NOTE: SAVE WATER, NOT MOSQUITOES!

Did you know that one of the most common problems with rain barrels is mosquito breeding? Thousands of mosquitoes can emerge from standing water inside a rain barrel. Follow these three simple steps to eliminate mosquitoes:

1.       Cover the barrel and all openings

2.       Empty barrels on a regular basis

3.       Keep the lid clear of standing water

Do your part to prevent West Nile and Zika virus outbreaks!