MAY: SPRING IS HERE!
Respect the Nest - take care with tree trimming: It’s Spring and all the birds and animals are having their babies now. Very often their nests are in our trees and shrubs. If you are thinking of trimming and pruning, make sure there are no nests with fledglings or babies in them. The nests are often hard to see, so if you’re uncertain, delay pruning until the fall. If you do disturb a nest or find babies that have fallen, please bring them to WildCare in San Rafael, or call their emergency line at (415) 456-7283.
The best time to prune your spring-flowering shrubs is soon after the flowers fade - As long as there are no nests inside. If you wait until much later, you may accidentally prune off next year’s flowers! Read up on our pruning tips for flowering trees and shrubs, and for specific plants like camellias and rhododendrons.
Don’t kill me, I’m a good bug - The Lady, the Boss, the Aphid eater: Know your pests! Not every bug you see is a pest, many are very beneficial and help you in the garden. The ladybug is a prime example. You should always check out the bug before you worry. See more on the codling moth pest below.