THE MBMG's TEN BEST TEN BEST

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List Index

1. Ten Best Native Plants for the Central Coast Garden
2. Ten Best Reasons to Make Your Own Compost
3. Ten Best Plants to Avoid
4. Ten Best Garden Crops for the Central Coast
5. Ten Best Reasons to Conserve Water
6. Ten Best Ways to Conserve Water in Your Garden and Your Home
7. Ten Best Ways to Use Integrated Pest Management Practices
8. Ten Best Lawn (Grass) Alternatives - Two Lists: Groundcovers that Do and Do Not Take Foot Traffic
9. Ten Best Questions Asked of the Monterey Bay Master Gardeners
10. Ten Best Websites for Gardening Information
11. Ten Best Reasons for People Over 60 to Keep Gardening
12. Ten Best Deer Resistant Plants
13. Ten Best Gopher Resistant Plants
14. Ten Best Trees to Plant
15. Ten Best Herbs
16. Ten Best Foliage Plants
17. Ten Best Plants for Woodland / Shade Gardens
18. Ten Best Natives for Gardeners Who Dont Like Natives
19. Ten Best Flowers to Grow for Cutting
20. Ten Best Reasons Gardening Is Fun
Okay, we can't count, but we can grow plants ....

Ten Best

Ten Best

1. Ten Best Native Plants for the Central Coast Garden
1. Arctostaphylos species (Manzanita)
2. Ceanothus species (California lilac)
3. Heuchera species (Coral Bells)*
4. Mimulus species (Shrubby Monkeyflower)*
5. Woodwardia fimbriata (Giant Chain Fern)*
6. Adiantum capillus-veneris (Southern Maidenhair Fern)*
7. Salvia species
8. Eriogonum species (Buckwheat)
9. Carpenteria californica (Bush Anemone)
10. Verbena lilacina 'De La Mina'
     * #3,4,5,6 have the added advantage of growing in part shade
1-10 Claudia Boulton MG99
2. Ten Best Reasons to Make Your Own Compost

1. Organic ‘waste’ is great for your garden and if you make your own, you’ll know exactly what you’re putting into your soil, rather than relying on commercial preparations
2. You can make compost ‘tea’ or a simple compost ‘extract’ – both gentle fertilizers full of nutrients that can be watered into the soil or applied to the foliage (of non-edible plants) http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/compost-tea-notes.html
3. You will not add unnecessarily to our overflowing refuse dump sites
4. You will save money that you would have spent purchasing commercially prepared compost
5. If you have children, it provides an opportunity to teach about recycling organic matter back into the earth.
6. If food begins to rot before you have a chance to eat it, you have the option not to waste it by putting it to good use in the compost pile
7. Recycling your organic waste into your own yard reduces the cost to taxpayers for collection and recycling
8. It’s essentially FREE
9. You will produce less garbage, which might allow you to scale down to a smaller garbage can, saving you money every month
10. It makes you feel good to doing something completely earth-friendly
1-10 Christina Kriedt MG06
3. Ten Best Plants to Avoid

1. Nerium oleander (oleander) is very poisonous to animals and people. Deaths have been reported when it has been ingested, or stripped and used as skewers for hot dogs at campouts, or used in camp fires, etc.
Darcy Horton MG06
2. Euphorbia characias wulfeni is a Mediterranean plant with several good characteristics and is an asset in my garden, but its milky sap will  irritate your skin and severely irritate your eyes if you are unfortunate enough to transfer it from your hands to your eyes. Tom Karwin MG99
3. Geranium incanum (still picking out seedlings 5 years after I eradicated the plants) Debra Van Bruggen MG06
4. Centranthus rubra (Jupiter's beard) Debra Van Bruggen MG06; Jupiter's Beard is an extremely invasive --although beautiful--plant, and has crowded out natives near streams and river beds nationwide...especially in more mild areas...Teresa Seward
5. Oenothera speciosa 'Rosea' (also known as O. berlandieri, or Mexican evening primrose).  In my next door neighbor's garden it has completely taken over and is choking other plants. Her garden gets a lot of irrigation.  However, in my garden, it is not out of control since I do not water as much. Debra Van Bruggen MG06
6. Gaura lindheimeri (please see G. incanum, above) Debra Van Bruggen MG06
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4. Ten Best Garden Crops for the Central Coast
 1. Tomatoes ( 'Sungold' and 'Early Girl') Darcy Horton MG06
2. Swiss chard -- especially the golden stemmed in 'Bright Lights' (Renee's seeds)
3. Sugar snap peas (from seedlings from Cole Canyon)
4. Various varieties of summer squash (Cole Canyon)
5. Bush/pole beans (from Renee's seeds or Cole Canyon)
6. Onions (from sets)
7. Garlic (mail order, nursery or organic from the market)
8. Strawberries
9. Lemons
#s2-9 Sharon Ettinger MG00
10. Basil and 11. Spinach Bonnie Gillooly MG06
5. Ten Best Reasons to Conserve Water 1. Global warming is altering weather patterns and the projection is for the possibility of drier conditions in the Western US. Water conservation can help meet future water needs; we all have the opportunity NOW to make new habits and teach our children well. (http://www.energy.ca.gov/2005publications/CEC-500-2005-186/CEC-500-2005-186-SF.PDF)
2. See #1
3. See #1
4. See #1
5. See #1
6. See #1
7. See #1
8. See #1
9. See #1 And then read this informative Food and Water Watch brochure: Take Back the Tap
1-9 Christina Kriedt MG06
10. Last but not least--you could win a prize in the MBMGs Water-smart Garden Contest!! Check 
it out at smartgardening.org. Tom Karwin MG99
6. Ten Best Ways to Conserve Water in Your Garden and Your Home 1. Aerate your faucets and showerheads! Normal faucet flow is three to five gallons of water per minute (gpm). Attaching a faucet aerator reduces the flow by 50 percent. Though the flow is reduced, it will seem stronger because air is mixed with the water as it leaves the tap. (http://www.americanrivers.org) Christina Kriedt MG06
2. Catch rainwater.
http://www.harvesth2o.com/
http://www.rain-barrel.net/rainwater-catchment.html
http://www.rainbarrelguide.com/
http://www.toolbase.org/Technology-Inventory/Sitework/rainwater-harvesting
http://www.thefarm.org/charities/i4at/surv/raincat.htm
http://www.dancingrabbit.org/building/cistern.php
http://www.gdrc.org/uem/water/rainwater/introduction.html
http://earthcraftdesign.com/old_site/about_us.html Christina Kriedt MG06
3. Fertilize sparingly. Fertilizing your lawn encourages healthy plant growth. In this case, however, MORE IS NOT BETTER, as you can actually over stimulate plant growth, making the lawn more susceptible to dry conditions and disease. Additionally, the more fertilizer applied to a lawn increases the likelihood of harmful chemicals running off into streams or seeping into groundwater. The combination of over-watering and over-fertilizing can be dangerous to both plants and humans! (http://www.conservewater.utah.gov/OutdoorUse/GeneralMaint/)Christina Kriedt MG06
4. Keep sprinklers in good working order. If sprinklers are not kept in good condition, they can waste water and cause damage to your landscape. Turn on your sprinklers during daylight hours to inspect the system for broken, clogged or misaligned heads. (http://www.conservewater.utah.gov/OutdoorUse/GeneralMaint/)Christina Kriedt MG06
5. Use plants that are adapted to your climate. Most truly drought tolerant plants hate drip irrigation. "If you are in a coastal area these plants may pick up as much as half of their moisture from the morning fogs. If you're on a mountain top the plants may have adapted to blowing clouds. If you're in a desert they have adapted to the five minute downpour and will spring into life that day or the next because their large and shallow root system picks up every drop that hits the ground. Chaparral, forest, many inland coastal plants and even some of the desert species belong to a cooperative where they share their resources and cycle the moisture among themselves for the greater good of all. (That's one of the reasons weed control is so important; weeds do not share.) These drought tolerant plants need to be planted together for that to work; they can't share if they do not recognize each other. Nor can the garden be truly drought tolerant if you plant a bunch of non-native plants in with the native plants. If you wish to mix non-native with native, plant clusters of each with a walk way in between." (Las Pilitas Nursery http://www.laspilitas.com/garden/drought.html)
If possible, use landscape plants that 1. can cope with only natural rainfall and 2. do not have the potential to become invasive pests.Christina Kriedt MG06
6. Reduce evaporation. Water lawns very early or late in the day (or during the night) when much less water will be lost to evaporation.Christina Kriedt MG06
7. Water efficiently. To water shrubs or small trees, drill one hole on the side of standard plastic buckets right at the bottom edge; place several buckets strategically over the root zone of each plant, fill the buckets with water. The water will flow slowly into the soil mitigating runoff and waste.Christina Kriedt MG06
8. Mulch everywhere there is bare dirt! This stops the evaporation at the source, not to mention all of the other benefits. For example, worms are encouraged to come to the surface of the soil to aerate and fertilize.
Mulch me, Elmo! Gina Strup MG04
9. Don't use bottled water.'Bottled water can cost up to 10,000 times more per gallon than tap water. But the reality is that tap water is actually held to more stringent quality standards than bottled water, and some brands of bottled water are just tap water in disguise. Approximately 1.5 million barrels of oil—enough to run 100,000 cars for a whole year—are used to make plastic water bottles, while transporting these bottles burns even more oil. Nearly 90 percent of water bottles are not recycled and wind up in landfills where it takes thousands of years for the plastic to decompose. The growth in bottled water production has increased water extraction in areas near bottling plants, leading to water shortages that affect nearby consumers and farmers. In addition to the millions of gallons of water used in the plastic-making process, two gallons of water are wasted in the purification process for every gallon that goes into the bottles.' (http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/07/reasons_to_ditch_bottled_water.php)Christina Kriedt MG06
10. Don't let water run down the drain unused. Consider replacing your existing tank water heater with an instant water heater so you don't have to let the water run while it heats up. (You could catch all that water and use it elsewhere....) This will reduce heating costs for your household and minimize the waste of precious water. You can have separate instant water heaters for your bathroom and your kitchen. http://www.tanklesswaterheaterguide.com/
Christina Kriedt MG06
7. Ten Best Ways to Use Integrated Pest Management Practices 1. Select plants that are known to be resistant to disease and pests; these are often plants that are native to your area.
2. Place plants according to their cultural requirements (full sun plants in full sun, etc.) thus minimizing stress that can leave them susceptible to disease and pest attacks.
3. Rotate crops in your vegetable garden to reduce pest populations over time.
4. Remove weeds by hand - it's good exercise.
5. If hand-weeding isn't your thing, you can try superheated water, dry steam, flaming, radiant heat, weed control mats, "smart" sprayers, and/or mulches. (http://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/pestmgt/ipminov/awards/01awards.htm)
6. Introduce or encourage earthworms to live in your soil to provide healthy natural soil aeration.
7. Allow grass clippings to remain on the lawn; they return nutrients to the soil.
8. Learn which insects are 'good' (they eat the 'bad' ones) and encourage those beneficial insects to live in your garden by providing host plants. (http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/NE/index.html)
9. Observe and measure pest or disease outbreaks to determine whether control is necessary or if little damage is being done and they can be tolerated. A dozen aphids does not make an infestation. (They can be hosed off the plant.)
10. Use pesticides only after all alternative controls have been tried. Read labels and follow directions carefully; choose the least toxic and buy only as much as you need. Dispose of properly. Better yet - don't use them.
Christina Kriedt MG06

8. Ten Best Lawn (Grass) Alternatives -
Two Lists:
Groundcovers that Do and Do Not Take Foot Traffic

Replace the lawn with California natives and/or Mediterranean-style plants that do not require much summer water when established. Denise Weatherwax MG08

Top Ten - No Foot Traffic
1. Dymondia margaretae, Dymondia
2. Festuca rubra, Red Fescue (shade)
3. Festuca glauca, Blue Fescue (sun)
4. Thymus, Thyme 'Pink Chintz,' 'Wooly Thyme' etc.
5. Fragaria, Wild Strawberry
      F. chiloensis (sun)
     F. vesca (shade)
6. Cotoneaster
     C. 'Tom Thumb'
     C. adpressus praecox
     C. dammeri 'Coral Beauty'
7. Arctostaphylos, Manzanita
      A. edmundsii
      A. 'Pacific Mist'
8. Ceanothus
     C. hearstorium
     C. 'Centennial'
9. Aptenia cordifolia
10. Satureja douglasii, Yerba Buena (shade)
Claudia Boulton MG99

Top Ten - Take Some Foot Traffic
1. Phyla nodiflora, Lippia creeps and spreads to form a sturdy mat of 3/4-inch, gray-green leaves. Tiny lilac to rose flowers bloom from spring to fall; these attract bees and can be mowed off, if desired. Dormant in winter. Space 1 to 2 feet apart. Can take some foot traffic. (http://www.sunset.com/sunset/garden/article/0,20633,699454,00.html) Christina Kriedt MG06
2. Chamaemelum nobile, Chamomile forms a soft-textured evergreen mat of aromatic leaves in bright, light green. Stems root as they spread, forming a solid cover. Small yellow flowers appear in summer. Space 1 foot apart. Can take some foot traffic. (sunset.com also) The variety 'Treneague' rarely flowers and is very low-growing. Chamomile will tolerate periods of drought. Needs perfect drainage and a mild climate. Grows easily from seed. Christina Kriedt MG06
3. Trifolium repens, Dutch White Clover flowers from March through early May and grows to a height of 4- 8". It is perennial and drought tolerant once established. Dutch White Clover is an effective alternative to lawns (it is not, however, durable enough for playing surfaces or high-use areas) because: it is relatively low-growing; tolerates low mowing well; stays green through droughty periods of summer; and tolerates dog urine. Christina Kriedt MG06
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9. Ten Best Questions Asked of the Monterey Bay Master Gardeners 1. Question: What do I do about the moths/worms all over my oak trees?
    Answer: Oaks tolerate feeding by moderate populations of California oakworms, and control is not needed when damage is low. Healthy and well-cared-for oaks tolerate extensive defoliation without serious harm. Provide proper water, depending on soil type, location, and oak species. Protect roots and trunks from damage, and properly prune trees when needed.
     If trees need protection from defoliation because they are stressed or of high aesthetic value, regularly inspect foliage for larvae and spray only when caterpillars are abundant. Monitoring is important because California oakworm populations are cyclical in nature, causing the pest to be common in some years and virtually absent in others. Outbreaks do not occur every year and no treatment is needed most years. Control California oakworm with an integrated pest management (IPM) program that incorporates good cultural practices, conservation of natural enemies, and use of less-toxic pesticides.
Visit the following web site for more specific treatment information: http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7422.html Darcy Horton MG06
2. Question: What can you tell me about the Light Brown Apple Moth?
     Answer: Pests are classified by California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) according to their potential to cause harm to California’s agriculture and environment. Five classifications are defined. Class A pests are defined as organisms “of known economic importance subject to state (or commissioner when acting as a state agent) enforced action involving: eradication, quarantine regulation, containment, rejection, or other holding action.”
     CDFA classifies the Light Brown Apple Moth (LBAM) as a Class A pest because:
• It is potentially damaging to a wide range of plant species.
• It does not occur elsewhere in the U.S. or in most other countries.
• Were it to become established in California, quarantine restrictions and prohibitions on shipments would likely have severe impacts on agricultural industries.
     LBAM is a leafroller moth native to Australia. It is known to feed on 250 plant species in over 50 families with preference for plants in the aster (Asteraceae), legume (Fabaceae), knotweed (Polygonaceae), and rose (Rosaceae) families. LBAM has been reported as a pest on apple, pear, peach, apricot, citrus, persimmon, avocado, walnut, grape, kiwifruit, strawberry, caneberries, and cole crops. It may also infest oak, willow, poplar, cottonwood, alder, pine, eucalyptus, rose, camellia, jasmine, chrysanthemum, clover, plantain, and many other plants. In California it may encounter additional hosts it was not previously known to infest.
     Visit the following web site for additional information: http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PDF/PUBS/lbam091207.pdf Darcy Horton MG06
3. Question: Birth control for gophers?
     Answer: No information found, but trapping is most effective. Donna Merriman MG08
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10. Ten Best Websites for Gardening Information
 1. UC IPM ( http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/) Christina Kriedt MG06
2. Las Pilitas Nursery -- Native Plants (http://www.laspilitas.com/) Christina Kriedt MG06
3. For the American Horticultural Society's list of 75 great books on  gardening: http://www.ahs.org/awards/book_awards/75_great_books.htm Tom Karwin MG99
4. Dave's Garden (http://davesgarden.com/) has excellent information on a wide range of plants, often with comments and photos  from "regular"  gardeners. Tom Karwin MG99
5. Calflora http://www.calflora.org/ Tom Karwin MG99
6. Plant Information Online http://plantinfo.umn.edu/ Tom Karwin MG99
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11. Ten Best Reasons for People Over 60 to Keep Gardening

1. Gardening keeps one in touch with the cycle of life so it is easier to accept the cycle of one's own physical body.
2. It teaches one that nothing lasts forever.
3. It' s good exercise.  People who garden regularly in their 80's are healthier than people who do any other
form of exercise.
4. It is inexpensive entertainment.
5. Gardening teaches one the limits of control.
6. It contributes to the common good.
7. It gives one an appreciation for natural beauty.
8. It is a way to care for creation.
9. It dissolves stress.
10. And gardening is a great way to interact with grandchildren.
Carol Kaplan MG01
12. Ten Best Deer Resistant Plants

1. Helleborus, Hellebores are also somewhat drought tolerant and give us nice winter blooms.  A nice nearly care-free plant which is also easy to divide and has many interesting varieties. (It's sap used to be used on poison darts.) Simon Stapleton MG06
2. Hemerocallis spp. Daylilies. Melita Israel MG95
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13. Ten Best Gopher Resistant Plants 1. Helleborus, Hellebores. See #1 under Ten Best Deer Resistant Plants. Simon Stapleton MG06
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14. Ten Best Trees to Plant

1. Acer Palmatum, Japanese Maple is:
- Suitable as a container or in-ground tree (as a container tree, roots should be pruned every 2 to 3 years & always plant in a container with a larger top than bottom or you will have to destroy the container to prune or transplant)
- Great in partial sun to deep shade
- Does not require a lot of H2O
- Fairly pest resistant
- Interesting Folaige
- Knock-out foliage in fall
- Can be an upright or dissectum (weeping) variety
- Can be planted under canopies of much larger trees (redwoods, oaks, etc.)
- Great for small spaces
- Can be pruned to desired shape & size
- Some varieties have interesting bark
- Tend to stay less than 20' tall and accross (but check out the beauty at the Luther Burbank Gardens in Santa Rosa 
cons-
- Subject to leaf-burn in hot climates or long exposure to sun
- Can be expensive to purchase but watch for sales Simon Stapleton MG06
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15. Ten Best Herbs 1. Rosmarinus officinalis, Rosemary is a mint family relative and a native of the Mediterranean; it grows spectacularly well here. Christina Kriedt MG06
2. Origanum vulgare, Oregano (but it spreads readily) Sharon Ettinger MG00
3. Thymus spp., Thyme is easy Sharon Ettinger MG00
4. We can't forget the mints......Mentha spicata, Spearmint, and Mentha × piperita, Peppermint (a hybrid cross between Watermint, Mentha aquatica, and Spearmint) Sharon Ettinger MG00
5. Ocimum basilicum, Basil (an annual) can be iffy to start and doesn’t like a lot of heat, but I couldn’t cook without homemade pesto. Nancy Martella MG06 
6. Artemisia dracunculus, Tarragon comes back year after year and grows profusely. Nancy Martella MG06
7. Coriandrum sativum, Cilantro Claudia Boulton MG99
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16. Ten Best Foliage Plants

1. Hosta
2. Acer japonica, Japanese maples
3. Caladium bicolor
4. Solenostemon spp, Coleus
5. Bamboo
6. Heuchera
7. Canna spp.
8. Succulents: Sedum spp., Echeveria, Aeonium, Crassula, Sempervivum
9. Ligularia spp.
10. Ferns
Christina Kriedt MG06

17. Ten Best Plants for Woodland / Shade Gardens 1. Vancouveria, Inside-Out Flower
2. Asarum caudatum, Wild Ginger
3. Fragaria californica, California Strawberry
4. Iris douglasiana, Douglas Iris
5. Ribes sanguineum glutinosum, Pink flowered currant
6. Rosa gymnocarpa, Wood Rose
7. Rhododendron occidentale, Western Azalea
8. Satureja douglasii, Yerba Buena
9. Vaccinium ovatum, Huckleberry
10. Bergenia crassifolia, Winter Blooming Bergenia
Christina Kriedt MG06
18. Ten Best Natives for Gardeners Who Dont Like Natives 1. Vancouveria
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19. Ten Best Flowers to Grow for Cutting 1. Alstroemeria, Peruvian Lily, because they are colorful and last about 2-3 weeks if given fresh water every few days. Bonnie Gillooly MG06;
Alstroemeria because of its long vase life (up to two weeks). It's also a prolific grower with blossoms available in white, golden yellow, orange, to apricot, pink, red, purple and lavender Tom Karwin MG99
2. Chamelaucium uncinatum, Geraldton Waxflower is an evergreen shrub from Australia with great filler flowers that last a long time. Susan Suddjian MG08
3. Centranthus ruber, good old Jupiter's Beard, Valerian or Red Valerian is a drought tolerant standard for filling any summer boquet. Sue Forson MG04
4. Tanacetum parthenium syn. Chrysantheim parthenium , Feverfew Sue Forson MG04
5. Gladiolus spp., Glads Sue Forson MG04
6. Centaurea cyanus, Bachelor Buttons or Cornflower Sue Forson MG04
7. Dahlia spp., Dahlias Sue Forson MG04
8. Nigella damascena, Love-In-A-Mist Sue Forson MG04
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