Southern California Coastal & Inland Valleys
September, 2006
Regional Report
Favorite or New Plant
Colorful Trees
Fall colors come alive with beech, birch, coral tree, gingko, liquidambar, magnolia, maidenhair, Japanese and other maples, crape myrtles, persimmon, Chinese pistache, sour gum, Chinese tallow, tulip tree (named for its tulip-shaped leaves), and zelkova.
Once you've made a preliminary choice, consider the mature size of the tree. Does the area allow the tree sufficient space when it's mature? Have you planned for the different needs of the shaded and moist soil underneath its widespread limbs? When all these considerations seem to fit, purchase it and plant it.
Avoid planting trees that are prone to wind damage, such as acacia, ash, cypress, elm, eucalyptus, liquidambar, California pepper, and pine.
Clever Gardening Technique
Recycling Sunflower Stalks
Save the stalks of tall sunflowers, stripped of their side branches and leaves, to use next year as trellises for peas and beans.
