South Lake Tahoe gardening: Dig it!

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Ready to release your inner gardener but didn't know where to start? Or, are you new to high-altitude gardening at Lake Tahoe after leaving a sea-level home? Over the next few weeks, I'll be digging into what works for a long-lasting, healthy Tahoe garden.

As with anything, planning is necessary, long before the garden gloves go on. I like to go outside and sit in my yard at different times of the day, get a feel for the sun in the area I want to plant, and start picturing in my head how things will work.

The sun the area(s) you want to plant in receive during the day is key. Do you have four hours or more of sun? Is the sun in the morning or afternoon? Do you have only shade?

You also need to know your hardiness zone. Not all areas of Lake Tahoe are the same, though the basic low end of the zones are equal. According to the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, South Lake Tahoe is a 6b, which means our low temperature is -5 to 0 degrees. We know it's been colder, but not often anymore.

A great book with zones, and plants listed by zones they survive and thrive in, is the Sunset Western Garden Book. They put South Lake Tahoe into Climate Zone 3: Growing season: early May to late Sept.—shorter than in Zone 2, but offset by milder winters (lows from 13 degrees to -24 degrees F). This is fine territory for plants needing winter chill and dry, hot summers.

Climate change is affecting the zones due to rising temperatures, so stay in tune with what is happening outside. You can always replant your growing treasures into an area that appears to be better suited.

Confused yet? Finding a plant nursery/garden shop with knowledgeable staff is key if you need to rely on extra help in deciphering tags and zones.

Also key is your soil. Lake Tahoe soil is typically deep and poorly drained that formed in alluvium derived from mixed material, predominantly andesitic lahar (volcanic material) and granodiorite (coarse-grained, intrusive igneous rock similar to granite, but containing more plagioclase feldspar than orthoclase feldspar).

Soil fertility is the key to a happy Tahoe garden. Twenty nutrients have been identified that are required by plants, according to the UCCE Master Gardeners of Lake Tahoe. Of these, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are required in relatively large amounts. Nitrogen stimulates vegetative growth, phosphorus encourages flowering and fruiting, and potassium helps a plant resist stress and disease.

You can get your soil tested to find out what you need to add, if anything, but I just buy good bags of soil at the nursery that have nutrients added. Once you plant you can tell by the looks of the flower, shrub, or tree if it needs anything more.

Some people swear by adding coffee grounds to their soil as they increase water retention and fight off weeds, but I haven't ventured in that direction (though Heaven knows I drink enough coffee to fertilize a few acres).

A lot goes into the Three P's of Gardening: planning, prepping, and perfecting, but the result is a beautiful garden. The basic equipment needed is a hand trowel, a hand rake, and later, pruners.

If you want a jump start before we dig into starting the garden this week, buy some annual color at DIY, Grocery Outlet, or one of the nurseries. These plants won't come back but are great to use for a pop of color. My favorites are geraniums as they'll last in pots and hangers until fall. I only use annuals in pots and window boxes, or in fun containers.

The third "P" is perfection, and that is the end result where you can enjoy the fruits of your labor. Your garden will require consistent and ample watering, weeding and upkeep like deadheading (cutting off) old flowers.

The next Gardening in Tahoe story will be Tuesday, May 29, and will feature a visit with my go-to gardening expert.

In the meantime, here is some good reading from the Master Gardeners:

UCCE MG of Lake Tahoe articles:
Compost: a recipe for mudpies- http://cecentralsierra.ucanr.edu/files/169051.pdf
Start with your soil- http://cecentralsierra.ucanr.edu/files/169043.pdf

USDA-NRCS:
Yard Fertility Management- http://tahoercd.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Yard-Fertility-Management.pdf
Direct Seeding of Disturbed Areas- http://tahoercd.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Seeding-Disturbed-Sites.pdf
Slope Stabilization using Vegetation- http://tahoercd.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Vegetative-Slope-Stablilzation.pdf
Slope Stabilization Techniques- http://tahoercd.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Slope-Stabilization-Techniques.pdf

Tahoe Resource Conservation District:
How to Composting with Worms- http://tahoercd.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/How-To-Composting-With-Worms.pdf
Turf Grasses- http://tahoercd.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Turf-Grasses.pdf
Steppable Ground Covers- http://tahoercd.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Steppable-Ground-Covers.pdf
Slope Stabilization: Grasses- http://tahoercd.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Slope-Stabilization-Grasses.pdf
Slope Stabilization: Ground Covers- http://tahoercd.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Slope-Stabilization-Ground-Covers.pdf
Slope Stabilization: Perennials- http://tahoercd.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Slope-Stabilization-Perennials.pdf
Slope Stabilization: Shrubs- http://tahoercd.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Slope-Stabilization-Shrubs.pdf
Shade Tolerant Ground Covers- http://tahoercd.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Shade-Tolerant-Ground-Covers.pdf
Shade Tolerant Perennials- http://tahoercd.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Shade-Tolerant-Perennials.pdf
Shade Tolerant Shrubs- http://tahoercd.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/ShadeTolerantShrubs.pdf