South Lake Tahoe gardening: Getting Started 101

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The weather will start to feel like gardening weather soon - I promise! The calendar page turns to June this week, but South Lake Tahoe hasn't seen extended sunshine or good outdoor temperatures, yet. We already have a short growing season in the Sierra Nevada, and this year it may seem shorter than normal - but there is still time to create a fabulous garden that will bring you happiness for years.

In our first story of this gardening series, I covered important steps to take before popping that first plant into the ground (https://southtahoenow.com/story/05/27/2023/south-lake-tahoe-gardening-dig-it).

I stopped by Tahoe Outdoor Living Nursery on Emerald Bay Road Tuesday to talk to "the man," manager Jose Gonzalez.

I have relied on Jose's expertise more than once (okay, maybe closer to 100 times). He has never steered me wrong, but before you decide to start buying plants, cover the points listed in the first story. He'll ask you the same thing: What part of town do you live in? What is the sun like where you are planting? How much shade do you have? The answers you provide will open up your list of choices.

The USDA Zones are key, and Jose says there are many microclimates on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe. Christmas Valley and Meyers are normally in Zone 4, where parts of the Nevada side can be closer to 6, and most of South Lake Tahoe in general is a 5. The Angora Fire area changed with much more intense sun, but also more wind. If you are unsure of your zone, ask Jose or your favorite nursery for guidance.

If unsure of what zone you live in, buying for Zone 4 is a safe bet. The tags on plants and trees you buy will say the recommended zones. The Sunset Western Garden Book uses a lot more zones, so reading about each area, and knowing your low and high temperatures will help.

Jose goes by these points and steps when helping clients with gardening purchases:

1. Sun - how many hours a day do you get sun, and is it morning or afternoon?
2. Amend your soil. Tahoe is on the acidic side and in general, he doesn't like to confuse people at the beginning. Regular compost is safe, and additions like coffee grounds and fish bone meal will augment it. You don't have to amend the soil of your whole garden and it's okay to just add to the hole you dig for the new flower, shrub, or tree. You amend the soil to two times the size of the rootball (but don't overdo it).
3. What area do you live in?
4. He'll ask you how big you want the plant to be.
5. He'll then show you around based on your needs and desired look.

"Nobody is the same," said Jose. "I adapt to their needs."

Do you have no green thumb and think there is no hope? First, talk to your knowledgeable nursery personnel, but using native plants is always a good choice. Even then, they can be tricky due to different water needs before they get established.

People that originally lived in the bay area or other lower elevations are used to being able to garden year-round, or at least most of the year. Jose said yes, Tahoe is a challenge, but he points out to customers that everything grows down there, even the weeds! You can be more satisfied with high-altitude gardening.

"I try to help as much as I can with my knowledge," said Jose. He's been at Tahoe Outdoor Living since 2007.

The top four things they sell at the nursery are the Shasta Daisy (they are well adapted and there are four different sizes), Black-eyed Susans (look great in gardens next to daisies), Catmint (nothing eats it and it spreads easily), and Lupine (different colors and hybrids).

Popular trees in South Lake Tahoe are Aspens, Chokecherries, Maples, and Mountain Ashes.

On a side note, if thinking of growing vegetables, Slow Grow Tahoe is holding a free Grow Your Own Festival - a high-elevation edible garden community event. It will be held at Valhalla Grand Hall on Saturday, June 10, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. You can pay extra for starter sets of edible flowers, leafy greens, potatoes, peas, onions & leeks, tomatoes, peppers, and squash (must reserve by May 31). For more information, visit https://www.slowfoodlaketahoe.org/events-1/grow-your-own-south-lake-tahoe-community-festival. In the last few years I have successfully grown peas, beans, and potatoes, and this year I am tackling squash and onions/leeks.