THE COASTAL GARDENER:

May is a busy time for gardeners. There is so much to do and so much to report on that I don’t know where to begin.

Ground Beetles

Seems like everyone is asking about the large, shiny black beetles running around during the day. They’re everywhere: gardens, vacant fields, schools, patios, etc. The common name for this beetle the Caterpillar Hunter (Calosoma semilaeve). It is a large beetle that moves around very quickly during the daytime in search of prey. It can also emit a foul odor that smells like burnt rubber or electrical insulation. This species occasionally has outbreak years, and this is one of them.

The good news is that this insect is harmless to your garden; even beneficial and will probably only be noticed for another month or so. It feeds on garden pests like wireworms and caterpillars, and especially cutworms.

However, don’t mess with them. In addition to its foul odor, it can pack a hefty bite.

Lawn Hotspots

Now that we’ve had a few heat spells, lots of dry spots are showing up in turf areas. In gardening terms, these “hotspots” are the areas irrigation systems do not cover adequately.

During cool weather, these problems are masked; but once warm weather begins, we see them everywhere. Adjusting the irrigation system to water longer or more often just wastes water on the 95% of the lawn that doesn’t need it. Don’t crank up the sprinkler system; usually you just need an adjustment to your system.

California Friendly Winners

The winners of Orange County’s California Friendly Garden Contest were announced at last Friday’s awards celebration.

The grand prize winner and the winner for the best Native Plant Garden was Sarah Sarkissian. Her amazing garden in the canyons of east Orange County was spectacular and a showcase of how a beautiful garden can also protect and preserve our natural resources.

Kelly Holcomb of Huntington Beach won Best Aesthetics. Cheryl & Robert Dickey of Tustin won Best Use of Plants. Vid and Cecilia Duda of Los Alamitos won Best Water Efficiency and Kris and Dave Ethington of San Clemente won Best Do-it-Yourself. Congratulations!

Blueberries for the Coastal Gardener

If you still aren’t growing blueberries, you should. I just picked a huge basket, enough for 10 or 20 bowls of cereal. Then last night I noticed they were $7.99 for six ounces at the market. Hmmm, makes me wonder why everyone doesn’t have a pot or two of blueberries in their garden.

San Clemente Garden Tour

If you missed every garden tour this spring, the good news is that there is still one more chance. The San Clemente Garden Tour is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 7. Advance tickets are $20. Six home gardens will be open for viewing, and the gardeners are almost always on hand to answer your questions and share their secrets. Info is available at sanclementegardenclub.com.

Great Park Plants

Last week, I had a great visit with the design team working on the OC Great Park. About 20 of us talked about new and innovative plants that could be incorporated into the park. The Great Park is an incredible opportunity for residents and gardeners. We hope to develop a world-class park and a “living classroom” for our community.

Keep Planting

In Orange County, May is the time to transition from cool-season plants to warm-season plants. Cool-season annuals are switched out to heat lovers like zinnia, dahlia and celosia. The same is true for vegetables and herbs, so planting should be in full tilt for tomato, peppers, basil, squash, cucumber, corn and eggplant. If you want pumpkins for Halloween or melons for summer, plant seeds in the next few weeks.

Now that we have warm soil, balmy nights and long days, it’s time to be planting tropical plants like bougainvillea, hibiscus, palms, avocado, plumeria, bananas, and more.

ASK RON

Question: I keep seeing promotions for Climbing Hydrangea in plant catalogs. Will it grow here?

Morgan

Newport Beach

Answer: Yes, but be careful. It’s not what it sounds like. This is an aggressive woody vine that gets very large and heavy, and it needs a little shade — a tough combination. It also goes almost deciduous, which is not a pleasant sight in winter. Finally, the sparse flowers are only reminiscent of a lacecap variety. It sounds good in a catalog, but you might be in for a big surprise.

ASK RON your toughest gardening questions, and the expert nursery staff at Roger’s Gardens will come up with an answer. Please include your name, phone number and city, and limit queries to 30 words or fewer. E-mail stumpthegardener@rogersgardens.com, or write to Plant Talk at Roger’s Gardens, 2301 San Joaquin Hills Road, Corona del Mar, CA 92625.

RON VANDERHOFF is the Nursery Manager at Roger’s Gardens, Corona del Mar