Show your soil some love and understanding

Love comes down to understanding; that’s true of people or plants. Gardeners can build a better relationship with their gardens by starting from the ground up.

So, what better time than Valentine’s Day to talk about soil?

At 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, the Placer County master gardeners will present “Gardening with Placer County Soils,” a free one-hour workshop at Loomis Library.

Learn about the importance of living soils, especially the soils in Placer County. That includes notorious clay soils, Sierra foothills’ sometimes rocky terrain and loam-rich river zones. Whatever the soil, healthy soil also is rich in microbes – making it very much alive.

“What is soil?” ask the master gardeners. “Come learn about the soil beneath your feet, what it’s made of, and how you can make it healthier and easier to work with. The result could bring you a beautiful garden and landscape.

“Soils are discussed by texture, organic components, mineral content, pH, and the structure that we can enjoy for growing in Placer County. Learn about the ecosystem in your midst, and how the living soil is an important component of all life on earth. See a demonstration of easy, inexpensive soil testing, and what is revealed for a Roseville landscape.”

These concepts work for soils anywhere, not just Placer County. All gardeners are welcome.

Come early or stay late. This workshop coincides with the Placer County master gardeners’ monthly Open Garden Day, 10 a.m. to noon, outside in the Loomis Demonstration Garden. Inside the multi-themed garden, these local experts will be on hand to answer questions. (Bring examples of pests or their damage in a zip-locked bag; photos are good, too.)

Loomis Library is located at 6050 Library Drive, Loomis.

Details: https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-placer-county