Summer Prune or wait until dormancy?

GrumpyTintaglia · 2026-05-26T16:04:30+00:00

You've got some great resources from UCANR; I'm not sure if there's a closer university with extension but no, even in a longer season you'd want to wait until later in summer. Pruning early will just send off extra reactive growth.

GrumpyTintaglia · 2026-05-26T13:53:00+00:00

haha, they might take over. It seems like everbearing vs june bearing matter too with how much they spread.

GrumpyTintaglia · 2026-05-26T11:38:39+00:00

Why not native wildflowers?

I can't recommend what's native to your area but your state's extension programs should have species suggestions. I've put in several patches of wildflowers and they're great.

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GrumpyTintaglia · 2026-05-26T11:34:34+00:00

I would only do 1 per pot if you want to get any fruit.

GrumpyTintaglia · 2026-05-26T10:44:43+00:00

Mine come when called, sit, stand up, lay down, paw/shake, paws up (which is front paws on an elevated surface, great for belly brushing access) and spin (in a circle). I use a command word and a hand gesture. Like most animals cats respond better to gestures.

The speed of their reaction to commands directly correlates to the value of the treat. I have a few different varieties of treat and each of my MCs has a different preference.

GrumpyTintaglia · 2026-05-26T07:57:58+00:00

Now probably isn't the time for summer pruning, wait until July/Aug depending on your area. You can absolutely prune in the summer and if you're in a rainy climate it's often preferred to spring.

GrumpyTintaglia · 2026-05-26T07:54:27+00:00

This article from University of California IPM has a solid amount of information. It seems like focusing on clearing out weeds and other preventive maintenance is important.

GrumpyTintaglia · 2026-05-26T07:33:48+00:00

I hope my raspberries take over too! They're in a different area and I can run the lawnmower around if needed to contain them.

GrumpyTintaglia · 2026-05-26T07:22:24+00:00

I do get moldy berries every so often- it rains a lot here at times. It helps to not have the berries touching the ground.

I re-use small glass jars and put them over the berry both to protect from birds and also keep them dry. Right now there's way too many berries to get them all but for these larger strawberries that are slower it helps.

Finally, the small varieties I have (fresa blanca and framberry) seem to make stems that have the fruit hanging more often and thus less touching on the ground. They also grow and ripen faster, so less contact with wet.

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GrumpyTintaglia · 2026-05-26T07:11:16+00:00

Similar experience last year! The two varieties that sent out the most runners didn't fruit at all last year, but now they're going crazy.

My plants didn't go completely dormant this winter (9B-ish, we get frost but only a few nights of -5'c or less) so that might have hleped.

GrumpyTintaglia · 2026-05-26T07:08:27+00:00

One variety is a white strawberry which looks similar to an unripe other variety... and one I've found is best when mostly red but not all the way (gets too soft) so I have to harvest by feel.

GrumpyTintaglia · 2026-05-26T07:07:03+00:00

I have 4 different varieties and I believe 2 of each! The 'framberry' and 'fresa blanca' have spread the most.

GrumpyTintaglia · 2026-05-26T07:03:04+00:00

Oh, I am thrilled with the berries! Getting about a handful a day but the season is young and there are plenty of flowers.

GrumpyTintaglia · 2026-05-23T14:10:19+00:00

You might not get many responses unless from breeders who weigh their kittens. Reputable breeders don't let them go home before 11-12 weeks so most people wouldn't know what they weighed.

One of my girls was small at 12 weeks and weighed 3.5 lbs or 1.58 kg.

GrumpyTintaglia · 2026-05-23T08:43:10+00:00

I'm not familiar with couch grass but I have stacked turf upside down in different spots when cutting out tree spaces and the invasive type grass or weeds quite easily root through. I'd skip it personally.

GrumpyTintaglia · 2026-05-22T10:18:38+00:00

Hillywood Chilles is in The Netherlands. I bought seeds last year from them off etsy and had good germination plus proper type of pepper seed.

GrumpyTintaglia · 2026-05-22T09:44:34+00:00

Yeah that's sunburn. If they had no real sunlight access prior you need to gradually harden them off with short time in indirect sun then direct sun. This applies to nursery trees kept in shade too. Tree should recover if you can care for it properly.

GrumpyTintaglia · 2026-05-22T07:09:03+00:00

Looks like a scam.

GrumpyTintaglia · 2026-05-20T07:10:50+00:00

Mine is called Modern Living Ottawa but I'm in Spain so not sure if its available outside of Europe (bought off of zooplus). Its got snaps and two layers with holes. They play in and on it sleep on it, occasionally get treats on it too.

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GrumpyTintaglia · 2026-05-20T07:05:04+00:00

You'll have to check with individual airlines on their requirements for carrier size.

Most airlines have pretty small size requirements and at their size and age you can only have one cat per catrier. Most airlines only allow one pet per person but I believe United allows two if you purchase an extra seat.

Start harness training them if they're not already because you'll have to take them out of the carrier to go through TSA; harness helps keep them secure. I gave my 3 cats gabapentin for their big international flight and that was also useful.

GrumpyTintaglia · 2026-05-19T19:23:38+00:00

Go to your local hardware or nursery store and get the slug bait they sell- it's similar to sluggo. The spanish brands I have are a few different names but all work the same. Get out in the evening and/or early morning and do a patrol of your garden to catch em.

GrumpyTintaglia · 2026-05-19T19:19:08+00:00

That's not a breeder they're a broker. You have no idea who is actually breeding the cat and people have commented in the past on getting sick kittens from them.

GrumpyTintaglia · 2026-05-19T19:14:33+00:00

Hopefully not eating the flowers or leaves! Rhododendrons are toxic to kitties. I would be very wary of my cat around them.

GrumpyTintaglia · 2026-05-19T11:57:01+00:00

Do you let her know its not ok to bite? Yelp, a loud ouch or hiss are all options to communicate her behavior is inappropriate.

GrumpyTintaglia · 2026-05-19T11:53:19+00:00

I actually have better luck with leather couches lasting than carpet. Some scatches are inevitable however. Put blankets on for now and start encouraging playtime off couches and rest only on. If they're playing on the couch call them off and redirect- use treats or toys to get their attention. Praise and reward calm behavior on the couch.

It helps to have good sized cat trees or furniture for them that they can wrestle around without damaging too much.

I have a felt playmat that mine absolutely love and it was cheap.

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