Orchard Keepers

Orchard Keepers Ecological food system design, Installation, and Maintenance We enjoy creative problem solving regarding trees, native plants, vegetables, and irrigation.

We assist in starting new projects, reviving old sites, and planting out backyard gardens and orchards. For more information check out our website.

01/15/2026

The two best types of irrigation for your home orchard…

12/11/2025

What apples should you plant? How do you decide? Have your own apple tasting! Family taste test of three apples from Epicenter Nursery and Farm of Aptos from the Saturday Santa Cruz Farmers market back in October . These three were only a small sampling of the possibilities. Ideally you try some apples from a farm in your area.

12/04/2025

Cutting down trees is part of orchard keeping! If it ain’t producing or is a chore to take care of and not meeting your goals, time to move on and plant another.

11/25/2025

Before 👉 After of the walkway at our Davenport enhancement. All joints to be planted with ground covers soon. Stone work by Finn and Sam at sub surface drip irrigation and planting by Orchard Keepers.

11/19/2025

Holy Kurapia! We did this drought tolerant lawn re-do at the beginning of July. Fully grown in now! Plugs were planted at ~12” spacing. The area was once grass, and then went through two failed attempts at planting a clover lawn, but with what turned out to be the wrong seed. Kurapia is new to me but said to be a drought tolerant lawn alternative. Looking good so far!

11/18/2025

What’s going on with this ailing citrus tree?!

11/13/2025

A drain pop-up actually popping up! We use these drain outlet pop ups ocassionally and I have actually never seen one in action. This is where and why you would use one…. If you were not going to make a cool rain garden feature.

11/11/2025

Before 👉 after of one part of our enhancement in Davenport. The homeowner had been working on the landscape by himself and occasional friends over the past 5 years, and he just decided it is time to get help! This front bed is what you see when you pull up to the house or walk in the front door everyday... and he hated rosemary! Some of the citrus were poor varieties for their location and never going to give good fruit. Ornamental planting re-worked, citrus swaped out for a coastal microclimate appropriate variety, fertility added, and irrigation tuned up.

11/10/2025

Do you really like hand watering? Do the plants like your hand watering? 8 years without a functional irrigation system and now it was time… also getting a perennial planting refresh to get more privacy, and wow crabgrass is gone!

11/06/2025

How to build and maintain soil health and fertility in an organic home orchard

11/03/2025

What should you plant in your garden for your kids? Well besides the obvious berries how about these Tennessee Spinning Gourds? Wha?! That’s right it is a gourd. Decorate your own, snap and spin.

These were grown by BeeLine Blooms in Ben Lomond. Takes a little practice, but they can spin like a top!

10/29/2025

What is the role of a root stock for your fruit tree? Ok maybe basic question for most of you but have you seen it in action before? Here is. Good visual from today. Weaker rootstock slowing down a high vigor scion or variety.

Address

116 McPherson Street
Santa Cruz, CA
95060

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+18318547811

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Orchard Keepers posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Orchard Keepers:

Shortcuts

Share

Category