Featured Article

Pest and Weeds

UC Master Gardeners recommend an integrated approach to solving pest problems by minimizing pesticides and using techniques found in nature. This scientific, comprehensive approach is called Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Every gardener knows weeds -- uninvited plants that interfere with land and water resources, are unattractive or unwanted, or just get in the way. A distinct group of weeds that occur in natural habitats are classified as invasive plants and can cause significant damage. Read more.

Checklists for

March/April/May

UC Master Gardeners

Find information for the current season, or view other seasonal checklists using the left panel of our main website.

Introduction to Gardening with Natives

UC Master Gardeners

San Francisco Public Library, Richmond Branch

351 9th Avenue

San Francisco, CA 94118

May 4, 2024, 11:00am-12:30pm

There are hundreds of plants native to San Francisco. Discussion will include the advantages of growing natives, how to get started, plants for sunny or shady gardens (or foggy), soil, water and drainage considerations, how and when to plant, maintenance issues, sources for native plants, and other useful resources. Registration is not required.

Plant Clinic at the San Mateo Arboretum

UC Master Gardeners

San Mateo Arboretum in Central Park

101 9th Avenue

San Mateo, CA 94401

May 5, 2024, 12:00pm-3:00pm

Come anytime between 12:00-3:00pm for this walk-in plant clinic. UC Master Gardeners will be available to answer your questions from general information to advice about specific problems. Bring samples of your problem plants in clear plastics bags for better diagnosis. If you suspect insect damage, try to include some of the insects so they can be correctly identified. Registration is not required.

All About Herbs and Edible Flowers

UC Master Gardeners

San Mateo Arboretum Society

101 9th Avenue

San Mateo, CA 94401

May 5, 2024, 1:00pm-2:30pm

Discover or renew a new gardening excitement and learn the basics of growing, harvesting and using culinary herbs and edible flowers. Propagate your plants from seeds, cuttings, transplants and divisions. Integrate your herbs and edible flowers in your native landscapes, vegetable gardens and containers. Maintain your plants with sustainable methods, and harvest your herbs to use them fresh or preserve them for future use. Let’s have fun while sharing the many ideas for using herbs. This is a hybrid class with a limit of 15 in-person attendees and an unlimited number of Zoom attendees. Registration is required.

Success with Houseplants

UC Master Gardeners

San Francisco Public Library, Mission Bay

960 4th Street

San Francisco, CA 94158

May 5, 2024, 2:00pm-3:30pm

Do you love house plants? Are you just getting started, and looking for ways to ensure your plants will thrive? Join this discussion to learn about common houseplants and how to care for them and propagate them for many years of leafy green joy. Registration is not required.

Hella Roots: Cultivating Plant Knowledge

UC Master Gardeners/Education Table

KQED Headquarters

2601 Mariposa Street

San Francisco, CA 94110

May 8, 2024, 7:00pm-9:00pm

UC Master Gardeners will staff an education table at KQED's Hella Roots: Cultivating Plant Knowledge event. Anybody can buy some plants at a big box store and grow some flowers or cherry tomatoes, especially in our easy climate. But plants are more than just living decorations. If we learn to look, we can learn an entirely different way of being, one that’s been enmeshed with human culture as long as we’ve existed. We’ll poke at flower parts, go deep into the history of food crops, and meet an artist who uses them as her medium. Forum host Alexis Madrigal, with guests from the Conservatory of Flowers and the UC Botanical Garden, will explore a bouquet of botanical questions: What is a flower? How did humans come to create something like corn from its ancestor teosinte? What does it mean for a plant to be “native”? In-person fee is $15; Livestream is free.  Registration is required.

Creating Healthy Soil

UC Master Gardeners

Flowercraft Garden Center

550 Bayshore Boulevard

San Francisco, CA 94124

May 11, 2024, 10:00am-11:00am

Healthy soil is alive with a diverse community of organisms that work together to decompose organic matter, recycle nutrients, improve soil structure, and create pore space for water storage. All of these processes are essential for plant growth and development. At this workshop, you'll learn how to create healthy soil for healthy plants. Registration is not required.

Compost Awareness Week

UC Master Gardeners/Tabling Event

City of San Mateo Corporation Yard

1949 Pacific Blvd.

San Mateo, CA 94403

May 11, 2024, 10:00am-2:00pm

The City of San Mateo is hosting a Compost Awareness event at their Corporation Yard. UC Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer composting questions and to explain how compost improves soil health. Attendees can pick up some free compost. Registration is not required.

Divisadero Farmers' Market

UC Master Gardeners/Education Table

San Francisco DMV Parking Lot

1377 Fell Street

San Francisco, CA 94117

May 19, 2024, 9:00am-1:00pm

Please visit the UC Master Gardener education table at the Divisadero Farmers’ Market. Master Gardener volunteers will be available every third Sunday to answer questions regarding plants, planting techniques, garden pests and more. Registration is not required.

Dealing with Pests: Integrated Pest Management

UC Master Gardeners

Collective Roots Community Garden

1785 Woodland Ave.

East Palo Alto, CA 94303

June 1, 2024, 10:00am-11:30am

Integrated Pest Management, or IPM, is a sustainable approach to pest control. Unlike conventional pest control methods which rely on chemical pesticides, IPM integrates multiple approaches to minimize pest damage while also minimizing risks to human health and the environment. The key principles, and general and specific controls will be discussed. Registration is required.

Plant Clinic at the San Mateo Arboretum

UC Master Gardeners

San Mateo Arboretum in Central Park

101 9th Avenue

San Mateo, CA 94401

June 2, 2024, 12:00pm-3:00pm

Come anytime between 12:00-3:00pm for this walk-in plant clinic. UC Master Gardeners will be available to answer your questions from general information to advice about specific problems. Bring samples of your problem plants in clear plastics bags for better diagnosis. If you suspect insect damage, try to include some of the insects so they can be correctly identified. Registration is not required.

Caring for Your Garden Tools

UC Master Gardeners

Elkus Ranch Environmental Education Center

1500 Purisima Creek Road

Half Moon Bay, CA 94019

June 3, 2024, 1:30pm-3:00pm

A regular maintenance routine keeps your garden tools in good working order and helps them last longer. Tools not only need to be sharp, but also clean and sterile. Tools that are exposed to plants or soil with bacterial, fungal or insect infestations can spread those problems throughout the garden. It only takes a few minutes after each gardening session to take care of your tools and protect your garden the next time they are used. Registration is required.

Our Mission Statement: To extend research-based knowledge and information on home horticulture, pest management, and sustainable landscape practices to the residents of San Mateo and San Francisco Counties, guided by UC Agriculture and Natural Resources.

PLANT PROBLEM DIAGNOSTIC TOOL

Choose the affected plant from photos displayed, click on the photo, remove any selections that do not apply, click on the plant names, and continue to filter selections to view the results for a possible diagnoses. Learn more.

GARDENING RESOURCES

Select links to access gardening resources, California Backyard Orchard, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), publications, and finding a local Master Gardener program.  Learn more.

ARBORETUM ALL-STARS

Do you need help picking plants for your sustainable home garden? Selecting from the “Arboretum All-Stars” list is an easy way to start making “green” choices for your great looking garden. Arboretum All-Stars are top plants recommended by the horticultural staff of the UC Davis Arboretum. They thrive in California’s Mediterranean climate and have qualities that make them great choices for sustainable home gardens. Use a searchable plant database to pick the perfect All-Star for your garden conditions. For more information, view their website.

NATIVE PLANT RESOURCES

Looking for plants native to California that are not only pretty but are pollinators and drought resistant? A few resources are: Xerces Society, California Native Plant Society, and Calflora, Or try a native plant database for plants within your zip code. This website will help you find the best native plants specifically for your area that attract butterflies and moths and the birds that feed on their caterpillars, based on the scientific research of Dr. Douglas Tallamy and Research Assistant Kimberley Shropshire.

CALIFORNIA INVASIVE PLANT COUNCIL

Browse the website to see all plants on the California Invasive Plant Council inventory, including both invasive plants and “watch” species. Clicking on the scientific name will take you to the Plant Profile where you will find links to more information on the plant.

 UC Master Gardener volunteers are ready help you and your garden. Have a question about gardening? Have a pest problem? Curious about what will grow well in your region? Submit your inquiry online. Or visit the Master Gardener Helpline by phone, email, on the web, or in person. For more information visit our website.