UC Master Gardener Program

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UC Master Gardener Program Sharing information on home horticulture, pest management, and sustainable landscape practices. Solicitations will be deleted immediately.

If you are unable to access this content due to a disability, please email [email protected] for assistance. Since 1980, the University of California Master Gardener Program has been extending UC research-based information about home horticulture and pest management to the public. The UC Master Gardener Program is a public service and outreach program under the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources administered locally by participating UC Cooperative Extension county offices. The UC Master Gardener Program is an example of an effective partnership between UC Agriculture and Natural Resources and passionate volunteers. In exchange for training from the University of California, Master Gardeners offer volunteer services and outreach to the general public. With programs based in 50 California counties and 6,048 active members - the University of California Master Gardener volunteers donated 385,260 hours last year and have donated more than 4.2 million hours! The UC Master Gardener Program is part of a statewide network of UC Agriculture and Natural Resources programs. Follow us:
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https://twitter.com/UCMasterGarden
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The UC Master Gardener Program reserves the right to delete off-topic, disrespectful or abusive comments. Links to articles or contests that may be of interest to gardeners are allowed. The University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Before you sweep that garden spider away, consider what it's doing for you. 🕷️According to the UC Statewide Integrated P...
10/19/2026

Before you sweep that garden spider away, consider what it's doing for you. 🕷️

According to the UC Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program (UC IPM), spiders are general predators that attack all types of insects. Because general predators eat a wide variety of prey, they're often already in place before pests arrive. Lady beetles, green lacewings, assassin bugs and ground beetles are on the same team.

Want more of these helpers? UC IPM suggests avoiding pesticides that kill them and choosing plants that provide pollen, nectar and shelter.

Comment "Spider" to meet more beneficial predators.



Photo credit: Adobe Stock, by alho007

Photo description: A striped black and yellow spider rests at the center of its web, surrounded by garden greenery beaded with dew.

Wondering how much time it takes to be a UC Master Gardener? Here's the honest answer.In exchange for education and cert...
10/16/2026

Wondering how much time it takes to be a UC Master Gardener? Here's the honest answer.

In exchange for education and certification, UC Master Gardeners volunteer a minimum of 50 hours in their first year and 25 hours each year after that.

Those hours go right back into the community. As Lynn Friedman of Orange County told us:
“This is an invaluable program that improves the wellness of our community.”

Comment "Master Gardener" to learn more!



Photo credit: Marcy Sousa

Photo description: Two women work together tying twine to a trellis in a garden bed under a clear blue sky.

Important information as we prepare for El Niño.
10/15/2026

Important information as we prepare for El Niño.

Next spring's wildflower show gets its start in the next few weeks.The UC Master Gardener Program Statewide Blog recomme...
10/14/2026

Next spring's wildflower show gets its start in the next few weeks.

The UC Master Gardener Program Statewide Blog recommends waiting until temperatures are consistently cool later this month. Then:

Choose a sunny spot and clear out weeds and grasses.
Mix organic compost into the soil to help it hold moisture.
Scatter seeds evenly, rake them in lightly and top with a thin layer of compost.
Water well, then wait for spring color.

Comment "October" to get a link to all our October Gardening Tips



Photo credit: Barbra Braaten

Photo description: Bright orange poppies bloom around a gray boulder beside a dirt path, with trees and blue sky behind.

You don't have to be an expert gardener to become a UC Master Gardener.Applicants are considered regardless of gardening...
10/09/2026

You don't have to be an expert gardener to become a UC Master Gardener.

Applicants are considered regardless of gardening experience. Once accepted by a local UC Cooperative Extension office, trainees receive at least 50 hours of training from UC Agriculture and Natural Resources over 16 weeks, then share what they learn with their communities.

That sharing makes a difference. Melanie Pellegrino of Stanislaus County put it this way:
“Based on my observations, there are a lot of people, especially young children and retirees, that these programs bring a lot of joy to and help foster ongoing learning and community interaction that significantly improves a person's quality of life.”

Comment "Master Gardener" to learn more!



Photo credit: UC Regents

Photo description: Two women stand together outdoors near a garden trellis, one pointing up at a climbing vine while the other looks on smiling. Raised planter beds and greenery fill the background.

At the Madelyn Helling Library in Nevada City, you can walk in for a book and leave with seeds. 🌱After the COVID-19 pand...
10/07/2026

At the Madelyn Helling Library in Nevada City, you can walk in for a book and leave with seeds. 🌱

After the COVID-19 pandemic, the library needed help relaunching its community seed library, and the UC Master Gardener Program of Nevada County stepped in. With $300 in seed funding and a vintage Dewey Decimal System card catalog donated by the library, volunteers reopened the seed library in July 2024.

Since then, the volunteer team has tripled, more than 6,000 seed packets have been shared, and the program has helped more than 1,300 residents grow fresh food for themselves and their families. Visitors can pick up to five packets of vegetable, herb and flower seeds per visit, year-round.

“Seed saving gives individuals the power to grow their own food, build agency, and learn on their own,” says UC Master Gardener Judy Nichols.

Comment "Blog" to get the full story!

If your library lent seeds, what would you check out first?



Photo credit: UC Master Gardeners of Nevada County

Photo description: A group works together at a table covered in envelopes, containers, and small craft materials inside a library, with book stacks and a service desk in the background.

Few crops are better suited to a California fall than kale.Kale grows best in the cool season, and frost actually sweete...
10/05/2026

Few crops are better suited to a California fall than kale.

Kale grows best in the cool season, and frost actually sweetens it, according to the UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County. Summer heat and strong sun can turn the leaves bitter. For something striking, try 'Lacinato,' a tall variety with crinkly, blue-green leaves.

Harvest tip from the UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County: Pick the lower leaves once they reach 8 to 10 inches long. Smaller leaves tend to be more tender.

Comment "Kale" to get the kale growing guide.



Photo credit: Adobe Stock/Olha Afanasieva
Photo description: A cluster of crinkled, blue-green kale plants fills the frame in a garden row, with bare soil visible in the background.

Warm days, cool nights. October in California keeps gardeners on their toes, and there's plenty to do.Lawns: Pull weeds,...
10/02/2026

Warm days, cool nights. October in California keeps gardeners on their toes, and there's plenty to do.

Lawns: Pull weeds, reseed bald spots and feed with an organic, high-nitrogen fertilizer. Water well until the winter rains arrive.

Wildflowers: Once temperatures are consistently cool late in the month, prep a sunny spot and sow seed for spring blooms.

Vegetables: Cooler temperatures suit many crops. Set out broccoli, cauliflower and kohlrabi transplants now, and they'll be ready by February.

Shrubs: Fall is a great time to plant. California natives are low maintenance and can build strong roots before summer stress hits.

Comment "October" to get a link to all our October Gardening Tips



Photo credit: Adobe Stock

September is coming to an end, and we are getting closer to that lovely fall weather! How are your gardens doing? Share...
09/30/2026

September is coming to an end, and we are getting closer to that lovely fall weather! How are your gardens doing? Share in the comments!



Photo credit: Barbra Braaten
Photo description: Two pink cosmos flowers are in sharp focus in a garden, with red flowers and a person in the background out of focus.

Fall is here, and so are fall pests. 🍂The UC IPM Seasonal Landscape IPM Checklist has a few simple ways to protect your ...
09/28/2026

Fall is here, and so are fall pests. 🍂

The UC IPM Seasonal Landscape IPM Checklist has a few simple ways to protect your garden this September:

🍋 Check citrus for Asian citrus psyllid and leafminers
💧 Adjust irrigation as the weather and your plants' water needs change
🌱 Avoid overwatering and improve drainage to prevent root rot
🌼 Plant California natives suited to your site
✂️ Prune evergreen, summer-flowering shrubs
🍎 Clean up fallen fruit, nuts and mummies so they don't attract pests
🍁 Add fallen leaves to your compost, then turn it and keep it moist

Get the full list of tips from UC IPM's Yulie Velez: https://ucanr.edu/blog/pests-urban-landscape/article/september-pest-management-tips



Photo credit: UC Regents
Photo description: Native California Poppies surrounding a rock with trees and blue sky in the background

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