Master Gardener Monthly Newsletter

January 2025

Featured Articles

Thank You for Your Support to the December 2024

Giving Tuesday and Silent Auction


Thank you to the incredible donors on Giving Tuesday for the UC Master Gardener Program. Your generosity will support the continued work of UC Master Gardeners, providing valuable knowledge and resources to create healthier gardens and more sustainable landscapes. We are so grateful for your support in building a greener, more beautiful California.


The UC Master Gardener chapter of the San Mateo and San Francisco Counties would also like to extend a hearty thank you to several generous local businesses for donating goods and gift cards to our annual Master Gardener volunteers silent auction, the proceeds of which help fund our many gardening classes held throughout the year. We encourage our many readers to visit these establishments for shopping or other needs. View list of donors.

Spring Garden Market -- Save the Date of April 26, 2025


UC Master Gardeners will soon be seeding and propagating more than 6,000 plants to be sold at the market. There will be tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, squash, herbs, California natives, pollinator plants, and much more. Plan to join us, and take home happy, healthy plants for your spring garden. Our growers are getting ready, seeds and pots have been ordered, and heat mats and greenhouses are being prepped.

Upcoming Events & More

Checklists for

December/January/February

UC Master Gardeners


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

Learn How to Divide and Plant Native Irises

San Carlos Library

610 Elm Street

San Carlos, CA 94070

January 18, 2025, 10:00am-12:00pm


Learn how divide native California iris plants. The first part of the demonstration will be in the library with a brief overview of the native irises, followed by a hands-on demonstration of dividing a large iris clump. There will be divisions available for everyone. The divisions can be planted directly in the garden now or in containers. Registration is required.

Divisadero Farmers' Market

San Francisco DMV Parking Lot

1377 Fell Street

San Francisco, CA 94117

January 19, 2025, 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. For more information, visit their website.

School Garden Leaders Workshop

Oak Knoll Elementary School

1895 Oak Knoll Lane

Menlo Park, CA 94025

January 25, 2025, 9:00am-12:00pm


School Garden Leaders, join us to learn and share ideas at our winter workshop to be held at Oak Knoll Elementary School in Menlo Park. Workshop topics will include: planting plan ideas for school gardens, TWIG science garden connections and growing herbs with children. Following the workshop, we will tour the Oak Knoll garden. This workshop is limited to 25 participants. Workshop fee is $20, with the registration deadline of January 22, 2025, at 8:00pm. Registration is required.

Proper Tree Planting

Half Moon Bay Library

620 Correas Street

Half Moon Bay, CA 94019

January 26, 2025, 1:00pm-2:00pm


Young trees, like humans, need a good home in order to grow up into strong, healthy, and mature trees. Learn how to plant a young fruit or ornamental tree the right way and give it what it needs in the first few years of life to become the tree of your dreams. Registration is required.

Divisadero Farmers' Market

San Francisco DMV Parking Lot

1377 Fell Street

San Francisco, CA 94117

February 16, 2025, 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. For more information, visit their website.

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Our Mission Statement

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.

Gardening 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 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 SocietyCalifornia 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.

Ask a Master Gardener

 UC Master Gardener volunteers are ready to 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.


UC ANR is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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