UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County
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March Live Library Talks
The Sonoma County Libraries are open and our library talks are now live!
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SMALL SPACE GARDENING IN CONTAINERS
Presented by: Nancy Creveling, Bryce Sumner
Saturday, March 18
10:30 am - 12:00 noon
Rohnert Park Cotati Regional Library
On a balcony or other small space, you can grow an amazing number of plants even without a patch of land. Learn about small-scale food and ornamental gardening in containers! Master Gardeners Nancy Creveling and Bryce Sumner will cover the benefits of container gardening, what makes a suitable container, the vast types of plants that grow well in containers, and how to plant and maintain your container garden. They will have examples on hand and demonstrate how to plant a container garden that is healthy for you and the environment. There will be ideas for salad gardens, pizza gardens, and other container gardens. Enjoy the benefits of gardening wherever you live.
REGISTRATION REQUIRED: CLICK HERE to complete your registration. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about attending the library talk.
This library talk will be presented in person at the Rohnert Park Cotati Regional Library, 6250 Lynne Conde Way, Rohnert Park. Please register only if you are able to attend in person. Talks will not be recorded.
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SEEDLING TRANSPLANT AND TROUBLESHOOTING WORKSHOP
Presented by: East Area Master Gardeners in partnership with the Sonoma Ecology Center
Saturday, March 11
10:00 am - 12:00 noon
Sonoma Garden Park, Sonoma
Have you started seedlings that have outgrown their pots, but it’s still too early to plant them in the garden? Are some failing to thrive, but you just don’t know how to help them? Whatever your questions are--whether it's potting up, solutions to get lackluster seedlings back on track or demystifying the whole "hardening off" process--we're ready to help.
A team of Master Gardeners will be on hand to help you transfer your emerging or struggling seedlings to larger pots or determine the best next steps to ready them for spring planting. If you are new to germinating seeds for transplanting, we will have melon and squash seeds available along with 4-inch pots to get you started. We will provide potting soil, but please bring your own gardening gloves, trowel, and larger pots for transplanting your seedlings.
The presentation will take place in the Water-wise Demonstration Garden at the Sonoma Garden Park. The garden was developed in partnership with UC Master Gardeners of Sonoma County and the Sonoma Ecology Center. The park is located at 19996 7th Street East, Sonoma.
*REGISTRATION REQUIRED: CLICK HERE to complete your registration. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about attending. Please register only if you are able to attend in person. Event is limited to 20 guests.
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Seed Starting Workshop
If you missed our Seed Starting Workshop at Sonoma Garden Park on February 11, you can view it now on our YouTube channel.
Learn when and how to start seeds, what equipment you will need, and how to care for your seedlings.
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Sonoma County Master Gardeners, in partnership with The Petaluma Regional Library, are once again co-hosting our annual Succulent Swap. This is a popular event and you do not want to miss it! Mark your calendar. Stay tuned for more information. |
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UCANR Webinars
Promoting Healthy People and Communities
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The 2023 California Statewide Olive Webinar
Thursday, March 30
8:00 am - 1:00 pm
Do you work with olives, have olives as a secondary crop, or are just curious to learn more about olive management?
1.5 hours Other DPR CEUs pending approval and 4 hours CCA approved
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Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Webinars
2023 brings new webinars from the UC IPM Urban and Community Program! Mark your calendars and register now for these informative presentations, held every third Thursday from 12:00-1:00pm PT. Can't make a webinar? Don't worry, all presentations are recorded and posted on the UC IPM YouTube channel. More webinars will be announced in early Spring 2023.
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Image: Adult fungus gnat caught in a sticky trap.
March 16, 2023
Preventing Pest Problems at Seeding
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Image: Wingless adults and nymphs of potato aphid.
April 20, 2023
Aphids, Scales, and Mealybugs, Oh My!
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Spring is a good time to control weeds! Weeds become aggressive garden competitors if you don’t control them early in their life cycles. While the soil is still moist and the weeds are still young, you can manage them without using chemicals. Find out more here.
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Bermuda buttercup (Oxalis pes-caprae) is a low-growing, herbaceous perennial with shamrock-like leaves and yellow flowers on stalks. This species reproduces by bulblets and is very difficult to control, but a consistent program of annual removal just as plants are starting to flower can be effective over time.
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Chickweeds, including mouseear chickweed (Cerastium glomeratum) and common chickweed (Stellaria media) are annual or perennial members of the pink family, identifiable by their opposite leaves and small white flowers with deeply lobed petals. These plants are controlled by manual removal and close mowing to limit seed production.
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See Master Gardener videos on YouTube!
Click here to visit our Master Gardener YouTube Channel
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A Half Barrel: Garden Container
Do you have limited space for planting? Here are some simple tips on how to make a practical garden container from a half barrel.
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March Veggie Starts
Ready to brave the cold temps and get some veggies started in your garden? Master Gardeners at Harvest for the Hungry Garden are getting ready to plant kale, lettuce, parsley, swiss chard and beets. For a complete list of veggies you can plant in March see our Year Round Food Gardening Calendar for Sonoma County
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Aphids in Lettuce
How do you battle the aphids in your lettuce? It's a struggle out there, but no need to panic. Wash off the aphids, and remember lady beetles love to eat aphids.
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Late Season Broccoli
You harvested your broccoli. Now what? Is your plant spent? We have some tips on harvesting more flowerets, the benefits of a bolted plant, and how to cut off the plant.
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Building Resilient and Fire-Wise Landscapes
A resilient landscape is fire-wise, water-wise and promotes biodiversity by using California native plants. These gardens use sustainable practices, plant selection, and ongoing maintenance to reduce the risk of fire in the defensible space zone.
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We have had the first identification of Asian Citrus Psyllid (ACP) in East Sonoma County. This insect poses a serious threat to California's citrus trees because it vectors the pathogen that causes huanglongbing disease (HLB), also known as Citrus Greening Disease. ACP feeds on all varieties of citrus and several closely related ornamental plants. For more information on this invasive pest, please refer to the UC IPM pest note. If you see this pest, please contact our information desk.
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MARCH: Remove and replace invasive plants
- Remove invasive plants such as ivy, broom, and pampas grass that spread quickly, cause harm to the environment, add considerable fuel for fire, and use precious water.
- Unfortunately, excessive clearing can create a vulnerable entry point for the plants we do not want.
- Pull weeds and invasive plants before they go to seed to keep them from spreading.
- Replace with California natives, pollinator or low-water use plants, keeping drought tolerance and biodiversity in mind.
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For persistent invasives, consider sheet mulching to help with weed suppression. For additional information on appropriate mulches Click Here.
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Master Gardener Information You Need to Know |
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Garden Sense is a free program offered by the UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County. Our friendly Garden Sense consultants have advanced training in water management, irrigation systems, site assessment, low-water use plants, and sustainable garden practices. We can show you how to easily conserve water (and save money) by creating a climate-appropriate garden that is healthy, environmentally sound, and most of all – beautiful!
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Need Gardening Advice? If you have any home gardening questions, contact our information desk via email: mgsonoma@ucdavis.edu or call and leave a message at (707) 565-2608. You can also drop off samples at the UCCE office in Santa Rosa (133 Aviation Blvd., Suite 109). If the office is closed, you can leave your sample in the drop box outside the door. Master Gardeners are checking in and will get back to you! For more information on our Information Desk CLICK HERE
Our website http://sonomamg.ucanr.edu/ offers a bounty of information. You can find garden tips for a month-by-month gardening guide, step-by-step drip irrigation guides, recommended plants for Sonoma County including a list of "Sonoma Superstars," California native plants, and so much more!
If you are on Facebook, like and follow us at UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County. We post short articles and videos full of gardening information every day. Check it out! You can also follow us on Twitter at @SonomaCountyMGs.
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See what's happening on our social sites: |
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