The highly anticipated 2nd Edition - California Master Gardener Handbook has arrived and is available online for purchase to the public. The California Master Gardener Handbook has been the premiere choice for gardening enthusiasts on the West Coast since it was first published in 2002.

The trusted California Master Gardener handbook is a valuable resource that is packed with research-based information and more than 21 in-depth home horticulture topics. The handbook offers advice on home vegetable gardening, plant propagation, landscape design, insects, water management, weeds and much much more!

What's new inside?

The completely redesigned handbook has updated tables, graphics and color photos throughout. Technical information has been updated by University and industry experts and the handbook is more reader-friendly with a reorganized flow of information.

“The second edition handbook has been a true labor of lots of hard work and dedication and the result shows! The handbook includes many updates and expanded coverage of important topics of interest to UC Master Gardeners and avid backyard gardeners as well. The Water Management chapter include timely topics such as use of graywater and more coverage of edibles than the first edition. Controlling Garden Pests Safely, Landscape and Garden Design, Poisonous Plants and other chapters have been updated and expanded to reflect accurate information pertinent to the needs of today's environmentally-conscientious gardeners.” - Janet Hartin, Environmental Horticulture Advisor, San Bernardino, Riverside and Los Angeles Counties and UC ANR Environmental Horticulture Associate Editor 

New content was added on important topics including invasive plant species and designing and maintaining landscapes for fire protection. The poisonous plants chapter was completely rewritten by Judy Alsop, the former Director of the Calif. Poison Control Center, and there is an expanded chapter on water management in the home landscape.

How to order

“We received our new handbooks yesterday and believe me, they are well worth the wait--a beautiful publication that we can all be extremely proud to have as our primary educational resource. Congratulations and thanks to everyone at UC ANR who worked on updating this truly impressive publication!!” - Linda Baity, Program Coordinator, Santa Clara County

If you are a currently certified UC Master Gardener volunteer check with your local program coordinator about purchasing the new publication. All active UC Master Gardeners receive a 40 percent discount on the publication which retails for $37 to the public. Members of the public can order a copy of the publication through a local UC Master Gardener Program or by using the UC ANR online catalog.

Do you already have a copy of the new handbook? We'd love to hear your feedback in the comments section below!