Master Gardeners of San Mateo & San Francisco Counties

Is your organization looking for a speaker for an upcoming event?

Are you a San Mateo or San Francisco County resident with an interest in science-based horticulture and sustainable gardening practices, and a desire to share your knowledge and skill with the public as a volunteer in your community?

Become a Master Gardener Volunteer

Thank you for making our Spring Garden Market a success

Photo by Stuart Dalton

Find out more about the plants you bought by browsing the plant library, where you'll find key facts about your edibles, flowers for pollinators and a page with links to learn about the California native plants you purchased.

It's Tomato Time!

Photo by Bruce Goren

Nothing is better than a home-grown tomato. There are so many varieties from which to choose, you'll want to plant more than one if you have the space. Tomatoes do grow well in large containers. Plant your seedlings when daytime temperatures are consistently well above 55°F. Choose a location where the plants will receive at least 6 hours of sun each day. See articles on tomato planting tips, tomato types and varieties and tomato pruning to get help for a great harvest.

Plant for Pollinators

Photo by Ankith Choudhary via Unsplash.com

Pollinators like bees, butterflies, moths, and birds play an important role in pollinating your vegetable garden and supporting a healthy ecosystem. However, habitat loss, disease, and pesticide use have contributed to the decline of these species. You can help pollinators by selecting a wide variety of flowering plants, guiding pollinators to your garden by planting in groups rather than single plants, and providing a source of clean water. For a list of pollinator-friendly plants, visit: Pollinators Are Unsung Heroes of Planet Earth. You can get pollinator plants -- both native and non-native -- at the Spring Garden Market on April 13th.

Got Rodents? How To Be Pest Free Without Poison

Photo by Joshua J. Cotten via Unsplash.com

Are unwanted rats, mice, gophers or voles wreaking havoc in your garden? Although using toxic baits is convenient, their impact poses a threat to non-targeted wildlife, pets, and even humans in case of accidental ingestion. Visit this article to learn about humane and safer alternatives to manage these garden pests.

Weeds: Pros and Cons

Photo by Jack Kelly Clark via https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=25800

The simplest definition of a weed is “a plant growing where it’s not wanted.” Most home gardeners prefer to not have weeds growing among their landscape plants and in their vegetable gardens. However, weeds do have many benefits. For instance, they can help to control soil erosion, provide food for birds and nectar for honey bees, and create habitat. Some weeds are even edible. On the downside, weeds compete with landscape plants for water, nutrients and sunlight, and can be invasive.

The best ways to manage weeds that you don’t want growing in a particular location include hand-pulling, cutting or shallow hoeing. Use mulch to suppress weed growth. For more information, see Weeds in Landscape.

A New Perspective on Slugs

Photo by Jack Kelly Clark

Gardening enthusiasts are well acquainted with the havoc that slugs can wreak on their cherished plants. However, a noteworthy shift in perspective comes from The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), the foremost garden charity in Britain, which no longer classifies these creatures as pests. Instead, the RHS highlights the crucial role that slugs play in fostering a diverse and healthy ecosystem.

Click here to learn more.

YouTube Channel - Latest Videos

Publications

Starting from Scratch: The Miracle of Seeds

Growing your own plants from seed has a lot of advantages: more variety, less cost and getting a head start on the growing season are just a few. Practicality aside, it's just plain miraculous to grow plants from seeds. The process of putting hard, dry,...
A New Year in The Garden: Inspirations for 2024

It's January and, although it may be cold and damp, the days are getting longer by a few seconds each day—just enough additional daylight to stir a gardener's blood. While plants and soil are taking their winter rest, it's a great time for us...
The Rain Garden: A Simply Elegant Solution to Stormwater Pollution

Last winter's epic rainstorms have caused many of us to think about what we can do to mitigate the impact of heavy downpours on our communities. As it happens, the impervious surfaces that keep us dry and mud-free (our homes, patios, driveways, etc.)...

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Advice to Grow By...Ask Us!

UC Master Gardener volunteers are ready to help you and your garden. Have a question about gardening? Ask a Master Gardener

Calendar

Event Name	Date
Lyngso Zoom Series: Basics of Raising Chickens	4/17/2024
Planting a Garden with California Native Plants	4/20/2024
Sustainability for All Tabling Event	4/20/2024
Master Gardener Education Table at the Divisadero Farmers' Market	4/21/2024