Archive Nut, Prune and Olive Programs

We are trained and certified University of California (UC) volunteers who provide unbiased, high-quality, science-based information to non-commercial home gardeners of Sonoma County.

The UC Master Gardeners of Sonoma County extend research-based knowledge and information to non-commercial home gardeners through our numerous projects.

Growing fennel in the garden or taking advantage of the many wild plants in Sonoma County can give your culinary cabinet a boost in several different waysthrough its pollen, oil, seeds, fronds, and root.

For success growing California native plants, it’s best to provide a garden location similar to a species natural habitat. Find information here to grow California native plants in your Sonoma County garden.

When selecting native plants for the ornamental garden, choose species that will thrive in the planting sites you have chosen. Many nativestrees, shrubs, perennials, and annualswill not tolerate shade if they are sun-lovers or sunny sites if they are habituated to shade.

Efficient watering means putting the right amount of water in the right place when plants need it without excess runoff, over-spray, or waste. Sprinkler systems and hand watering are only 50-70 percent efficient.

Gardeners in Sonoma County have long been grateful for living in a climate mild enough to grow food gardens year-round.

Because a majority of the world's bulbs are native to the Cape of South Africa and the Mediterranean Basin, most thrive in the same Mediterranean climate we enjoy in Sonoma County.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) involves the use of environmentally sound, effective practices to keep pests, diseases, and weeds from damaging gardens. IPM begins by identifying the pest, disease, or weed, then selecting the most effective methods and materials for controlling the problem.

Of the many different types of materials that can be used to cover the ground, only mulch derived from plants benefits the soil and the garden. Learn why.