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UC Marin Master Gardener Articles in the Marin Independent Journal

UC Marin Master Gardeners have contributed to the Marin Independent Journal's "Ask a Master Gardener" column every Saturday since 1999. We have a team of dedicated writers who have covered nearly every aspect of gardening for Marin County over the years. View articles through March of 2025 below.

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gloved hands holding a seedling in a clump of soil

UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

Why becoming a Marin Master Gardener enriches your life and our community

August 3, 2026

Do you love gardening? Would you like to get certified as a UC Marin Master Gardener?What is a UC Marin Master Gardener anyway?All certified UC Marin Master Gardeners (MMGs) love to garden, but they all also volunteer to extend research-based knowledge on home horticulture, pest management, and…

artichokes growing on a plant

UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

The second spring: Why August is the time to plan for fall vegetable gardens

July 27, 2026

If you've been sad thinking the end of summer means the end of your vegetable garden, don't be. In Marin, August isn't the season's last chapter. It's the beginning of a second one, and if you play it right, you'll be cutting heads of broccoli and harvesting handfuls of kale while your neighbors are…

Camellias blooming in partial shade

UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

Fog and flora: Gardening in Marin’s microclimates

July 20, 2026

Marin County sits on the doorstep of many of California’s natural wonders: giant Coastal Redwoods, the peaks of Mount Tam, the San Francisco Bay with its boggy marshes, and the Pacific Ocean unfurling towards the horizon. While many of us chose to live in Marin precisely because of these…

Salvia Greggii loses some of its leaves as it slows down heading into summer

UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

Your plants aren't dying. They're resting.

July 13, 2026

If you've been walking through your garden lately and noticed a few plants looking tired, thinning out, or even turning brown, don't fret. Around Marin County, this happens every summer, and most of the time nothing is wrong. In fact, many plants are doing exactly what they're supposed to do.Gardeners…

California Buckeye seed pod

UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

The story of the California Buckeye Tree

July 6, 2026

The California buckeye Tree (Aesculus californica) is one of the most distinctive trees native to Marin County. Found along hillsides, creek edges, and in the oak woodlands, it is a species adapted for survival. It is designed to handle drought conditions, attract pollinators, and produce seeds that…

Master Gardener booth at the Marin County Fair

UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

So much to celebrate!

June 29, 2026

Wow! We all know it is a big year for Team USA to celebrate our 250th Anniversary. For your Marin Master Gardener team, it is a big year to celebrate our 40th Anniversary of service to our Marin neighbors. What better place to highlight both accomplishments…

symptoms of Pierce's disease include delayed bud break, scorched leaves, and reduced yield

UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

The glassy-winged sharpshooter lands in Marin

June 22, 2026

In the natural world, tiny insects can have an outsized impact. Usually, that impact is good, but sometimes insects create chaos.Today we’re waging a new war on an old foe: the glassy-winged sharpshooter (Homalodisca vitripennis). Despite its charming name, this pest is a proven enemy. A half-inch…

Seeds from Lakota, Butternut and Acorn squashes ready to wash and save for sharing and growing

UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

The history and challenge of seed banking

June 15, 2026

This July, our country celebrates its 250th anniversary of independence, an independence expressed when colonists dumped British tea into Boston Harbor to protest Britain’s parliamentary tyranny. The British shut the port and suspended town meetings and elections. Massachusetts called for a…

young plant covered in aphids

UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

Is that fertilizer really organic?

June 8, 2026

I was recently gifted a five-pound container of a popular fertilizer. Some gardeners swear by it, saying it makes plants grow like crazy. The label listed ingredients like seaweed powder and blood meal - things that sound natural - so I paused before using it. Was this actually an “organic”…

Chives have edible stalks and flowers

UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

Underdog herbs for the home cook

June 1, 2026

It’s early summer, and many of us are establishing our herb gardens or windowsill collections. I’m all about a classic basil, a fresh oregano, or a familiar sprig of rosemary in my meals, but adding a few unsung herb-heroes to your garden this summer will take your garden – and your dishes – to the…