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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 from recent years below.

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oak woodland with some trees with brown leaves and some trees with green leaves

UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

Keeping California oaks healthier

January 27, 2024

Shortly before the year 2000, California oaks began dying. The University of California launched an investigation. What was causing this plague, and how might California oaks be kept healthier? A water-borne organism, Phytophthora ramorum, was found to be the culprit. Derived from Greek and Latin, it…

Gingko tree, a broad-leaved conifer

UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

Pruning your conifers

January 20, 2024

Generally speaking, Conifers are trees and shrubs with needles that set seeds in cones. Yews, junipers, and ginkgos produce cones, too, but they're fleshy and appear berry-like. Ginkgos are broad-leaved conifers. Part of their charm is that conifers are pretty low-maintenance plants.Most conifers…

orange hibiscus flower

UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

The mysteries of plant sex

January 13, 2024

Sex in the garden is more straightforward for the birds and the bees than it is for the plants. Reproductive processes vary among flowering plants; for many, there is more than one option. When choosing plants for your garden, knowing more about their sexual attributes can help you make better…

injured coyote being treated at a veterinarian

UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

Wildlife… what they need to eat

January 6, 2024

Have you ever thought about what animals in the wild need to survive? Like us, they need a balanced diet, which they get over the course of the year: lots of berries in the summer, fresh green growth in the spring, animals for meat, etc.Different animals need different foods: carnivores eat mostly meat,…

silhouette of a valley oak on a foggy hillside

UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

Mediterranean oak borer

December 30, 2023

Recently, a wave of exotic pests and pathogens have poured into California. Some have the potential to be as destructive as the famous 20th-century tree plagues like Dutch elm disease and sudden oak death. One pest, the Mediterranean oak borer (MOB), an ambrosia beetle, is close to Marin.Ambrosia…

Dormant spraying a fruit tree in a West Marin garden

UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

Dormant spray

December 23, 2023

The chill in the autumn air reminds gardeners that it's time to start winter chores. Spraying of dormant oils on deciduous fruit and nut trees, roses, and other ornamentals can diminish the incidence of insect or fungal disease as cooler weather arrives. When applied to the point of runoff to the…

pink clarkia blossoms

UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

I got my defensible space inspection; now what should I do in my garden?

December 16, 2023

Again this year, the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority (MWPA) will conduct more than 30,000 defensible space inspections of Marin residences to determine whether properties meet wildland-urban interface (WUI) defensible space, vegetation management, and construction standards. If you received an…

vermiculture worm bin with food scraps and compost inside

UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

Small scale composting: vermicomposting

December 9, 2023

In a world increasingly driven by eco-consciousness and sustainability, innovative solutions are emerging to address our environmental challenges. One such solution is vermicomposting, which transforms organic kitchen waste into nutrient-rich soil through earthworms. Often referred to as the "black…

bees pollinating a dahlia flower

UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

Skip the chemicals

December 2, 2023

Out on the deck getting ready for a family gathering, you admire your picture-perfect garden – the weed-free emerald-green lawn is surrounded by beautiful roses without an aphid in sight, and vegetable beds are filled with big juicy-looking tomatoes on spotless plants if this perfection was…

mealybugs on succulent stems

UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

Mealybugs in the landscape

November 30, 2023

Have you ever encountered a white cottony mass on a garden plant and wondered what it is and what to do about it? Chances are the culprit is the mealybug. While more than 170 species of mealybugs exist in CA, very few have become major pests. Some are specific to plants such as citrus mealybug, grape…