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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. Search our archives below by category of interest, or use the search box to locate stories by year, month or specific subject.

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UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

Venturing into the world of tropical plants

April 20, 2026

Most of us don’t have gardens as expansive as those created by 18th century landscape architect Capability Brown who moved a river to create the beautiful vistas at Chatsworth House, or large enough to design outdoor “rooms” like those created in the 20th century by Vita Sackville West at her…

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sungold cherry tomatoes growing on a tomato plant

UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

Tomato time!

April 13, 2026

Some people wait all year for a holiday. Me, I wait all year for tomatoes in my garden. Just the smell of the plant gives my heart wings. Once they are in the ground, I talk to them daily to encourage fruit. A blossom is cause for celebration. It’s…

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UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

Growing together: Good neighbors in the garden

April 6, 2026

Companion planting means growing different plants close together so they can help each other. Some plants help keep bugs away. Others improve soil health, and many attract beneficial insects such as bees and butterflies. When plants work together, the entire garden thrives. Companion planting is not…

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UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

Seeing red? Boxelder bugs, our native neighbors

March 30, 2026

By Bonnie A Nielsen

If you’ve noticed clusters of red-and-black insects sunning themselves on your house lately, you’re not imagining things, those are probably Western boxelder bugs.Most of us associate boxelder bugs with fall — when they suddenly blanket warm, west-facing walls and make it feel like your house is being…

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UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

Pick a pepper and plant it!

March 23, 2026

A walk through any Marin market will reveal bins piled high with a dazzling array of peppers in many colors, shapes, and sizes. Those familiar market staples offer only a small sampling of the vast choices available to home gardeners eager to grow something new. Our fascination with peppers is the most…

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UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

Sweet peas grown with ease

March 14, 2026

Nostalgic and timeless, the first blooms of sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus) are a springtime treat. Bearing a heavenly floral scent and coming in every color except yellow, it’s easy to see why gardeners around the world fall in love with sweet peas. Additionally, they are relatively easy to start from…

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Hover fly nectaring on rock purslane, Calendrinia grandiflora

UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

Discover the hover fly

March 7, 2026

Last summer, I watched bee-looking creatures flying in zigzag formation, each with a separate flight plan. Are those bumble bees? Wasps? Nope, they were hover flies, also called syrphid flies, drone flies, and flower flies. Although they look like bees, they are a type of fly…

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UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

A message from local pollinators

March 2, 2026

The Marin Master Gardeners are always talking about pollinators and how important they are as essential to food security and healthy ecosystems. More than 80 percent of the world's flowering plants depend on pollinators for reproduction, including many wildflowers and other important native plant…

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UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

Winter gardening tips for Marin County

February 23, 2026

February in Marin County holds a quiet kind of magic. The days become noticeably longer and a bit warmer. The hills are still emerald as the winter rain and air carry a crisp brightness between storms, and although the garden is seemingly asleep, it is humming below the surface. For gardeners in our county,…

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UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

Waging war on weeds: start early, weed often, know your enemy.

February 17, 2026

Weeds are the troublemakers in your garden. There they are, lurking among the flowers, persisting, and interfering with your plans for a California native garden or a pollinator paradise. Weeds compete aggressively with desirable plants for water, nutrients, and sunlight. Invasive species threaten ecosystems…

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