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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

Managing yellowjackets in your garden

August 25, 2025

By Bonnie A Nielsen

Ah, summertime in Marin! Long, sunny days, backyard barbecues, and—unfortunately—those uninvited guests at the picnic table: yellowjackets. These striped speedsters seem to have an uncanny knack for sniffing out your sandwich and making a beeline for your lemonade. But before you reach for the swatter,…

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UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

Cultivating expertise - your path to Master Gardener status

August 18, 2025

By Bonnie A Nielsen

During a chat with a friend 19 years ago, I heard there was an opportunity to learn more about one of my lifelong passions--gardening. She said after certifying in this UC Marin Master Gardener program, I could not only learn more about plants, soil, and sustainable gardening to improve my own success…

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UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

Summer pruning for fruit trees

August 11, 2025

By Bonnie A Nielsen

If you’ve ever wrestled with an overgrown fruit tree, you know the struggle—branches reaching for the sky, fruit hiding in a tangled mess, and those pesky suckers popping up everywhere. But don’t worry, summer is the perfect time to get out there with your pruners and give your trees a little mid…

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UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

A kind approach to growing roses

August 4, 2025

By Bonnie A Nielsen

With their timeless beauty and grace, roses are often considered jewels of the garden. They also have the reputation for being persnickety plants that are high-maintenance and heavily dependent on chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Today’s gardeners are looking for easier and gentler ways of…

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Mediterranean oak borer tree trunk cross section

UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

The Mediterranean Oak Borer: a tiny threat to Marin’s majestic oaks

July 29, 2025

By Bonnie A Nielsen

As you wander beneath Marin County’s stately white oaks, such as valley and blue oaks, be aware some little troublemakers are on the move. The Mediterranean oak borer (Xyleborus monographus), a beetle scarcely bigger than a peppercorn—about 3 millimeters long, or one-eighth of an inch—is quietly…

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UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

Which soil amendments are healthy for the garden and the planet?

July 21, 2025

By Bonnie A Nielsen

Seems like every time I go to the nursery, there are new things to buy – and I’m not talking about the plants. This is especially true when it comes to soil amendments. Some of these packaged materials are helpful. Worm castings are packed with millions of beneficial microbes. Leaf mold boosts nutrients…

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UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

It’s a bug eat bug world

July 14, 2025

By Bonnie A Nielsen

Bugs are the creepy-crawly critters you find in your garden. Scientists divide them into groups. The largest group is insects, such as butterflies, bees, and beetles, which have three pairs of jointed legs and two pairs of wings. Other groups include spiders (arachnids), sowbugs (crustaceans), snails …

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Nasturtiums, violas, and calendula tucked in with edible greens and herbs

UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

The joy of growing edible flowers and Asian greens in your garden

July 7, 2025

By Bonnie A Nielsen

There is nothing more relaxing in summer and fall than venturing into the garden to harvest edible greens, herbs, and flowers. In my garden, tomatoes, herbs, berries, and citrus thrive tucked throughout the garden amongst roses and ornamental plants. This year, I have had the fun of planting more…

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UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

It’s a bug’s world; we’re just gardening in it!

June 30, 2025

By Bonnie A Nielsen

UC Marin Master Gardeners (MMGs) are ready to welcome you to the fair in our new fairground location, new booth, new speaker location (it’s air-conditioned!), and new educational information. We can’t wait to see you!This year’s Marin County Fair theme is Bug-Tastic! - A theme made for Marin Master…

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UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

Controlling spider mites in your garden

June 23, 2025

By Bonnie A Nielsen

On a warm, dry summer day, the leaves on some of my plants had a sprinkling of light dots. Some were turning an unhealthy, ugly bronze color. The underside of the leaves revealed webbing, indicating that spider mites had infested the plants. Among the most common pests in the garden, spider mites can…

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