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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

Leaf miners

June 17, 2025

By Bonnie A Nielsen

Leaf miners are just one of the many pests that affect our gardens. The two leaf miner types most often found in Marin are the Liriomyza spp, a mostly black & yellow fly with clear wings, and Phytomyza, a blackish gray fly on top with a cream- colored abdomen. Females of both these…

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UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

Apples, including our native Pacific crabapple

June 9, 2025

By Bonnie A Nielsen

Apple trees are some of the loveliest in the world, as are their close relatives, the crabapples. Their blossoms in spring are intoxicating, and no wonder—they belong to the Rosaceae family, which includes roses and strawberries.Pollinators like bees and bumblebees are drawn to the fragrant blooms. If…

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UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

Attract hummingbirds to your garden

June 2, 2025

By Bonnie A Nielsen

These living jewels in our gardens give us many gifts besides the joy of watching them in their pursuit of life, drinking nectar from flowers or feeders, nabbing an insect in the air, chasing another hummer from their territory, or flying acrobatics to impress the females. They bring the gift of…

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UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

Succulents 102

May 27, 2025

By Bonnie A Nielsen

Master Gardeners enthusiastically support finding homes for succulents in your home garden. Once reserved for arid climates, succulents have proven resilient and adaptable. Including succulents in your water-efficient garden makes creating a dynamic, biodiverse, and pollinator-friendly garden easier…

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UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

What do cattle water troughs and flourishing container gardens have in common?

May 19, 2025

By Bonnie A Nielsen

Is your yard filled with compacted clay soil and just the thought of attempting to grow vegetables and flowers seems daunting? Or perhaps you’re searching for a raised bed to avoid a lot of bending and stooping. Have you considered trough gardening? Galvanized livestock water troughs, also known as…

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UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

Who’s eating my plants?

May 12, 2025

By Bonnie A Nielsen

Ah, the bounty of spring! All the tender new foliage on trees and shrubs, flowers galore, and prolific growth in the vegetable garden. We gardeners revel in the abundance the season brings, and just like us, insect pests, both big and small, love it too. Since there are more insects on Earth…

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UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

Use passive and active protection strategies to safeguard your home from wildfires

May 5, 2025

By Bonnie A Nielsen

Marin no longer has a “fire season.” Like many other areas, our fire season is now year-round due to climate change and other factors. Southern California’s recent horrific fires underscore the urgent need to make our gardens ready for wildfire. “Create passive protection by careful garden design,…

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UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

Some natives you may have missed

April 28, 2025

By Bonnie A Nielsen

There are many books devoted to California natives. Because our state is large and has many different habitats, from the sea to the highest mountains in the Sierras, from the cool northern part of the state to the deserts of Southern California, our plant life reflects this incredible diversity…

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UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

The caterpillars in my garden

April 21, 2025

By Bonnie A Nielsen

As Eric Carle once wrote, there was a “very hungry caterpillar.” It hatched from an egg and began its search for food. After about two weeks, it became a big, fat caterpillar—two thousand times its original size! Then, it built a small cocoon, stayed inside for another two weeks, and eventually emerged…

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UC Marin Master Gardeners: Article

Plant a living windbreak to protect from strong winds

April 14, 2025

By Bonnie A Nielsen

If strong winds are damaging your garden - breaking branches, pulling moisture from foliage, and drying out soil - why not consider planting a living windbreak? A living windbreak is a group of plants positioned to filter the wind. The group can be as small as a few shrubs or as large as a group…

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