UC Marin Master Gardeners Logo

UC Marin Master Gardeners

Toyon berries

December

“The year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning, but a going on—December makes architects of us as we imagine next year’s garden.”
~ Henry Beston, American naturalist and author of The Outermost House

 

pruning roses

Rose Pruning Workshop.The best time to prune roses in our area is early winter. Come and learn when and how to prune your roses with rose pruning expert Don Chapman. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn tips and tricks and to renew your rose pruning skills. After Don’s lecture, there will be time to practice what you have learned with assistance from skilled Marin Master Gardeners.

A harvest of crisp, bright green lettuce is satisfying anytime of the year

Growing Lettuce Year-Round in Marin. Lettuce is generally considered to be a cool-season annual, but with a little advanced planning and some judicious plant selection, Marin gardeners can enjoy home-grown lettuce throughout the year.

Pruning Fruit Trees. Prune once in the dormant season (usually winter, but not always!) and once again in the summer - but please check the specific pruning sheets for your tree, as apricot and cherry trees are not pruned in winter.

Native Plants are Easy to Grow – so long as you don't overdo it with soil amendments or other unnecessary additions. Many natives, including iconic species like Ceanothus and manzanita, can live for decades with very little care.

March 7, 2026 Plant Sale

 
What to do this month:
Plant & garden care list for December 
Adjust watering schedules 
 

MARIN IJ ARTICLES

 

FEATURED VIDEOS:

 

 

 

Image
Subscribe Leaflet
Image
HELP DESK
Image
YouTube

 

Report issues or errors with the website so we can fix them.


SUPPORT UC MARIN MASTER GARDENERS

Make a tax-deductible donation to support our program!

Make a Gift

 Find out more about University of California Cooperative Extension in Marin (Marin UCCE) and its mission to sustain a vital agriculture, environment and community.

Contribute for a Better Future

Upcoming Events

pruning roses
Event Date
January 10, 2026

Rose Pruning Workshop

Program: The best time to prune roses in our area is early winter. Come and learn when and how to prune your roses with rose pruning expert Don Chapman. Don’s class is always a favorite. Don’t miss…
roses
Event Date
January 14, 2026

Growing and Pruning Roses

Program: Come learn how to select, grow, and prune roses for our local gardens. There will be a demonstration on how to prune roses during the class.Speaker: Rod Kerr is a Master Gardener who has…
Distant Drum, heirloom rose. Photo: Phoebe Baker
Event Date
January 26, 2026

Growing and Pruning Roses

Program: Come learn how to select, grow, and prune roses for our local gardens. There will be a demonstration on how to prune roses during the class.Speaker: Rod Kerr is a Master Gardener who has…

Mission Statement

UC Marin Master Gardeners are University of California-trained and certified volunteers who provide research-based knowledge and information on sustainable landscape practices, pest management and home horticulture to gardeners in Marin County.