Straw Bale Gardening
“Turn Straw Into Gold”--Growing your veggies and flowers in easily “conditioned” straw bales means NO SOIL, NO DIGGING, NO BENDING, ONLY A TROWEL NEEDED. Your used straw bales make great compost.
UC Master Gardeners of Placer County
2026 Gardening Guide and Calendar
Pick one up today at a store near you.
Master Gardeners of Placer County strive to present accurate, impartial information to local gardeners, so they have the knowledge to make informed gardening decisions in regard to plant choices, soil fertility, pest management, irrigation practices, and more.
Gardening Questions?
Here’s how to find answers:
- Attend a workshop or special event (printable list)
- Ask a Gardening Question
- Visit our Demonstration Garden in Loomis
- Browse our online Garden Help pages
- Tune in to our YouTube channel to view past gardening presentations
- Read The Curious Gardener, our free gardening newsletter (Subscribe to the Curious Gardener)
- Invite a Master Gardener to speak at your garden club
- Find answers to pest problems at UCANR’s Integrated Pest Management
- Share your gardening knowledge by becoming a Master Gardener
- View timely articles in the Auburn Journal.
Visit our Workshops and Special Events!
Bring your questions to our booth at the Farmer’s Market, attend a workshop, or visit our demonstration garden. See our Events Calendar to find out what’s going on now and in coming months in Placer County (printable list).
Subscribe to The Curious Gardener
Our free gardening newsletter features articles written by our local Master Gardeners for Placer and Nevada County home gardeners.
Tour our Demonstration Garden at the Loomis Library
Our beautiful waterwise garden showcases California natives, pollinators, and edible plants. The garden is a living classroom that emphasizes sustainable gardening, integrated pest management and backyard food production.
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Download our Vegetable Gardening Guide
Find out the best times to plant vegetables throughout the year in western Placer County.
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Contribute for a Better Future
Upcoming Events
Tomato Mastery: The Art & Science of Growing Delicious Tomatoes
This class is dedicated to one of our summer favorites, the tomato! Learn about planting, growing, and caring for this delicious staple as well as how to control problems before they happen. Let us…
Garden Gab at UEC
Got burning garden questions? Need advice on pests, soil, pruning, or landscape design, all in one place? Let’s gab at the Inspiration Garden! Drop in from 9:00 a.m. to noon (no registration needed)…
Garden Gab at UEC
Got burning garden questions? Need advice on pests, soil, pruning, or landscape design, all in one place? Let’s gab at the Inspiration Garden! Drop in from 9:00 a.m. to noon (no registration needed)…
Mission Statement
“To extend research-based knowledge and information on home horticulture, pest management, and sustainable landscape practices to the residents of California.”