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.
Respect the Nest - take care with tree trimming: It’s Spring and all the birds and animals are having their babies now. Very often their nests are in our trees and shrubs. If you are thinking of trimming and pruning, make sure there are no nests with fledglings or babies in them. The nests are often hard to see, so if you’re uncertain, delay pruning until the fall. If you do disturb a nest or find babies that have fallen, please bring them to WildCare in San Rafael, or call their emergency line at (415) 456-7283.
The best time to prune your spring-flowering shrubs is soon after the flowers fade - As long as there are no nests inside. If you wait until much later, you may accidentally prune off next year’s flowers! Read up on our pruning tips for flowering trees and shrubs, and for specific plants like camellias and rhododendrons.
Don’t kill me, I’m a good bug - The Lady, the Boss, the Aphid eater: Know your pests! Not every bug you see is a pest, many are very beneficial and help you in the garden. The ladybug is a prime example. You should always check out the bug before you worry. See more on the codling moth pest below.
UPCOMING PLANT SALES AND EVENTS!
SATURDAY JUNE 11 @ 9am Falkirk Demonstration Garden, San Rafael Over 1500 plants in 4-inch to 5-gallon size containers! The plants were lovingly grown by UC Marin Master Gardeners and chosen specifically for Marin microclimates. Save water and keep garden maintenance low by adding succulents to your garden area! |
TOGETHER IN OUR EARTH-FRIENDLY GARDEN! JUNE 30 - JULY 4 + JULY 5 PLANT SALE, Marin County Civic Center, San Rafael Visit us and learn how to create an Earth-friendly, healthy garden that provides food and shelter for beneficial wildlife and insects! Attend our seminars on habitat gardening, proper irrigation, fire-smart landscaping, growing edibles and much more. For more information, click here. |
Oaks define the visual beauty of California landscapes and support wildlife and biodiversity. Those of us who live among oaks hold our breath in spring when California oakworms, not really worms but very hungry caterpillars...
GO TO THE MARIN IJ ARCHIVE PAGE FOR MORE STORIES AND GARDENING TIPS!
| Event Name | Date |
|---|---|
| Fire-smarting an Established Landscape and the Use of Native Plants | 5/25/2022 |
| EMBER STOMP! Wildfire prevention festival | 5/28/2022 |
| Annual Succulent Sale | 6/11/2022 |
| Re-Thinking the Lawn | 6/22/2022 |
BASIC PRUNING CUTS - Demonstrated and Explained
HOW TO ATTRACT BIRDS TO YOUR BACKYARD
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Find out more about University of California Cooperative Extension in Marin (Marin UCCE) and its mission to sustain a vital agriculture, environment and community.
