The Leaflet
A newsletter with expert tips and solutions for Marin gardeners.
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- seasonal advice
- links to in-depth, research-based horticulture resources
- plant suggestions
- invitations to Master Gardener events and classes
- answers to common gardening questions
- solutions to pest and disease problems
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The Leaflet Articles
Winter 2020
- Why California native plants matter
- Find a walkable lawn alternative
- How to manage raccoons
- How to grow potatoes
- Keep Marin's watershed healthy
- Gardener's checklist for winter
Fall 2020
- Plant bulbs in fall for spring beauty
- Getting rid of rats
- A beginner's guide to saving vegetable seeds
- Top 3 fire-smart updates to make today
- Compost: how to make it, how to use it
- Narrow-leaf milkweed
- Gardener's checklist for fall
Summer 2020
- Ready for fire season?
- Pelargoniums vs Geraniums
- Not wild about turkeys
- The sting (and bite) of yellowjackets
- Bring on the butterflies
- Grow your own bouquets
- Basil: the fragrance of summer
Spring 2020
- Nature's survivors: California native wildflowers
- Lovely, lovely lavender
- How to manage tree and ground squirrels
- How to manage common spring pests
- Heirloom vs hybrid: What's the difference?
- Fabulous foxglove rises in spring
- How to attract bees and other pollinators
- Kiwis, gooseberries, and passion fruit offer shade and tasty reward
- Fremontodendron
Winter 2019
- Growing orchids outdoors in Marin
- How to prune like a pro
- California native currants burst into bloom in winter
- How to manage clay soil
- How to harvest rainwater
- Prune roses for maximum bloom
- Selecting and caring for garden tools
- Gardener's checklist for winter
- Rhubarb - good for pies and the vegetable garden
- Unusual edibles that love growing in Marin
Fall 2019
- Dragonflies: just add water
- Fall is a great time for propagation
- Managing leafminers
- Deer behavior and management
- Time to plant sweet peas
- Pruning hydrangeas to maximize bloom
- Gardener's checklist for fall
- Spears for years: how to grow asparagus
Summer 2019
- Succulents
- Ferns: ancient plants
- Fertilizers
- What is Integrated Pest Management?
- Harvesting summer crops
- Help cut flowers live longer
- Gardener's checklist for summer
- Blueberries: healthy, tasty, and pretty
- Growing and harvesting beets
Spring 2019
- Oak trees of Marin
- Hummingbirds, nature’s extremists
- The benefits of houseplants
- What to do with spent bulbs
- Fruit trees: benefits of thinning young fruit
- Gardener's checklist for spring
- Microgreens: tiny plants, big flavor
- How to grow delicious beans
Winter 2018
- Citrus: how to grow winter's sweet, fragrant treats
- Ornamental grasses enliven Marin gardens
- Inviting good guys into the garden
- Preventing a codling moth invasion
- Stop snails in their tracks
- Antidote for the winter blahs: garden color!
- Caring for holiday gift plants
- Gardener's checklist for winter
- Artichokes: tasty and oh so easy to grow
- Native plant propagation efforts restore critical Marin flora
Fall 2018
- Japanese maples dazzle in autumn
- Pretty in a pot: container gardening offers many benefits
- Tips for growing gorgeous camellias
- Redwood trees are horticultural marvels, but challenging in backyard settings
- Gardener's checklist for fall
- How to build healthy soil
- Opossums: how to manage these unwelcome visitors
- Pomegranates: an ancient tree made for drought
Summer 2018
- Summer Pruning Instructions
- Cutting Gardens: Pretty and Practical
- Save and Swap Seeds to Keep Food Supplies Safe, Varied, and Practical
- Sold on Salvia
- Gardener's checklist for summer
- Rats! You've Got Rats!
- How to Select, Plant, and Grow Grapes
- What's Bugging Your Tomatoes?
Spring 2018
- Master Gardener Tomato Market - April 7, 2018
- Sudden Oak Death: a million trees gone and counting
- How to grow a habitat garden
- Tips for growing fava beans
- Using water effectively in the garden
- Gardener's checklist for spring
- Identifying and controlling thrips
- Growing a salad garden in a pot
Winter 2017
- How to select bare root roses
- Earthworms: slimy and spectacular
- Lovely birds have become pests
- Hellebores add color to your winter garden
- Sow seeds now for colorful flowers in spring and summer
- Rain gardens: an attractive solution to a challenging environmental problem
- Dormant spray deters plant pests & diseases
- Gardener's checklist for winter
- Snails and slugs: how to keep these slimy invaders out of your garden
- Get a head start on spring with cold frames
- Australian plants shine in winter
Fall 2017
- How to landscape for fire safety
- Managing powdery mildew
- Gardening that's made in the shade
- Chinese pistache tree glows in autumn
- Attracting honey and native bees to your garden
- Sow wildflower seeds in fall for spring show
- Now's the time to plant California natives
- Gardener's checklist for fall
- Taking the sting out of yellowjackets
- What to plant in the fall-winter veggie garden
Summer 2017
- Marin county Fair “Power to the Pollinators”
- Creating a Pollinator Garden
- Plant list for the Mediterranean garden
- Proper pruning of wisteria produces a plethora of blossoms
- Gardener's checklist for summer
- Choose your mulch wisely!
- Time to think about cool season veggies like cabbage
- Marin-Friendly Garden Walk
- Tomato Plant Problems and How to Manage Them
- Tips for Growing Great Tomatoes
- Plant Guide: Cistus skanbergii
- Rx for Pests: Ants
- HelpDesk@marinmg.org
- We Are UC Marin Master Gardeners
Spring 2017
- How to grow delicious, healthy tomatoes
- Time to add your compost to the garden
- The fascinating and mysterious world of mushrooms
- What's that plant?
- Gardener's Checklist for Spring
- Feeding your acid-loving plants
- Plant suggestions to invite butterflies into the garden
- How to identify and avoid rust
- How to grow blueberries in your backyard
- Habitat exploration for kids
Winter 2016
- Which tree should I grow?
- What's the best way to plant a fruit tree?
- How do I care for my trees?
- Protect plants from frost damage
- What's that plant?
- Colorful flowers for your winter garden
- Books for Marin gardeners
- Gardener's checklist for winter
- Stop raccoons from wreaking havoc in your garden
- How to plan your vegetable garden
- Benefits of school gardens
- Resources for growing and managing school gardens
Fall 2016
- Selecting a tree
- List of trees that thrive in Marin
- How to keep mosquitos away
- Gardener's checklist for fall
- Epilobium – California fuchsia
- The plight of the honeybees
- Why bees matter, and how you can help
- How to boost your soil with cover crops
- How to garden with deer
- Plants deer tend to avoid
Summer 2016
- How to Pick the Right Plant for the Right Place in Your Garden
- What's that Plant?
- Pollination: what it is, how it works, and why we can’t live without it
- Tip: How to Keep Cut Flowers Fresh
- Key to beating gophers? Know your enemy.
- Plants that provide luscious color in late summer
- What's Cooking in the Veggie Garden?
Spring 2016
- 2016 Tomato Market and information Exchange: open April 9 from 9 a.m. to noon at Bon Air Shopping Center in Greenbrae and Pini Ace Hardware in Novato
- Short on space? Containers to the rescue: how to be a successful container gardener
- Gardener's Checklist for Spring
- Herbs: tough, attractive, practical: for serious success in the garden, grow herbs with the help of this summary of beautiful, useful herbs that have rich histories
- Plants that do - and don't - play well together: companion planting has a long agricultural history, and is easy, practical, and fun
- Companion planting in the vegetable garden: a quick reference guide of companion planting for edible crops
Winter 2015
- Get Grounded – Healthy Soil Does Matter: healthy soil is the foundation of our gardens, and it is time to feed it in the Winter
- Seasonal Advice – Mushrooms on the March: these fungi are beneficial and are a good sign in your garden
- Our Gentle Winters are Good for Vegetables: cold weather favorites are fava beans, leeks, and peas
- Gardener's Checklist for Winter
- Rodents like it Warm: unexpected house quests can be troublesome, and here are tips to control and manage rodents in the winter
- Fine Tune Your Garden – Know What Makes an Invasive Species Invasive: resources for identifying invasives, as well as advice about good alternatives for your garden
Fall 2015
- California Natives – Plant Like a Native: use natives to conserve water and create an attractive wild-life garden.
- Consider a Simple Water-Catchment System and Rain Garden/Bioswale Before Winter Rains Arrive: why not consider several water-wise ways to take advantage of winter rain we might receive.
- Have You Scheduled a FREE Bay-Friendly Garden Walk? UC Marin Master Gardeners will come to your residence and help you deal with your special garden needs.
- A Green Autumn: summer is transitioning into autumn, but it is not time to hang up that trowel! Think again; fall is a productive time for autumn edibles like kale, chard, broccoli, pak choi, and spinach.
- Rx for Pests - Ants: they can be beneficial outside in the garden, but they are not welcome inside your home. The best steps to take is to prevent intrusion and protect your household food sources from six-legged scrutiny.
- Fine Tune Your Garden: our California natives thrive in containers; container plants use minimal water and there are many natives from which to choose.
Summer 2015
- Colorful Drought-Tolerant Plants Thrive in Marin - Marin’s Mediterranean climate is perfect for California natives. See Harvey’s Demonstration Garden for colorful examples.
- Drought - Water restrictions and recognizing signs of water stress on plants
- UC Researcher Is Helping Plants Survive the Drought
- Summer is Perfect for Peppers - Peppers are second only to tomatoes as a garden favorite. Learn how to grow the best varieties for Marin.
- Gardener's checklist for summer
- Do the Leaves on your Trees Look Scorched? - Sudden wilting and drooping leaves may be due to a bacterium that infects fruit trees such as pears and apples.
- Fine Tune Your Garden - Learn how to grow California natives in your garden. They save water and invite local wildlife.
Spring 2015
- 2015 Tomato Market and Information Exchange – all the information you need about the best tomatoes to grow in Marin
- Conserve Water, Conserve Water, and… Conserve Water – resources and advice on how to deal with the drought
- How to Recognize Drought and Water Stress - key signs to look out for water stress in your plants
- Spring is the Time for Potatoes, Asparagus, and Citrus – Marin Master Gardeners give tips about planting and growing these springtime favorites
- Gardener's Checklist for Spring
- Rx for Pests – protect your vegetables from the Bagrada hilaris stink bug
- Fine Tune Your Garden - the California lilac (Ceanothus arboreus) is a drought tolerant native which attracts bees, butterflies and birds
Fall/Winter 2014
- The Science of Color - an article by The US National Arboretum, and more on the Brilliant Colors of Fall
- Bountiful Winter Harvest - preparing your garden for winter, guidelines for planting cool season crops, and information on growing spinach
- Weeds Begone - weed photo gallery, and information on common plant pests
- Gardener's Checklist for Fall/Winter
- Dear Help Desk - Who Has Good Organic Seed Catalogs? - resources for seed catalogs from Organic Gardening and Mother Earth News
- It’s all Latin to me! - decoding botanical Latin with writer Margaret Roach awaytogarden.com
Summer 2014
- We're still in Drought Danger - Tips for Conserving Water
- Water-Saving Tips for the Home Garden
- Helping Homeowners Save Water in Their Gardens
- Water Heroes
- Harvesting Berries - How do I Know if They're Ripe?
- Gardener's checklist for summer
Spring 2014
- 2014 Tomato Market - varieties of tomatoes offered at the market this year, and an overview of everything you need to know about growing tomatoes
- Will Our Gardens Survive the Drought? a Press Democrat article by Sonoma MG Rosemary McCreary, plus more water-saving ideas by Sonoma MG Lyn Gannon
- Drought Education and Water Use Tools
- Marin MG drought tips
- NMWD’s water saving program rebates
- Laundry-to-landscape greywater system diagram by Greywater Corps
- MMWD’s Do-it-Yourself water survey
- MMG Marin Friendly Garden Walk Program
- The Edible Garden with Less Water
- MMG’s edible water-saving brochure
- Sonoma Co. MG’s “Food Gardening with Less Water” tips
- Gardener's Checklist for Spring
Winter 2014
- Real Gardeners Like Winter
- Buying Bareroot Roses
- Gardener's Checklist for Winter
- Natural Cold Storage
- Kohlrabi, the "Turnip Cabbage"
- Fruit Trees - Why We Treat Them in Dormancy by Master Gardener Sarah Phoenix
- Fondness for Old Friends
- What Happens to Garden Bad Guys in Winter?
Fall 2013
- A Garden for All Seasons: EDIBLES
- Turn autumn leaves into black gold
- Dear Help Desk: Pets and toxic plants - ASPCA and UC Davis Veterinary Medicine Center for Companion Animals
- Rx for California Oak Moth
- Plant garlic now for bigger bulbs
- Project Spotlight: Canal Community Garden
- Gardener's checklist for fall
Summer 2013
- Plants that aren't blown away by the wind
- Invite the "good bugs" into your garden
- Be prepared for fire season
- Gardener's checklist for summer
- Growing beans
- Rx for earwigs
- Fine tune your irrigation system
- Dear Help Desk: Fruit tree thinning
Spring 2013
- Fragrant Plants: Add some chocolate and Kool-Aid to your garden
- Short on space? Try container gardening
- Brew your own compost
- Gardener's checklist for spring
- Squash: Plant now for summer veggies
- Vegetable planting calendar
- Rx: What to do about yellowjackets
- Dear Help Desk: Gardening under oaks
- Choose well-behaved plants, not invasives
Winter 2013
- Top 10 resolutions for Marin gardeners
- Trees with interesting bark shine in winter
- Who says your garden has to be green?
- Gardener's checklist for winter
- Growing potatoes
- Rx for ants: stopping an invasion
Fall 2012
- Plant bulbs now for spring beauty
- Gardener's checklist for fall
- Cover crops boost soil in vegetable beds
- Rx: Living with deer
Summer 2012
- Growing berries in Marin
- How to build healthy soil
- Gardener's checklist for summer
- Succulents: easy and versatile
- Getting rid of gophers
Spring 2012
- Water-saving tips for the home garden
- Gardener's checklist for spring
- Stop the popping - Controlling hairy bittercress
- How to control aphids
Winter 2012
- Brightening up the winter garden
- Selecting a fruit tree
- What to plant and harvest in the winter vegetable garden
- Rain, rain, don't go away
- Gardener's checklist for winter
- Protecting plants from frost
- Getting rid of rats
Fall 2011