UC Master Gardeners of Ventura County

Welcome to the UC Master Gardeners of Ventura County

The Master Gardener Program is a national program chartered through the United States Department of Agriculture, sponsored locally by the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) of Ventura County, and the University of California Hansen Trust. The Master Gardener Program enables the University of California Cooperative Extension to more efficiently share its extensive gardening resources and science-based gardening information with Ventura County residents through public service, educational outreach, and research programs.

Master Gardeners are certified volunteers who extend horticultural knowledge to home gardeners.  These volunteers play a vital role in providing the local public with non-biased gardening information. Master Gardeners receive up to 80 hours of horticultural instruction from the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) in Ventura County, landscape and nursery professionals, and experienced Master Gardeners.  They are trained in gardening topics ranging from basic botany and plant pathology, to integrated pest management and irrigation techniques.

Our next training class will be held in the fall of 2027. Please continue to check this webpage or subscribe to our newsletter for updates and information. Sign up for the newsletter below.

To view our schedule of free classes

Click here

Need a Speaker?

Click here for a list of topics

Click here to complete a Speaker Request Form and a Master Gardener will get back to you

Master Gardener Help Desk-

Got Gardening Questions? The Master Gardener Help Desk is happy to respond to your home gardening questions via email. Be sure to include your zip code in the message. Images are also helpful. MGVentura@ucanr.edu Frequently Asked Questions 
We get many questions about different types of pests (animals, insects, bacteria and viruses).  For information on managing pests in homes, gardens, landscapes and turf, go to:  http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/menu.homegarden.html

Our Newsletter, Let's Get Growing!

Get notified about upcoming Master Gardener workshops, community events, and other important gardening news

Click here. 

Fire Wise Class: "Firewise Living: From Structure to Landscape"

Are you concerned that your home may not be defensible in a wild fire? Our next class on this topic is May 2, 2026 in Simi Valley. Use this link to register: https://surveys.ucanr.edu/survey.cfm?surveynumber=47301

Go to UC ANR Fire Network for information on this topic. Go to osfm.fire.ca.gov to see if your home is in a high risk fire zone, and to take  the "Ready for Wildfire Self Assessment".

 

Garden Checklist for December 2025 and January 2026

 

The garden is a wonderful place to escape the overwhelm of the season. While the holidays swirl around us, the quiet rhythm of tending soil, checking on winter vegetables, or simply stepping outside for a breath of cool air can be grounding and restorative.We are incredibly fortunate in Southern California to enjoy the outdoors year-round, and December and January are no exception. This is a beautiful time of year to garden—mild days, soft winter light, and the satisfaction of nurturing plants that thrive in the cooler months.

So step outside when you can. Let the garden offer its calm, its beauty, and gentle reminder to slow down. Enjoy this gift of winter gardening!

 

                     Click here to read the checklist

 

Elayne Angel Harbert Fund

The Elayne Angel Harbert Endowment Fund has been established to honor the Ventura County Master Gardener's legacy and support the educational programs and research projects benefiting the UC Master Gardner Program