California Master Gardener Handbook updated

Since it was first published in 2002, the California Master Gardener Handbook has been the definitive guide to best practices and advice for gardeners throughout the West. Now the much-anticipated second edition is here—completely redesigned, with updated tables, graphics, and color photos throughout. For the first time, this incredible volume is also available as an e-book for Kindle and iOS devices.

Dennis Pittinger, UC Cooperative Extension specialist, and more than 30 Cooperative Extension advisors and specialists, plus other industry experts contributed to this classic compilation of gardening wisdom. Whether you're a beginner double digging your first garden bed or a certified UC Master Gardener, this handbook will be your go-to source for the practical, science-based information you need to sustainably maintain your landscape and garden and become an effective problem solver.

This publication is used as the training manual for the UC Master Gardener Program and is the top-selling ANR publication. While Master Gardeners account for an important part of the book's sales, 60 percent of all copies are bought by the general public.

Book chapters cover soil, fertilizer and water management, plant propagation, plant physiology, weeds and pests, home vegetable gardening and specific garden crops including grapes, berries, temperate-zone fruits and nuts, citrus and avocados. Also included is information on lawns, woody landscape plants, landscape design, invasive plants and principles of designing and maintaining landscapes for fire protection.

The 756-page print edition costs $37, the e-book edition is $30 and a bundle containing both goes for $50. Both formats of the California Master Gardener Handbook (print and electronic) are available through the ANR catalog. 

County offices have two ways to share in the revenue generated by the handbook sales: by selling the handbook through their office and/or by receiving 30 percent of online sales when customers use that county's promotion code at checkout. Counties that would like to start selling publications should contact Jon Mercy, warehouse and fulfillment manager, at jrmercy@ucanr.edu. County offices that would like to sign up for the online sales sharing program should contact Cynthia Kintigh at cckintigh@ucanr.edu. Counties that are already participating in the revenue-sharing don't need to renew the agreement.

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