Garden Troubleshooting

Something in your garden or home bugging you? Do your roses have strange spots? Is something eating your tomatoes? The Merced Master Gardeners are here to help! Contact our Helpline to get answers to your garden challenges and pest problems. Send an email to anrmgmerced@ucanr.edu.

George Becker, Pexels Unhealthy soil causes poor plant performance. Correct soil deficiencies in your garden before you plant.

To get foothill-specific gardening advice, contact the UCCE County Master Gardener of Tuolumne County Hotline at: Phone: 209-533-5912 or Email: mgtuolumne@ucdavis.edu Master Gardeners do check the hotline on a frequent basis.

Garden Help Our Garden Help pages for vegetables, fruits, and nuts have growing tips as well as links to information on pests and diseases common in our area.

Identification and Management of common pests of Sonoma County gardens recommended by University of California Master Gardeners of Sonoma County.

The application process for the UC Master Gardeners of Merced County's 2026 Training Class is now open. Any Merced County adult resident with an interest in horticulture (plants, lawns, trees, vegetables and more) and public service are encouraged to apply for the Master Gardener Program.

Use this table to turn around problems you may be encountering with your composting system.

Master Gardeners are trained educational outreach volunteers with the University of California Cooperative Extension program; they provide practical scientific horticulture and gardening information to gardeners in their communities across California.

Keep an eye on the weather report - protect frost-tender plants when the temperature falls below 32 degrees. Divide perennials like daylilies and chrysanthemums. Prune crepe myrtles, cane berries, and roses, and clean-up trimmings.

Identify and manage weeds when young and before they produce seeds, without the use of chemicals.