Winter Leaflet: Why native plants matter, raccoons, potatoes and more

Winter 2020-21

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What's the big deal about California native plants?

In addition to being beautiful and easy to grow, native plants have built-in ecological benefits. Can you name them?

Why native plants matter

Step on it!

Conventional lawns gulp water and demand care. Why not choose a walkable, low-water, easy-care alternative? There are more to choose from than you think.

Find a walkable lawn alternative

Raccoons: cute, but not when they're busting into your attic

Raccoons are among the most common pests, rummaging through trash cans, devouring vegetable gardens, and swiping koi from ponds. Here's how to dissuade these critters.

How to manage raccoons

Potatoes: easy to grow and fun to harvest

Whether you like 'em fried, mashed, or diced, there's a potato variety to suit every taste. Winter's a great time to search catalogs and websites for seed potatoes. Ready to be a potato farmer?

How to grow potatoes

Yes, your garden can affect our watershed

Marin's rainwater flows through more than 3,000 miles of creeks until it reaches the Bay and beyond. Here's how you can help keep our water clean, healthy, and replenished.

Keep our watershed healthy

What's that plant?

This California native tree sprouts magenta flowers before leafing out in late winter or early spring. It's a great size for patios and smaller gardens. It bears distinctive heart-shaped leaves and persistent, dangling seed pods.

What's that plant?

Gardener's winter checklist

Chilly or not, there are still a few to-do items in the garden. Pick up dropped camellia and azalea flowers, plant bareroot roses and fruit trees, and sharpen tools. Here are more garden reminders.

Winter garden checklist

Upcoming garden talks and events

We're pleased to offer online talks and presentations through our local libraries. Please join us.

View our events calendar

Fri, Dec 11

Between the sheets: a sheet mulching success story

With UC Marin Master Gardener Diane Gasson

3 pm - 4 pm, Larkspur Library via Zoom

Details & register

Tue, Jan 12

A quick overview on fire-smart landscaping

With UC Marin Master Gardener Bob Mauceli

8 am - 9 am, Rotary Club of San Rafael Harbor via Zoom

To register, click below, enter "1/12/21 Bob Mauceli talk" in the subject heading, and request a Zoom invitation link.

Details & register with Mel Matsumoto at San Rafael Harbor Rotary

Sat, Jan 16

Espalier fruit tree basics

Learn how to start, grow, and care for espalier fruit trees with UC Marin Master Gardeners Janice Rosales and Dana Tamura.

11 am to noon, Larkspur Library via Zoom

Details and register with Larkspur Library

Need help with a pest or other garden problem?

Contact the Help Desk or use the UC Integrated Pest Management website.

Contact our Help Desk

UC Integrated Pest Management Website

PHOTO CREDITS

Clover - Ian Baldwin, Unsplash

Ceanothus - Gail Mason

Raccoons - Karen Gideon

Potatoes - Pixabay

Watershed - Karen Gideon

What's that plant? - PlantMaster

Potting - Piqsels