Lawn be Gone!

Bay Area Water Supply & Conservation Agency (BAWSCA)

Save water by removing your grass, replace your lawn with a beautiful, drought-tolerant landscape and receive a rebate of up to $4.00 per square foot. Add a Rain Garden to your project and earn an additional $300.00 rebate. In order to qualify for the rain garden rebate, applicants must apply to the Lawn Be Gone! Rebate Program. Note: Foster City/EMID, ACWD and Hillsborough do not participate in the Rain Garden Rebate Program. To receive the rebate, you must submit an application and receive a Notice to Proceed from your water provider before removing your lawn. Read more about rebates. Also check out the Waterwise Gardening in the Bay Area website.

Autumn in Your Garden

September/October/November Checklists

UC Master Gardeners

View seasonal checklists from our main website. From the header bar, select "Resources" then select the season of your interest from the dropdown list. For the current season, read more.

Pumpkin Succulent Workshop

UC Master Gardeners

Gardening Education Center

2495 South Delaware Street/SMCo Event Center

San Mateo, CA 94303

October 29, 2022, 10:00am-12:00pm

Get ready for the holidays and learn how to make beautiful succulent centerpieces with pumpkins. You will be provided pumpkins, moss, succulents, plant material and all the tools you need. Using basic centerpiece design principles, learn how to arrange and display your unique creation. Participants will leave with a beautiful piece of living art to wow guests, family, and friends.  Registration required.

San Mateo Arboretum Society Plant Clinic

UC Master Gardeners

San Mateo Arboretum Kohl Pumphouse

101 9th Avenue

San Mateo, CA 94401

November 6, 2022, 11:00am-2:00pm

Master Gardeners will be available to answer your questions from general information to advice about specific problems. Bring samples of your problem plants for better diagnosis. If you suspect insect damage, try to include some of the insects so they can be correctly identified.  Read more.

Companion Planting and Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

UC Master Gardeners/Lyngso Garden Materials, Inc.

Via Zoom

November 9, 2022, 1:30pm-3:00pm

Gardening, like many pursuits, continues to evolve based on the latest scientific studies and experimental evidence. In this class you will be presented with science-based ways of employing companion planting to manage pests of many kinds, including insects, weeds, and disease. The process of observing and maintaining a healthy balance in our gardens directly aligns with principles of Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Class discussion will include plant partnerships and why they work on a conceptual level, and provide examples of each, and detail about the IPM control types and implementation steps. The objective of this class is to empower the home gardener to use these concepts to solve their own specific pest problems. Registration required.

National Heirloom Exposition in 2023

Ventura County Fairgrounds

September 12-14, 2023 (next year)

This will be the Expo's first year in Ventura, and they are asking for your ideas and input. Who are the musicians, farmers, vendors, thinkers, and doers who make the local food and farming scene in the Central Coast region so vibrant and diverse? The Expo is seeking local vendors, farmers, exhibitors, speakers, and volunteers, but also any other contacts, projects, or programs you feel would be an asset to the event. This Expo is a wonderful opportunity to reach new audiences, connect with old friends, and meet world-class authorities on gardening, sustainability, pure food, and more. If you are interested in being involved or want to share ideas, contact the Expo by email.

The Vital Role of Soil Bacteria in the Garden

Joe Lamp'l (Joe Gardener) with Jeff Lowenfels

Podcast

Our understanding of the soil food web has increased rapidly in the 21st century as microscope technology improves and soil biology research continues, and this opens new doors for gardeners and farmers to employ organic solutions for healthier, more vigorous crops. To explain how soil bacteria play an irreplaceable role in our gardens, Joe’s guest Jeff Lowenfels explains the soil food web. Listen now.

To extend research-based knowledge and information on home horticulture, pest management, and sustainable landscape practices to the residents of California and be guided by our core values and strategic initiatives." Follow us on our website, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, or YouTube channels.

PLANT PROBLEM DIAGNOSTIC TOOL

Choose the affected plant from photos displayed, click on the photo, remove any selections that do not apply, click on the plant names, and continue to filter selections to view the results for a possible diagnoses. Learn more.

GARDENING RESOURCES

Select links to access gardening resources, California Backyard Orchard, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), publications, and finding a local Master Gardener program.  Learn more.

ARBORETUM ALL-STARS

Do you need help picking plants for your sustainable home garden? Selecting from the “Arboretum All-Stars” list is an easy way to start making “green” choices for your great looking garden. Arboretum All-Stars are top plants recommended by the horticultural staff of the UC Davis Arboretum. They thrive in California’s Mediterranean climate and have qualities that make them great choices for sustainable home gardens. Use a searchable plant database to pick the perfect All-Star for your garden conditions. For more information, view their website.

NATIVE PLANT RESOURCES

Looking for plants native to California that are not only pretty but are pollinators and drought resistant? A few resources are: Xerces Society, California Native Plant Society, and Calflora, Or try a native plant database for plants within your zip code. This website will help you find the best native plants specifically for your area that attract butterflies and moths and the birds that feed on their caterpillars, based on the scientific research of Dr. Douglas Tallamy and Research Assistant Kimberley Shropshire.

CALIFORNIA INVASIVE PLANT COUNCIL

Browse the website to see all plants on the California Invasive Plant Council inventory, including both invasive plants and “watch” species. Clicking on the scientific name will take you to the Plant Profile where you will find links to more information on the plant.

 Do you need help with your garden? Have a pest problem? Curious about what will grow well in your region? Ask a Master Gardener by email, and provide the following information to facilitate a prompt response:  

1. Name
2. City of residence/zip code
3. Email
4. Phone, best time to call
5. Description of problem/ question -- for plant the type/age of plant, what damage/problem looks like (include location, sun exposure, irrigation type, fertilization, insecticide application)
6. Please attach photos, if available (overall plant, views of pest, leaves, etc.)

Also, you can call our Helpline at (650) 276-7430 or visit a Master Gardener Helpline located in San Francisco, Redwood City, or Half Moon Bay. For address information and hours of operation, visit our website.