Master Gardener Monthly Newsletter

December 2022

GIVING TUESAY IS TODAY - NOVEMBER 29!

Giving Tuesday is a 24-hour global phenomenon of gratitude and generosity. It’s also an opportunity to make a real difference right in your own community by giving to the UC San Mateo-San Francisco Master Gardeners.  


As UC Master Gardeners, we are trained under the auspices of the University of California and operate as non-paid members of the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE). You know the good work we do but what you may not know is that the operating expenses for the programs we provide are self-funded.


Your tax deductible gift on Giving Tuesday will go directly to our San Mateo/San Francisco chapter operating budget and make it possible for us to continue providing great science-based gardening resources to the public. 


This year your tax-deductible gift goes even farther when you help us reach our goal of winning three challenge prizes of $500 each. We will be competing against all other UC Master Gardener chapters for these challenges:


  • The most individual donations on Giving Tuesday
  • The first single donation of $500 or more
  • The largest amount raised on Giving Tuesday


Please spread the word to friends and neighbors, and get ready to help us reach our goal. Donate now!


Thank you so much for your support! We look forward to seeing you in the garden!  If you are unable to donate today, please consider a donation in the future by using the Give button located on our homepage in the uppermost right-hand corner.

Classes, Videos & More

Winter in Your Garden

December/January/February 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.

Rainwater Catchment Systems

UC Master Gardeners


Rainwater catchment systems range from simple to complex. A plain barrel or container serves a small area. More complicated versions incorporate filters that clean the water, connections to irrigation equipment and even pumps. Most barrel-type systems incorporate a hose connection to allow for easy watering. Read more.

Rain Gardens

UC Master Gardeners


A rain garden is a sunken area that redirects rain water away from buildings, driveways, lawns and other landscape features, and holds onto that water long enough to filter out 80 percent of the sediment and pollutants. Native plants are typically installed in rain gardens so that additional irrigation is not needed once they are established. Read more.

How to Build a Dry Creek Bed

The Spruce


If you have a slope or a low spot on your property where excess water flows or collects, you can correct the problem naturally with a dry creek bed. A creek bed, also called an arroyo, is a shallow trench lined with landscape fabric and filled with boulders and stones of various sizes. During wet weather, excess surface water is channeled down the creek bed to a suitable exit or collection point where the water can percolate down into the soil. Read more.

Bare-root Fruit Trees - Selection and Planting

UC Master Gardeners/Lyngso Building Materials, Inc.

Zoom presentation

December 14, 2022, 1:00pm-3:00pm


Fruit trees can be a beautiful and rewarding addition to your landscape. Whether you are planning on a single tree or a full home orchard, this beginning workshop will cover how to select trees that can succeed and produce well in your San Francisco / Peninsula microclimate. Registration required.

Soil Compaction

UC Master Gardeners


Compacted soil has less air and is less porous than well-aerated, friable soil. This means it is harder for roots in compacted soil to grow and harder for those roots to get air. Restricted roots are often unable to take up sufficient water or nutrients from the soil. These conditions inhibit plant growth, particularly during drought if soils are dry. Read more.

Our Mission Statement

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 websiteFacebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, or YouTube channels.

Gardening Resources

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 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 SocietyCalifornia 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.

Ask a Master Gardener

 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.

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