Featured Article

Start Planning Your Fall Garden

UC Master Gardeners

As you're enjoying summer's bounty, it's time to start planning your cool season veggie garden. It's time to seed fall and winter crops such as beets, cabbage, broccoli, peas, kale, spinach, lettuce, and much more. Find your microclimate (hot, sunny, foggy) and then consult the appropriate planting calendar to find which vegetables you can start by seed or plant as seedlings. Read more on our website homepage.

Garden September/October/November Checklists

UC Master Gardeners

Find information for the current season, or view other seasonal checklists using the left panel of our main website.

Succulent Container Gardening from Funky to Fab

UC Master Gardeners

Brisbane Library

163 Visitacion Avenue

Brisbane, CA 94005

September 8, 2023,11:00am-12:00pm

Discover the multifaceted ways you can container garden with succulents, including the use of funky household or garden items that you can repurpose into pots. You will not only learn why succulents make great container plants, but also learn about pre-planting considerations, such as environment and soil. Also to be discussed are design basics, such as colors, textures, and size, as well as proper care and maintenance of succulents to keep them healthy and looking great. Please bring some succulent cuttings to swap. Registration is not required.

Houseplant Basics

UC Master Gardeners

Flowercraft Garden Center

550 Bayshore Boulevard

San Francisco, CA 94124

September 9, 2023, 10:00am-11:00am

Studies reveal that exposure to living near green spaces, and spending as much time as possible in nature, can improve mood, reduce stress, enhance cognitive skills, and promote overall well-being in people of all ages. This talk touches on topics including what to look for when shopping for houseplants, how to care for your houseplants at home, managing pests and diseases, and other houseplant challenges. Registration is not required.

Plant Clinic at the San Mateo Arboretum

UC Master Gardeners

San Mateo Arboretum in Central Park

101 9th Avenue

San Mateo, CA 94401

September 10, 2023, 12:00pm-3:00pm

Master Gardeners will be available to answer your questions from general information to advice about specific problems. Bring samples of your problem plants in clear plastics bags for better diagnosis. If you suspect insect damage, try to include some of the insects so they can be correctly identified. Registration is not required.

What went wrong in my veggie garden and How to Fix It

UC Master Gardeners

Lyngso Garden Materials

Zoom presentation

September 13, 2023, 1:00pm-3:00pm

Gardening can be fickle and full of learning opportunities. Things go wrong even for experienced gardeners. We will share examples gathered from you, try to diagnose them, and see what we can learn from them. We can’t guarantee we’ll get to every problem, but we’ll try!   Registration is required.

Serramonte Farmers' Market

UC Master Gardeners Education Table

Serramonte Mall

133 Serramonte Center

Daly City, CA 94015

September 14, 2023, 9:00am-1:00pm

Visit the UC Master Gardener education table at the Serramonte Farmers’ Market. Master Gardener volunteers will be available every other Thursday, starting on July 6, 2023, to answer questions regarding plants, planting techniques and more. The Farmers' Market is located behind Macy's.

UCCE Open House at Elkus Ranch

1500 Purisima Creek Road

Half Moon Bay, CA 94019

September 16, 2023, 10:00am-2:00pm

Come check out UC Cooperative Extension and Elkus Ranch for a one day Open House event that is sure to provide something for everyone. With a focus on the "World of Water" we will explore this essential element, its impact on our lives, and ways to be sustainable, along with other fun activities. Registration is required.

Pacifica Gardens Fall Gardening Educational Event

UC Master Gardeners

Pacifica Gardens

830 Rosita Road

Pacifica, CA 94044

September 16, 2023, 1:00pm-3:00pm

Pacifica Gardens' Fall Gardening Educational Event will feature three important topics to enhance the health and sustainability of your edible garden: (1) soil health and management for garden beds, (2) home composting, and (3) use of cover crops in the backyard garden. Each presentation will be 30 minutes. There also will be a tour of the garden and Master Gardeners will be available to answer questions. This community educational event is a collaboration between the UC Master Gardeners of San Mateo/San Francisco Counties and Pacifica Gardens. Registration is required.

Divisadero Farmers Market

UC Master Gardeners Education Table

1377 Fell Street

San Francisco, CA 94117

Sundays Year-Round, 9:00am-1:00pm

Visit the UC Master Gardener education table at the Divisadero Farmers’ Market. Master Gardener volunteers will be available every third Sunday to answer questions regarding plants, planting techniques, garden pests, and more. Read more.

School Garden Leaders Workshop

UC Master Gardeners

HEAL Project Farm

September 23, 2023, 9:00am-12:00pm

School Garden Leaders, come learn and share ideas at our fall in-person workshop. Topics to be covered include how to preserve your garden produce, and pollinators, and there will be an up-close tour of the HEAL Project Farm. A workshop fee of $20 donation is requested to support the UC Master Gardener Program. Registration is required by September 20th at 8:00pm.

Fall and Winter Vegetable Gardening

UC Master Gardeners

Zoom Presentation

September 23, 2023, 2:00-4:00pm

It’s time to start planting your fall and winter vegetable garden. Learn about soil management, plant selection and pest management, and get answers to your questions. Registration is required by September 22 by 5:00pm.

How to Grow Spectacular San Francisco Roses

UC Master Gardeners

San Francisco Public Library, Mission Bay Library

960 4th Street

San Francisco, CA 94158

September 24, 2023. 2:00pm-3:30pm

Grow beautiful roses in San Francisco. This class will provide tips on late season care of roses, the steps to prepare sites for new roses, plus information on how and when to prune different types of roses. Come and learn about the tools you will need to take care of your roses. Registration is not required.

All About Herbs and Edible Flowers

UC Master Gardeners

San Francisco Public Library, Richmond Library

351 9th Avenue

San Francisco, CA 94118

September 30, 2023, 1:00pm-2:30pm

Learn the basics of growing, harvesting and using culinary herbs and edible flowers. Propagate your plants from seeds, cuttings, transplants and divisions. Integrate your herbs and edible flowers in your native landscapes, vegetable gardens and containers. Maintain your plants with sustainable methods, and harvest your herbs to use them fresh or preserve them for future use. Registration is not required.

A Lot at Stake: Stewarding Urban Trees on the California Coast

UC Master Gardeners

Coastside Magazine article

The purpose of staking trees is to provide stability so that the tree can stay upright until the tree's root system has developed sufficiently and stakes are no longer needed. Commercially grown trees (especially smaller ones) almost always come firmly attached to a “nursery” stake. This is done to promote vertical growth and to conserve space during propagation. Trees grown in these conditions usually have weak trunks and underdeveloped root systems and often have a hard time standing on their own. Unfortunately, the nursery stake is often left securely in place. This opens the way to a host of troubles. Read more.

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, 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.

 UC Master Gardener volunteers are ready help you and your garden. Have a question about gardening? Have a pest problem? Curious about what will grow well in your region? Submit your inquiry online.

Or visit the Master Gardener Helpline by phone, email, on the web, or in person. For more information visit our website.