Master Gardener Monthly Newsletter
May 2021
Featured Articles
Good Bug/Bad Bug on Edible Plants
UC Master Gardeners, Spring Edibles Series 5 of 5
April 9, 2021, 1:00pm-2:15pm

Before you grab insecticide to rid your vegetable garden from all those creeping, crawling, flying bugs, learn to separate the "good bugs" from the "bad bugs.” This intermediate class will focus on encouraging the good bugs to work for you, saving money and time wasted on treating your garden with unnecessary insecticides and on keeping your home and garden healthy. You will learn to identify the most common and destructive pests on edible plants, identify beneficial insects that will help your edible garden thrive, how to invite the good bugs into your garden and safely send the bad ones on their way, the basics of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), and where to find science based information and healthy solutions for your garden pest problems. Registration required.
Online Classes, Videos & More
May Checklist
Grow Organic Peaceful Valley

Summer is right around the corner and May is a great chance to get some last minute prep done in your garden. In this video, learn 19 tips on how to prep and care for your garden. View video.
Edible Container Gardening
UC Master Gardeners/Lyngso
April 14, 2021, 1:00pm-3:00pm

Grow food anywhere! No space is no excuse. Learn how to create delicious container arrangements that thrive in your environment. Discussion will cover practical issues of soil, plant selection, and maintenance. Registration required.
Monthly Garden Checklist
UC Master Gardeners

Find helpful hints of things to do from January to December. A few tips for April include: prune back herbaceous plants, transplant tomato seedlings, work your cover crops into the soil before they seed, remove aphids from plants with a strong stream of water, start planting summer annuals like lobelia, begonias, marigolds, cosmos, petunias, snapdragons and alyssum, and plant gladiolus, dahlias and lilies for summer blooms. View our monthly checklist.
School Garden Leaders Workshop
UC Master Gardeners
April 17, 2021, 10:00am-11:30am

School garden leaders are invited to attend this online workshop to learn and share ideas. Featured topics include garden pests (ways to outsmart critters), site planning (how to review your garden and prepare for the fall opening), and garden activities beyond the planting bed (ideas for outdoor engagement).  This workshop is open to residents or schools in San Francisco and San Mateo Counties. Please email us if you have any questions. The class is free, but a $10 donation is requested to support the Master Gardener Program.  The class size is limited to 25 registrants. Registration required.
Plant Clinic
UC Master Gardeners
May 2, 2021, 11:00am-12:30pm

Have a plant, pest or gardening question? Ask a Master Gardener at a virtual plant clinic. Please email your question along with any helpful photos by April 26th. In addition to submitted questions, panelists will invite live questions from attendees, time permitting. If you don’t have a question, we invite you to attend and tune in for some informative and lively garden talk! Registration required.
Phoenix Garden Plan, San Mateo
Community Volunteers Welcome

If you are interested in being part of the Phoenix Garden project, would like notification of planned activities or would like to have a team building event or client activity at the site, please email Toni DeMarco directly. A monthly volunteer day is held the third Saturday of the month from 9:00am-1:00pm, a monthly volunteering day is held where volunteers can join in community building at the Phoenix Garden Project. These days focus on sign installation, fencing, sheet mulching and companion planting around the orchard areas, as well as other special projects. Read more.
UC Statewide Integrated Pest Management Urban & Community Program
Pest Management Webinars

The new UC Statewide IPM Program urban and community webinar series is on the third Thursday of every month to help you learn more about pest identification, management, and using pesticides around the home and garden. Webinars will run for one hour starting at 1:00pm. This series is free and open to the public. Registration required.
Bay Area Butterflies
Viewing Sites

The San Francisco Bay Area is home to over 140 different species of butterflies and provides butterfly friendly environments with specific host plants that attract a variety of species. Some butterflies are large like the Swallowtail butterfly varieties,and some are small  like the Western Pigmy Blue butterfly which is the smallest butterfly in North America. Observation sites include Thompson Reach and Crissy Marsh at the Presidio, Fort Mason Community Garden in San Francisco, San Francisco Botanical Garden and Strawberry Hill at the Golden Gate Park, UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley, Fort Baker in San Francisco, and Natural Bridges in Santa Cruz, just to name a few.
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 a searchable plant database to pick the perfect All-Star for your garden conditions. For more information, view their website.
Ask A Master Gardener!
Do you need help with your garden? Have a pest problem? Curious about what will grow well in your region?


COVID-19 Update
Due to the “Shelter in Place” order issued by all Bay Area counties, including San Mateo and San Francisco, the Master Gardeners are working remotely, effective March 17, 2020. All questions can be directed via email.

Please provide the following information to facilitate a prompt response:

1.   Name
2.   City of residence
3.   Email
4.   Phone, best time to call
5.   Description of problem/question -- for plant or pest problems, please attach photo(s)

Since the Bay Area “shelter in place” requirements have kept many of us at home, gardening in your own backyard has become much more popular! We are seeing an increased interest at the Helpline from both new and established gardeners. It is fun to see many new gardeners asking for advice with questions such as “What do I do with these raised vegetable beds? ”and “How do I start a vegetable garden when I know nothing about gardening?” During the first 30 days of our “shelter in place,” we have had 147 helpline questions, with 17% of them asking about the Spring Garden Market. Many, many thanks to all of our Helpline Volunteers who are working the Helpline remotely and keeping our clients happily gardening!


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