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UC Marin Master Gardener Articles in the Marin Independent Journal

UC Marin Master Gardeners have contributed to the Marin Independent Journal's "Ask a Master Gardener" column every Saturday since 1999. We have a team of dedicated writers who have covered nearly every aspect of gardening for Marin County over the years. Search our archives below by category of interest, or use the search box to locate stories by year, month or specific subject.

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succulents in a pot
Article

Pot it up!

September 29, 2025
 My garden is not very big, but I am an avid planter.  How do I expand my gardening horizon?  Pots!  Pots let me plant in places where I can’t plant in the ground and provide visual interest to the garden. With a few containers, you can garden literally anywhere.  …
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jumping spider
Article

Spiders are good for garden pest control

September 23, 2025
 Spiders get a bad rap. Many people go to great lengths to avoid or get rid of them. Is it their other-worldly appearance? A concern about being bitten by a poisonous type or simply the idea of “creepy, crawling” things? Whatever the reason, before eliminating them, it’s good to know who…
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Saffron
Article

Saffron made simple: grow the world's priciest spice at home

September 15, 2025
 Saffron is one of the most expensive spices in the world—but did you know you can grow it right in your own backyard? With a little effort and patience, Marin home gardeners can cultivate Crocus sativus, the plant that produces saffron, even in containers or raised beds. This fall-blooming flower…
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Dill (Anethum graveolens)
Article

Invite the good guys into your garden

September 8, 2025
 Insects – they’re everywhere! With nearly a million named species, they make up about 90% of all species of animals on the planet and more than half of all living things on Earth. Yet it is estimated that only about one to three percent are truly harmful. Most insects go about their daily business…
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Yellowjacket
Article

Managing yellowjackets in your garden

August 25, 2025
 Ah, summertime in Marin! Long, sunny days, backyard barbecues, and—unfortunately—those uninvited guests at the picnic table: yellowjackets. These striped speedsters seem to have an uncanny knack for sniffing out your sandwich and making a beeline for your lemonade. But before you reach for the swatter,…
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MMG trainees
Article

Cultivating expertise - your path to Master Gardener status

August 18, 2025
 During a chat with a friend 19 years ago, I heard there was an opportunity to learn more about one of my lifelong passions--gardening. She said after certifying in this UC Marin Master Gardener program, I could not only learn more about plants, soil, and sustainable gardening to improve my own success…
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fruit tree pruning
Article

Summer pruning for fruit trees

August 11, 2025
 If you’ve ever wrestled with an overgrown fruit tree, you know the struggle—branches reaching for the sky, fruit hiding in a tangled mess, and those pesky suckers popping up everywhere. But don’t worry, summer is the perfect time to get out there with your pruners and give your trees a little mid…
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Soldier beetle
Article

A kind approach to growing roses

August 4, 2025
 With their timeless beauty and grace, roses are often considered jewels of the garden.  They also have the reputation for being persnickety plants that are high-maintenance and heavily dependent on chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Today’s gardeners are looking for easier and gentler ways of…
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Mediterranean oak borer tree trunk cross section
Article

The Mediterranean Oak Borer: a tiny threat to Marin’s majestic oaks

July 29, 2025
 As you wander beneath Marin County’s stately white oaks, such as valley and blue oaks, be aware some little troublemakers are on the move. The Mediterranean oak borer (Xyleborus monographus), a beetle scarcely bigger than a peppercorn—about 3 millimeters long, or one-eighth of an inch—is quietly…
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