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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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Article

Hosting butterflies

November 17, 2025

The delicate gossamer-winged butterfly gives color and grace to your garden. Besides being beauties, they are good pollinators in our gardens and in the wild. Groups of butterflies are called kaleidoscopes, flutter, or swarm. The purpose of a butterfly’s life is to find a mate and a host plant for the…

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Slugs & snails

November 10, 2025

During the spring and fall, when Marin County gets rain, slugs and snails are a constant presence in my West Marin garden. Much to my chagrin, according to the University of California’s Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program, snails and slugs are among the most destructive pests found in…

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Native alternatives to common garden plants

November 3, 2025

We’ve all heard that native plants are the best for supporting local wildlife. But what about those non-native garden classics, like lilacs and irises? Well, you’re in luck: for every non-native plant, you’re sure to find one among California’s approximately 8,000 native plant species that has similar traits…

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Chop drop and roll: natural ways to increase nitrogen in your garden

October 27, 2025

Here’s a riddle for you: What is the most abundant element in our atmosphere and critical to plant growth, but often lacking in our soil? The answer: nitrogen.You may have heard that nitrogen is a powerhouse element in gardening. It’s a key component of chlorophyll, the pigment that keeps plants green…

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Narrow leaf milkweed, asclepias fascicularis

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Phenology: Reading nature’s seasonal calendar

October 20, 2025

Phenology is the study of seasonal changes in plants and animals from year to year—such as when flowers bloom, birds nest, or insects emerge. Derived from the Greek word phaino, meaning “to show” or “to appear,” phenology helps us observe and understand how the natural world responds to climate…

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Year-round native plant color

October 13, 2025

Native plants are often known for grand springtime displays followed by dismal summer and fall foliage. But that isn’t true for all native plants. A little research, careful planning, and conscientious planting can have your garden blooming with colorful, flowering, summer dry, winter wet native plants…

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Propagation by cutting

October 6, 2025

Vegetative reproduction from stems, roots and leaves is common to all plants and results in an identical plant from which the cutting came; it’s a clone. As gardeners, we propagate cuttings for many reasons including it may be easier and quicker than growing a new plant from seed, the parent plant may…

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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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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 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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