Plant Selection

Review Growing Great Tomatoes before planting your seedlings. Harden off your seedlings by gradually acclimating plants to outdoor conditions for 4 to 7 days before transplanting into the ground. Start by placing the plants in a sheltered location like a covered patio.

Meet the spectacular succulents and other low-water plants at the Falkirk Demonstration Garden in San Rafael. L Stiles Every summer is dry in Marin and drought is an undeniable reality. In response, many gardeners make it a goal to conserve water wherever possible.

Some cool season ornamentals bloom in the winter while others grow slowly then explode into flower for fabulous spring blooms. Plant in SeptemberOctober for beautiful bouquets in a few months.

Something in your garden or home bugging you? Do your roses have strange spots? Is something eating your tomatoes? The Merced Master Gardeners are here to help! Contact our Helpline to get answers to your garden challenges and pest problems. Send an email to anrmgmerced@ucanr.edu.

Photo: Daria Rem, Pexels If you revel in the array of tones and textures in our garden, you can bring that feeling indoors with a few well-placed houseplants. Houseplants create a sense of colorful coziness, along with the added bonus of purifying the air you breathe.

 Garlic and shallots grow beautifully over the winter in Santa Clara County. Plant garlic and long-season shallots in the fall for harvesting in June–July. Be sure to choose a spot where you can withhold water for the last several weeks since the bulbs need to dry out as they mature. Fast growing Dutch…

We can grow thousands of different plants in our mild climate, which can make a visit to the nursery overwhelming. Photo, Leone Christine, Unsplash Thanks to Marin's mild climate, we can grow thousands of different plants.

A colorful California hillside in summer. Photo: Connie Lefkowitz Marin's topography is part of our natural beauty. The views are gorgeous, but there are special considerations pertaining to erosion, water, and plant selection.

Join us for our Fall Garden Fair, held at our Martial Cottle Park Demonstration Garden in San Jose as part of the Martial Cottle Park Fall Festival. Admission: Free.

Click on each list and then click on each photo to learn more. Whether you're planting a new garden or refreshing an existing landscape, there is a world of horticultural beauty at your fingertips. Shrubs, perennials, groundcovers, and grasses form the backbone of many gardens.