Plant Care

Visit Falkirk Demonstration Garden in San Rafael to see a wonderful display of succulents that thrive in Marin. Succulents, those gorgeous plants with thick, fleshy stems and leaves that collect and store water, can be grown in the ground or in containers.

Pittosporum tobira, mock orange. Photo: Wikimedia Commons Shrubs are extremely versatile and hard-working, often forming the framework of a landscape. Some are low-growing and others are as tall and large as trees. They make excellent privacy hedges, foundations, and evergreen backdrops.

Look for our friendly UC Master Gardeners of Merced County and their info booth at the Merced Farmers' Market on the first and third Saturdays of each month. Info booth located at the 16th Street parking lot between M & K Streets Please stop by with your questions, Take home a vegetable seedling and garden…

Collards are a cool season vegetable grown for their leaves. They do not form a head like cabbage. Direct seed or transplant February–April (maybe May) or September-October (maybe August). If growing from seed for transplanting, expect six weeks for the plants to be ready.

Direct seed May–June (possibly April and July). Plant every 2–3 weeks for successive harvest (or when the most recent seedlings have 3–4 leaves). Sweet corn is ready for harvest about 17 to 24 days after the first silk strands appear, more quickly in hot weather, more slowly in cool weather.

Information on Gardens and Landscaping, Plants and Seeds, Orchards and Trees and Research; plus planting guides for the north valley and foothills.

There are many online and print resources for pruning - however most of these don't address times to prune or methods of pruning for Marin's Mediterranean climate, nor focus on plants that Marin gardeners typically grow.

Planting in containers opens up a whole new range of possibilities whether growing plants indoors or out, ornamental, or edible, from tiny succulents or large shrubs.

Check citrus trees for snails and slugs. Photo: Marie Narlock Observe water runoff during a heavy rain and correct any drainage issues. Protect tender garden plants by covering them on frosty nights.

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.