UC Master Gardener Program

What happens when gardening education meets community connection? Jardineros, an innovative outreach project led by the UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County, is helping Spanish-speaking residents grow more than gardens.

Through bilingual workshops, community partnerships, school gardens and hands-on learning, Jardineros is cultivating food security and belonging across the county.

Read how this inspiring program is growing gardens and stronger communities.
Read the full story: link.ucanr.edu/jardinerosccc



Photo Credit: May Coleman

Photo description: A Montalvin Elementary student in the school garden holding up a freshly harvested carrot that she helped grow. Raised garden beds and a fence covered with flowering passionfruit vines can be seen in the background on a bright, sunny day.

As temperatures climb, irrigation becomes the most critical task in your June garden.

Two things to do right now:

Check your soil moisture — don't water on a schedule alone. Adjust based on what the soil actually needs.
Water early in the day — the coolest part of the morning maximizes absorption through plant roots and minimizes evaporation.

Warm-season crops like beans, corn, cucumbers, and squash require substantial irrigation. Only plant as many as you can consistently water through the summer.

Questions about watering in your area? Your local UC Master Gardener Program can help — for free. Find your local program at: mg.ucanr.edu



Photo credit: UC Regents
Photo description: A person wearing a white bucket hat, sunglasses, and a light blue t-shirt stands among dense, large-leafed squash plants, holding a garden hose with a spray nozzle. A white row cover and additional garden plantings are visible in the sunny background.

Before a UC Master Gardener can answer your gardening questions, they go through rigorous training backed by UC Agriculture & Natural Resources research.

What happens after that? They show up — at help desks, demonstration gardens, school programs, and community events across California — sharing what they've learned with anyone who needs it. For free.

Whether you're a gardener who needs help or someone who loves plants and wants to give back, the UC Master Gardener Program has a place for you.

Training times and locations vary by county. Find your local program: mg.ucanr.edu



Photo credit: Marcy Sousa
Photo description: A diverse group of adults sits on benches under a wooden pergola on a sunny day, facing two people standing at a table at the center of the gathering. The attendees wear hats and casual clothing. A lush garden, a blue metal building, and a clear blue sky are visible in the background.

National W**d Your Garden Day is tomorrow — and June is one of the best times to get ahead of them.

W**ds compete with your garden plants for water, nutrients, and sunlight. The earlier you pull them, the easier it is — and a layer of mulch at 3 to 4 inches deep can slow new w**ds from taking hold in the first place.

A few things to keep in mind:
Pull w**ds before they go to seed to prevent next year's problem before it starts
W**d after watering or rain when the soil is soft — roots come out more cleanly
Keep mulch at least 6 inches away from the base of trees and shrubs while using it to suppress w**ds in garden beds

Your local UC Master Gardener Program can help you identify what's growing and how to manage it — for free. Let us know your favorite w**d management tips in the comments!

**dYourGardenDay **dControl

Photo credit: Adobe Stock
Photo description: A close-up of a dirt-dusted white-gloved hand pulling a tiny seedling from dark garden soil. Onions are visible in the soft-focus background.

It's California Invasive Species Action Week (June 6–14) — and your garden choices matter more than you might think.

Invasive species are non-native organisms that can spread quickly and negatively impact California's water, native plants and animals, agriculture, and local ecosystems. The good news? Home gardeners play a direct role in the solution.

Here's what you can do:
Avoid planting invasive species — choose native or non-invasive plants instead
Learn to identify invasive plants in your yard
Report invasive species sightings at wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Invasives/Report

UC ANR is a proud partner of California Invasive Species Action Week. Your local UC Master Gardener Program can help you choose the right plants for your county.

Find them at: mg.ucanr.edu



Photo credit: USDA Photo by Lance Cheung.
Photo description: Several tall, slender tree of heaven trees with sparse canopies rise above dense shrubby growth in an urban lot. A low building, utility poles, and a paved surface are visible in the foreground. A town and tree-covered hills are visible in the distance under a partly cloudy sky.

Check out these webinars for Invasive Species Week!

How do you stop invasive fruit flies before they become established in California?

Join Eric Middleton, UC Integrated Pest Management and UC Cooperative Extension advisor, during where he will share how rapid detection, quarantines and coordinated response efforts help protect California agriculture and home gardens from invasive fruit flies such as the Mexican fruit fly and Oriental fruit fly.

His presentation on June 9 will focus on current and recent quarantine efforts, existing control measures, and simple steps the public can take to help prevent future introductions of these costly pests.

Register ➡️ https://ucanr.edu/site/invasive-species-action-week-lunchtime-talks/2026-cisaw-lunchtime-talks

"My tomatoes are ripening but something keeps eating them before I can harvest."

Sound familiar? UC Master Gardener volunteers hear questions like this every week — and they know the answers. From pest ID to watering schedules to "what is even growing in my yard," our volunteers provide free, research-based help to California gardeners across the state.

Find your local UC Master Gardener Program: mg.ucanr.edu



Photo credit: UC Master Gardeners of Stanislaus County
Photo description: A UC Master Gardener volunteer in a blue vest speaks with a community member across a help desk counter. A brochure sits on the counter between them.

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Along with UC ANR, the UC Master Gardeners proudly celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and honor its diversity, courage, and contributions.

Happy !
UC ANR proudly celebrates the LGBTQ+ community and honors its diversity, courage, and contributions.

As we reflect on the progress made, we also reaffirm our commitment to fostering a culture of inclusion, respect, and belonging for all.

Forget the gym. Gardening day hits different. 🌱💪

Hauling mulch = leg day. Pulling w**ds = arm day. Bending over seedlings for an hour = back day (unfortunately).

Happy National Gardening Exercise Day to all the gardeners who are definitely getting their steps in.

What's your hardest garden workout? Tell us in the comments!



Photo credit: UC Regents
Photo description: A person wearing a wide-brimmed tan hat, blue long-sleeve shirt, blue jeans, rubber boots, and yellow work gloves shovels dark, rich compost from a large pile into a Rubbermaid wheelbarrow. They are leaning into the work mid-shovel on a paved path flanked by dry grasses and green vegetation. Trees and a gate structure are visible in the background. A blue lanyard is visible around their neck.