Master gardeners’ calendar: A helpful gift that lasts 12 months
With the end of 2025 comes the beginning of a new gardening year. If you’re shopping for a fellow gardener (or yourself), one of the easiest and most useful holiday gifts is one of the locally produced 2026 Gardening Guide & Calendar publications.
The UC Sacramento County and Placer County master gardeners groups each produce a calendar that is stuffed with garden advice (and great photos) for the full 12 months.
The theme for the Sacramento version is “Basics and Beyond,” with inspiring articles such as “Beyond Dirt — Building the Soil,””Beyond Tomatoes” (growing lesser-known vegetables) and “Beyond Lawn.” (Full disclosure: I’m one of the contributing writers.)
The calendar pages feature extensive checklists for those months, including what to plant. The back pages also include journal blanks, where gardeners can record notes for each season. QR codes on those pages link to useful master gardener publications and Sacramento’s YouTube video library.
The guide is appropriate not just for Sacramento County residents, but also surrounding valley counties with similar climates, including Yolo, San Joaquin, Sutter and the eastern side of Solano. (That’s generally Sunset zone 8 and the drier part of zone 14, if you’re wondering).
It’s a deal, too: $12 plus shipping if ordered via the Sacramento group’s website at https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-sacramento-county/gardening-guide-and-calendar.
Several local nurseries also carry the GG&C in their stores; see the list on the website order page. Be sure to call ahead to check on supplies.
The Placer calendar’s 2026 theme is “Meet Me in the Garden.” It’s described as “a celebration of connection – between people and plants, nature and community, and gardeners of every level. ” The articles are appropriate for foothill gardens as well as eastern parts of the valley.
There are suggestions each month on what to plant, what’s in season, which pests to watch for, and other tips. Articles cover such topics as gardening with fire resistance in mind, how to protect your plants during days of intense summer heat, tips for small space gardening, and fostering a native habitat through plant selections.
The online price of the Placer County Gardening Guide and Calendar is $12, including shipping, or $55 for a bulk order of 5. To order, go to https://ucanr.edu/site/uc-master-gardeners-placer-county/2026-gardening-guide-and-calendar
Several Placer and El Dorado County retailers also carry the calendar. Consult the list linked on the online order page.
Note for procrastinators: Both of the Gardening Guide & Calendar publications also will be sold at various master gardener events in early 2026.
