Start the New Year with expert gardening advice

Are you ready for a new year of gardening?

One of the best helpers for local gardeners is an information-packed calendar/gardening guide such as those produced by local master gardeners. And you’re in luck: It’s not too late to order their 2025 editions.

An atmospheric river washed out the Placer County Master Gardeners’ sales booth at the recent Mountain Mandarin Festival. That’s usually where the Placer group sells hundreds of their award-winning calendars and gardening guides. So instead of being sold out, copies are still available now.

Their theme for 2025: “Healthy Garden, Healthy You.” (That should fit with a lot of New Year’s resolutions.)

“The 2025 Gardening Guide and Calendar provides information on how to achieve a healthy garden with the added benefits of attaining a healthy you,” explain the Placer County master gardeners. “The articles and tips included will help you to create a garden that is a delight to your senses, bountiful with nutritious foods, and inviting to nature. Gardening practices encouraged within the calendar are those recommended by the California Master Gardener Program.”

With useful growing information for foothill as well as valley gardeners, the Placer County edition is available for $12 (including tax) at: https://pcmg.ucanr.edu/2025_Calendar/. Some garden and nursery retailers in Placer and El Dorado counties also carry it in store. See the list of venfors on the link above.

The Sacramento County master gardeners also produce a wonderful calendar and gardening guide. Their theme for 2025: “Passionate About … What We Love About Gardening.” And it’s sure to stir some gardening passions in its users; this calendar includes 12 months of inspiration.

“Each month, you’ll get loads of advice along with science-based tips providing gardening insight and inspiration to the Sacramento region since 2004,” say the Sacramento County master gardeners. “What are we passionate about in the garden? To name a few: succulents, shade gardens, herbs, wildflower meadows, ornamental grasses, container gardening and inviting kids to be passionate about gardening, too. Happy days ahead in your garden!”

Also priced at $12 (plus postage), the Sacramento County master gardener calendar and gardening guide is available here: https://sacmg.ucanr.edu/Gardening_Guide/. It also will be on sale in person during the first Open Garden Day of 2025, on Saturday, Jan. 11, at the Fair Oaks Horticulture Center. Some local nurseries, which are listed at the online order page, carry it for a slightly higher price.