Welcome to UC Master Gardeners of Nevada County

Nevada County gardens vary widely. Elevations range from 1,000 to 4,000 feet. Soil types are red clay, serpentine, sandy loam, forest loam or something in-between. Generally acidic, soils may lack necessary nutrients and organic matter. Some gardens are below the snowline, while others are often covered with snow and may have frozen soil for an extended time. We know that “One size does not fit all.” Gardening in Nevada County is unlike gardening elsewhere and it is not the same throughout the county. Master Gardeners are here to provide home gardeners in Nevada County with science-based information, whatever their gardening conditions.

Western Nevada County Gardening Guide

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News from Our Demonstration Garden

Come visit the Demonstration Garden at 1036 W. Main Street, Grass Valley, on the NID grounds.  If you would like to schedule a group tour led by a Master Gardener, please call our Hotline office (530) 273-0919.

Plants in the Demo Garden have bloomed enthusiastically in all of our garden areas, in spite of this being a drought year and our extra care not to overwater. To reduce water usage, our irrigation experts are replacing part of the old irrigation system with new drip lines and mini-sprayers. The Master Gardeners in charge of the completed areas are delighted to have the improvement and we expect the water meter will reflect the change. In the future, we hope to replace all of the old irrigation system.

Of particular interest this summer, the Demonstration Garden’s Foothill Mediterranean Garden shows that non-thirsty plants offer a beauty that should be considered when planning a home landscape. These plants provide interesting contrasts of foliage and they flower at different times. In their wild habitat, Mediterranean plants receive no summer moisture at all. A Mediterranean climate experiences mild winters and no summer rain. Examples are found in the Mediterranean, California, Chile and parts of Australia. In our garden, some plants receive no summer water, while others are grouped according to the amount of occasional water they might benefit from.

Recently the vivid color of lavender (Lavendula augustifolia) drew our attention. Closer inspection showed that bees love it. The purple Smoke Bush (Cotinus coggygria) had noticeable vivid “smoke puffs,” which gradually fade and blow away with the wind. The dramatic fountain Silvergrass (Miscanthus sinensis), which was cut back in early spring, displayed a refreshing new green growth. These are just three of the wide variety of plants in the garden. Visitors are encouraged to walk the pathways and to read the plant labels as they gather ideas for using Mediterranean plants in their own gardens, always keeping in mind our motto: Put the right plant in the right place.