How to grow like a pro at home with winter planting tips from Alcatraz, Black Point gardens

Volunteers remove grasses at Black Point Historic Gardens.

Dave Rauenbuehler / NPS

The Alcatraz and Black Point historic gardens in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area are some of the most storied and celebrated San Francisco gardens, thanks to the care of skilled Parks Conservancy horticulture staff and dedicated volunteers. Now you can bring their national park expertise into your own backyard!

From planting with winter rains to picking native California wildflowers, these practical winter gardening tips will help your garden flourish while supporting local ecosystems. Ready to dig in? Here are the top winter gardening tips from our historic gardens team:

Top Winter Gardening & Planting Tips for the San Francisco Bay Area

• Plant in the winter to take advantage of the natural influx of water in your garden.
• Avoid pruning right before rain to help your plant heal without exposure to pathogens or rot.
• Resist working in the garden on a rainy day—air pockets are a very important part of the recipe for healthy soil and plants, and working in your garden when it's very wet will compact your soil.
• Double check your seedling identification during weeding! Desired plants can look similar to invasive weeds during their seedling stage.
• Keep fallen leaves on the ground. They provide important shelter for butterflies and moths in the winter, and keep the soil insulated and protected through the season.
• See if there's a way to incorporate a rainwater catchment into your garden or divert your gutters into a rain garden.
• Make notes now of how your garden did this year—what plants did well, what struggled, what you'd like to try for next year. 

Recommended California Native Plants

Plant native wildflowers and perennials, they're perfectly adapted to our local climate and support our native ecosystems. If you plant them with the winter rains, they'll be strong and need minimal care throughout the rest of the year.

Some of our favorite native plants for the garden include: Clarkia "Farewell to Spring," Elegant Clarkia, Baby Blue Eyes, Globe Gilia, Ceanothus "Yankee Point," Coyote Mint, California Fuschia, Yarrow, Heuchera maxima, Douglas Iris, and of course California poppy.

Get Involved

Ready to take your newfound skills to the parks? No matter the season, Black Point Historic Gardens needs extra hands and volunteering support, or you can become a docent on Alcatraz. Trowels up, in the parks and at home!