Weed Management

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A variety of short-handled tools.
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Tools for Removing Dandelions and Other Weeds

April 28, 2025
By Karey Windbiel-Rojas
Dandelions can be an especially troublesome weed in lawns and landscapes. Once they're established, dandelions readily regrow from their deep taproot when only the tops are removed or mowed. Dandelions can regrow if even 1 inch of the taproot remains. The best way to get rid of dandelions is to control them…
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 Field bindweed, a noxious weed in California has distinctive leaves and white flowers. Jeanette Alosi
The Real Dirt: Article

What Makes a Weed a Weed?

April 21, 2025
For many of us, gardening involves a constant battle with weeds. Basically, a weed is nothing more than a plant growing where it is not wanted, the classic example being dandelions in the lawn. But as the old saying goes, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” and there are many “weeds” that are, in…
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Bermuda buttercup infesting a bed of landscaped plants.
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Spring is in the Air, and Oxalis is Everywhere

April 17, 2025
By Lindsey Hack
Bermuda buttercup (Oxalis pes-caprae), also called buttercup oxalis or sourgrass, might be a familiar sight in winter and spring, particularly to those who live in coastal regions or the Sacramento Valley. Some people enjoy seeing this plant’s cheerful yellow flowers pop up in their spring gardens, but for…
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Four men in weedy area. One is holding a measuring container while another sprays liquid into it from a wand attached to a backpack sprayer. A third person holds a clipboard and the furth holds a stopwatch.
UC Weed Science (weed control, management, ecology, and minutia): Article

New Online Course: Calibrating Herbicide Applications for Non-Agricultural Areas

April 14, 2025
By Cheryl A Reynolds
Calibration might sound intimidating, but it’s critical for safe and effective herbicide application. Proper calibration ensures that the correct amount of pesticide is applied to an area while achieving the desired level of pest control. To support land managers and pesticide applicators, the UC Statewide…
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UC Master Gardeners of Merced County: Page

Ask Our Helpline

Something in your garden or home bugging you? Do your roses have strange spots? Is something eating your tomatoes? The Merced Master Gardeners are here to help! Contact our Helpline to get answers to your garden challenges and pest problems. Send an email to anrmgmerced@ucanr.edu.
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Banner weeds
UC Marin Master Gardeners: Page

Weeds & Invasive Plants

Lambert Yuri, Unsplash > Types of weeds > Life cycle of weeds > How to identify weeds > Managing weeds > What to do when you already have weeds > What you should know about weedkillers > How to prevent weeds Weeds are generally defined as any plant growing in a place where you dont want it, or a pla...
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UCCE Humboldt - Del Norte Counties: Page

Invasive Plant Species

Invasive plants are one of the greatest threats to croplands, rangelands, aquatic areas, and wildlands in the United States; they degrade the productivity and biological diversity of all ecosystems. Below are the sixteen most harmful weeds in Humboldt County.
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invasive blackberries
UC Master Gardeners of Butte County: Page

Pests and Invasive Plants

Information on Pests in the Garden, Landscaping, and the Home; Invasive Plants and Pests; and Weeds.
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Person wearing gardening gloves spreading mulch in a garden bed.
UC Master Gardener Program: Page

Mulch

Mulching is a simple yet powerful tool for gardeners and landscapers. By applying mulch properly, you can enhance the health and appearance of your plants, reduce water use, and even improve the quality of your soil over time.
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