Gardening

Tree-of-heaven, Ailanthus altissima, was originally from China and became a popular landscape shade tree in the 1800’s. However, its rapid growth, aggressive spread, and native habitat disruption have made it a global problem. Reproducing rapidly through dense root suckers and wind dispersal of its “winged”…

Some indoor pests can just be a nuisance; others can also be a health risk. Did you know that cockroaches and rodents are known to trigger asthma symptoms and lead to the development of allergic asthma for some people? This month, we recognize Asthma Awareness Month and share how you can reduce indoor…

After participating in a hands-on workshop at the Agricultural Application Engineering (AgAppE) Lab at the Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension (KARE) Center, 100% of undergraduate students reported learning gains in spray application technology, sparking interest in careers in agricultural…

A lifelong interest in gardening led Bill Brooks to become a Master Gardener. Upon his semi-retirement, after 40 years of teaching science and sixth-graders, he became a member of the Master Gardener class of 2019. Today, Bill serves as co-lead for the 2025 training class, is a member of the speaker’s bureau…

  Pollinators like bees, butterflies, moths, and birds play an important role in pollinating your vegetable garden and supporting a healthy ecosystem. However, habitat loss, disease, and pesticide use have contributed to the decline of these species. You can help pollinators by selecting a wide…

When you spot a plant in your garden that doesn’t look healthy, how do you figure out what’s wrong with it? Plant problems can be caused by insects, mites, vertebrates, environmental conditions, and diseases, but it can sometimes be hard to tell which is causing the problem. UC IPM's Plant Problem…

Two of the most common earthworms found in our area are redworms and nightcrawlers.  Redworms (eisenia foetida, also known as red wiggler worms) are shallow dwellers, living in the top 12 inches of the soil.  These are the worms most commonly used for vermicomposting, a method of creating rich garden compost…

 When the winter rains end, it’s time for gardeners to focus on providing spring and summer edibles with the water they need to grow and produce. While hand watering may be the simplest way to adjust watering to the needs of individual plants, it’s not the most efficient means for getting the right…

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…