Pest Management & Plant Health

Advice for the Home Gardener from the Help Desk of the UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County Client's Request: Can I keep and/or reuse garden soil that once had grubs in it? I've been picking them out of the soil when I find them and leaving for the birds to eat them.

We recently wrote the blog post Wait! Don't Prune Apricot and Cherry Trees Just Yet, to caution gardeners against pruning these trees in winter. Now we'd like to discuss when and how to prune avocado and citrus trees. Avocados Most avocado trees need little or no pruning.

Weeds may grow more slowly this time of year, but they can still be a problem. Most of the weeds found in gardens and landscapes now are winter annuals. These weeds germinate in late summer or fall and grow during cool weather. Annual weeds flower and set seed in spring and die in summer.

Licensed pest management professionals: The Vertebrate Pest Council is hosting a seminar series this year in conjunction with new partner Target Specialty Products.

It's official. Registration for the seventh annual International Pollinator Conference, billed Wednesday, July 17 through Saturday, July 20 in the UC Davis Conference Center, is now underway. You can register online on the UC Davis Honey and Pollination Center site.

Accolades flowed when honey bee geneticist Robert E. Page Jr., received the 2019 UC Davis Distinguished Emeritus Professor Award at the annual Academic Retiree and Emeriti Award Luncheon, held Jan. 28 in the UC Davis Conference Center.

The UC Statewide IPM Program's online information was recently announced as #5 out of the top 6 pest management online databases by the Northeastern IPM Center! The infographic shows the top 6 in the nation, but since it's just an image I borrowed, below are the links so you can check out these usef...

Over the years of Kerb use in lettuce (more like decades) there has been a lot of work on application methods. Our transplanted lettuce in southern California is usually grown on drip and when possible, we like to apply all things through it.

Pests need food, water, and shelter to live. Unfortunately, some of us unknowingly attract and even invite pests to live in and around our homes! Insect and animal pests can pass through small spaces.

Advice for the Home Gardener from the Help Desk of the UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County Customer's Request: I wanted to grow some artichoke plants this year, but recently read that they can be very invasive in some places.