Pest Management & Plant Health

A brown deer with large ears laying in tall, dry grass, looking over its shoulder toward the camera.
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

“Deer-Resistant” Plants – Truth or Fiction?

March 26, 2026
By Robert M Timm
Is there such a thing as a deer-proof plant? Perhaps…but there are a variety of reasons deer may choose to ignore or consume specific plant species at a particular time and place.  Certain plants native to California (and elsewhere) have evolved natural defenses against being eaten by browsing…
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A close-up of a California burclover plant showing deep green compound leaves with 3 leaflets, small yellow flowers, and green, round, spiny seeds.
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Shamrocks, Clovers, or Weeds?

March 18, 2026
By Lindsey Hack
St. Patrick’s Day makes us think about shamrocks and all things green. With recent warm weather following winter rains, your lawn or garden might be dressing up for Saint Patrick’s Day and Spring with clovers and other weeds.  Clovers begin to germinate in the fall and continue throughout winter…
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A dense stand of spiny yellow starthistle plants with light green, spindly foliage and bright yellow flowers.
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Invasive Species: Nature’s Troublemakers

March 11, 2026
By Lindsey Hack
California is famous for its scenic wilderness and biological diversity. Unfortunately, our state’s unique ecosystems are in danger, and invasive species are among the biggest threats to our environment. Invasive species can cause all kinds of environmental damage, such as harming wildlife, disrupting our…
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The green foliage of a small sycamore tree coated with fluffly, white patches of powdery mildew fungus.
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

What's That Powdery Stuff on My Plants?

March 5, 2026
By Belinda Messenger-Sikes
Have you seen white powdery-looking patches appearing on the leaves of your roses or sycamore trees? While home gardeners may be familiar with this sign of the plant disease powdery mildew on their veggies, ornamental plants and landscape trees can also be infected. In addition to those powdery spots, the…
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lady beetle larvae crawling on a leaf
UC Master Gardeners of Solano County: Page

Ask a Master Gardener

Have a question about your garden? The UC Master Gardeners of Solano County are here to help!Our trained volunteers provide free, research-based advice on all aspects of home gardening, tailored to Solano County’s Mediterranean climate (Zones 9a, 9b, and 10a). We can help you:Identify plant problems, pests,…
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Photo of a field of romaine lettuce in the Salinas Valley.
Salinas Valley Agriculture: Article

Reflections on thrips and INSV during the 2025 Lettuce Season

February 23, 2026
By Dylan J Beal, Yu-Chen Wang
Reflections on thrips and INSV during the 2025 Lettuce Season Dylan J. Beal, Daniel K. Hasegawa, Yu-Chen Wang INSV: Early Spring and Summer: isolated, small INSV outbreaks were observed. These outbreaks were associated with adjacent, unmanaged weedy sites.Late Summer and early Fall: more…
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Japanese beetle. Credit: D. Cappaert, Bugwood.org)
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

National  Invasive Species Awareness Week 2026

February 18, 2026
By Lindsey Hack
This week (February 23-27, 2026) is National Invasive Species Awareness Week (NISAW), an event dedicated to raising awareness about invasive species, the threats they pose, and how we can slow their spread. When it comes to invasive species, your actions can have a big impact! What Can You Do? Take…
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Green grapes with white powdery blotches from powdery mildew
Over the Fence (Alameda County): Article

Managing Powdery Mildew

February 10, 2026
By Linda Carloni
Fungal diseases plague many different kinds of plants and their gardeners.  Fungal diseases tend to be persistent and can be difficult to manage.  Powdery mildew is one such disease.  It includes multiple fungal species and affects many different types of plants.  Powdery mildew…
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Person wearing gloves pouring liquid from a measuring cup into a spray bottle on cement.

Upcoming Webinars from UC IPM

February 9, 2026
By Yulie Velez
If you missed our first Urban & Community IPM webinar of the year, Pests of Backyard Chickens, don’t fret, we have more for you! Join us every third Thursday of the month from 12:00pm to 1:00pm PT to learn about a wide range of urban pest management topics. This series is free and open to the…
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