Author:  Linda Bray, UC Master Gardener, Contra Costa County

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Editor's Note:  UC Master Gardener Program receives a lot of questions about gardening and bees and how to attract and protect them in our gardens. Below is a recent report on the status of native bees in Contra Costa County. While the report deals primarily with agriculture in East Contra Costa County, the principles will also apply to your garden (e.g., click).
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I attended the meeting of the Contra Costa County Fish and Wildlife Committee yesterday (July 20, 2016) and was especially interested to learn about the progress of UC Berkeley's native bee research and how it has affected agriculture in our area.

First on the agenda was Dr. Gordon Franke of UC Berkeley who presented the progress made on the project, Bees In Brentwood. Dr. Franke and his research group have been studying native bees since 1987 and the research has now extended to farms in both Contra Costa County and Ventura County. Dr. Franke began his presentation by stating that there are 4.000 species of native bees throughout North America but California is home to 1600 species which makes it the perfect habitat to study these busy pollinators.

Native bees are notably different from the honey bees that most farmers rely upon to pollinate their crops. They do not live in hives, do not make honey, can sting multiple times, and the stings do not result in the death of the bee. Dr. Franke shared posters of the Ultra Green Sweat Bee, both large and small carpenter bees and leaf cutter bees; all of which are native to California. The issue in agriculture is that most farmers purchase boxes of honeybees from other areas and the boxes typically cost $400 to $500. Due to colony collapse, many of these bees die while in the fields. Though colony collapse has been disastrous for honey bees, the problem has actually spurred the research of native bee species. To make matters worse, boxes of honey bees are frequently stolen from the farmers; making the case for native bee populations even stronger.

Farmer Al Corchesne of Frog Hollow Farms in Brentwood was open to having Dr. Franke's research teams set up a demonstration garden on a small plot among his hundred acres. The diverse plants used in the garden were native bee-drawing ornamentals. Since then, seven other farmers have agreed to be part of the research. Ultimately, the native bees do not require a monetary investment if they are found on the farms and in time, may be the only agents of pollination if colony collapse continues. There are eight demonstration garden plots; four are treatment and four are control. Some farms are organic and some are conventional. The monitoring of native bee populations has been ongoing since 2010. To date, the conventional farms near Marsh Creek have the highest numbers of native bees. UC Berkeley teams conduct twice-weekly visits during the growing season and monitor the numbers and species. Data is continually analyzed for key outcomes.

A current question is how does the ongoing drought affect the native bees? Dr. Franke stated that some species of native bees can hibernate without ill effect for up to eleven years. Continuing study hopes to prove that native bees may be the best pollinators for our local farms. The UC team works with land trusts, native plant groups, schools and farmers to encourage the planting of diverse garden plots which will draw more native bees to our local areas. Currently, Dr. Franke and his team have identified over 130 species of native bees in Brentwood alone.

Dr. Franke encouraged committee members to visit helpabee.org to read the latest outcomes of the native bee research. His book, CALIFORNIA BEES AND BLOOMS, published in 2012, is a guidebook to California's 1600 species of wild bees and gives information about what to plant to attract them to our gardens. Education is the key to making the public aware of identification of native bees and their susceptibility to pesticides. There is continuing proof that neonicotinoids can adversely affect not only native bees but many species of birds as well. As new chemicals are formulated for use in our gardens, research is key to short and long term effects on our environment. Certainly, the effects on our native bee species is critical to our long-term food supply.

UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County (LMB)

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Note: The  UC Master Gardeners Program of Contra Costa's Help Desk is available year-round to answer your gardening questions.  Except for a few holidays, we're open every week, Monday through Thursday for walk-ins from 9:00 am to Noon at 75 Santa Barbara Road, 2d Floor, Pleasant Hill, CA  94523. We can also be reached via telephone:  (925) 646-6586, email: ccmg@ucanr.edu, or on the web at http://ccmg.ucanr.edu/Ask_Us/ MGCC Blogs can be found at http://ccmg.ucanr.edu/HortCoCo/ You can also subscribe to the Blog  (http://ucanr.edu/blogs/CCMGBlog/).

Client's Question: I apparently missed a recent program at MGCC's Our Garden on “Summer Fruit Tree Pruning”. Summer fruit tree pruning is a new concept to me. Can you please provide me with more information?

Help Desk Response:  Thank you for contacting the UC Master Gardener Program Help Desk with your question about summer fruit tree pruning. Sorry, you missed the Our Garden program on this subject. I hear it was excellent.

Post-harvest summer fruit tree pruning can have a beneficial effect on fruit trees that tend to grow too vigorously (e.g. apricots, cherries, plums). It also has the "benefit" of reducing the overall growth rate, if that's a concern. Summer pruning can also promote more blossoms the following spring.

In July and August, you can prune out excessively vigorous shoots that shade lower fruiting branches. Use thinning cuts (removing a branch entirely) rather than heading a branch (by cutting off a portion of it) so that you don't stimulate even more growth. You can also train young branches by bending and staking them to grow in the desired direction.

Cherries and Apricots are also typically pruned during the summer before the rain starts (hopefully)--rather than winter--to avoid a branch dieback disease called Eutypa, which can infect wounds made during wet weather.

Wait for winter dormant pruning to remove other crowded or unwanted branches. I have attached a link to a great MGCC article about fruit tree pruning which includes more links to calendars of fruit tree maintenance throughout the year: http://ccmg.ucanr.edu/files/77175.pdf.

Good luck with your summer pruning. Please do not hesitate to contact us again with your questions.

Help Desk of the Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County (JLW)

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Note: The  UC Master Gardeners Program of Contra Costa's Help Desk is available year-round to answer your gardening questions.  Except for a few holidays, we're open every week, Monday through Thursday for walk-ins from 9:00 am to Noon at 75 Santa Barbara Road, 2d Floor, Pleasant Hill, CA  94523. We can also be reached via telephone:  (925) 646-6586, email: ccmg@ucanr.edu, or on the web at http://ccmg.ucanr.edu/Ask_Us/ MGCC Blogs can be found at http://ccmg.ucanr.edu/HortCoCo/ You can also subscribe to the Blog  (http://ucanr.edu/blogs/CCMGBlog/). 

Advice from the Help Desk of the  
UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County

Client:  Can you recommend a compost bin that does not permit rats and mice to get in? Everyone is afraid of rats around the home as well as attracting rats because of compost bins. So what is the danger of rats? Seems like they don't do any damage they are just trying to live.

Advice from the UC MGCC Help Desk:  Thank you for contacting the Master Gardener help desk with your question about compost and rodents.

There are several different designs for compost bins to prevent rodent access, all of which have their benefits and disadvantages. The easiest way to keep rodents out would be a fully-enclosed and elevated tumbling bin, however these bins tend to be smaller than other bins. There are also plastic on-the-ground bins that hold more, but are more difficult to rodent proof, although it's definitely possible. Then there are wooden bins or open compost piles that pretty much cannot be rodent proofed.

The recommended solution is to use physical barriers to prevent access to a bin. A removeable top is usually a good first step. Mine compost bin is hinged for easy access. You can secure a bottom-less bin to 1/4" wire mesh that will prevent rodents (and other animals) from burrowing into the compost from the bottom. Seal any holes larger than the size of dime. Rats can squeeze through holes the size of a quarter, mice can get through a dime-sized hole.

There are some steps you can also take to reduce the attractiveness of compost in any container. Since rodents use the bins to find food and often as well a dry and comfortable place to live, make sure you keep the pile moist and turn it regularly. Bury and cover food waste deeply into the compost, making sure you don't add meat, grease or dairy products.

There are other things you can do to reduce rodent population in your yard. Don't feed and/or leave uneaten pet food outside. Cleanup around bird-feeding stations where the birds have scatter food. Clear thick vegetation, especially ground covers. Keep garbage and trash picked up and stored in a container. Seal access to crawl spaces and attics as well as make the area under decks and sheds inaccessible. The goal is to to eliminate rodents' cover and hiding spots.

This year especially, rat complaints at the MGCC Help Desks appear to be quite common. Rats appear to be a bigger problem in our area than are mice, and roof rats are the primary pest. Rats can chew and cause damage inside homes, especially attics and crawl spaces, and they can get into stored foods, especially pet food in garages. In the garden, they can damage fruits and vegetables, sometimes wiping out entire crops. They can also spread diseases to humans and other animals.

The University of California has a good information sheet on rat management for the home and garden: http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74106.html. And here are two links to good information about composting: http://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/pdf/8037.pdf and http://sacmg.ucanr.edu/files/163139.pdf. 

Additionally, if you live in Contra Costa County, you can request assistance on rat and mice control from the Contra Costa Mosquito & Vector Control District. While the District won't trap or bait for rats and mice in or around private e homes, they will assist homeowners with rat or mouse problems with advice and a free inspection from one of their state certified technicians to assist in rodent prevention and control (skunks too!). Their web page at http://www.contracostamosquito.com/rats_mice.htm provides the details.

Please let us know if you have more questions.

(all pictures from the Contra Costa Mosquito & Vector Control District)

Help Desk of the UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County (SEH)

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Note: The  UC Master Gardeners Program of Contra Costa's Help Desk is available year-round to answer your gardening questions.  Except for a few holidays, we're open every week, Monday through Thursday for walk-ins from 9:00 am to Noon at 75 Santa Barbara Road, 2d Floor, Pleasant Hill, CA  94523. We can also be reached via telephone:  (925) 646-6586, email: ccmg@ucanr.edu, or on the web at http://ccmg.ucanr.edu/Ask_Us/ MGCC Blogs can be found at http://ccmg.ucanr.edu/HortCoCo/ You can also subscribe to the Blog  (http://ucanr.edu/blogs/CCMGBlog/). 

Advice from the Help Desk of the   
UC Master Gardeners Program of Contra Costa County

Client:  I'm in the process of getting ready to convert my front garden to California natives, primarily to conserve water and provide wildlife habitat. Do you have recommendations on native plant selection and where to obtain the plants?

Response from the MGCC Help Desk:  Thank you for contacting the UC Master Gardeners of Contra Costa County regarding resources for native plant selection for your front yard. Below are some resources to help you get started on "going native".

East Bay MUD - Plants and Landscapes for Summer-Dry Climates - a wonderful resource for Mediterranean plants suitable for our climate, providing numerous pictures and lists. An online version , Summer-Dry (at (http://summer-dry.com/) , provides a slide show, a plant list with pictures, and plant lists by type.

Bay-Friendly - The Bay-Friendly Gardening Program (now renamed Rescape California) offers the home gardener an array of tools and resources, from the free 70+ page Bay-Friendly Gardening handbook (see the plant lists in the publication at http://rescapeca.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Bay-Friendly-Gardening-Guide.pdf), to classes, seminars, locations of public Bay-Friendly gardens, and even instructions on how to have your own garden certified as Bay-Friendly.

Romneya coulteri
Matilija Poppy
photo @ UCBG

Rescape California - (Renamed from Bay Friendly) - Provides multiple community resources including Design Examples (see the link at http://rescapeca.org/resources/for-communities/design-examples/)

California Native Plant Society - provides plant lists by type and with photos, all sortable. See http://www.cnps.org/.

While Master Gardeners cannot provide referrals to specific native plant nurseries, a Google search at "native plant nursery east bay" reveals several options available to you. Also, the California Native Plant Society has a list and map of where native plants can be purchased at http://www.calscape.org/plant_nursery.php. While these nurseries specialize in native plants, almost every nursery now includes native plants in their inventory.

Have fun in your search for the perfect native plant design for your front garden.

Please let us know if you have any further questions.

Blog Editor's Notes: While the use of only California native plants may be your goal, you may want to also consider Mediterranean plants which usually require a planting environment similar to most California natives (Contra Costa County is considered a Mediterranean climate.) Some also provide wildlife benefits as well. This will increase your plant selection significantly. Also, some water utilities provide significant cash rebates if you design and plant your front garden using their guidelines AND with their prior approval of your plan. Consult your water utility's website if they currently have such a program.

 Help Desk of the UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County (VLT)

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Note: The  UC Master Gardeners Program of Contra Costa's Help Desk is available year-round to answer your gardening questions.  Except for a few holidays, we're open every week, Monday through Thursday for walk-ins from 9:00 am to Noon at 75 Santa Barbara Road, 2d Floor, Pleasant Hill, CA  94523. We can also be reached via telephone:  (925) 646-6586, email: ccmg@ucanr.edu, or on the web at http://ccmg.ucanr.edu/Ask_Us/ MGCC Blogs can be found at http://ccmg.ucanr.edu/HortCoCo/ You can also subscribe to the Blog  (http://ucanr.edu/blogs/CCMGBlog/).