Fresno Gardening Green

Pollinators are all around us, a crucial part of our ecosystem. When you think about pollinators, the first one that comes to mind is probably the non-native honey bee. But there are 1,600 species of bees in California, and 20,000 species recorded worldwide.

Well, I must endure the presence of a few caterpillars if I wish to become acquainted with the butterflies.

Pre-dawn irrigation is preferable to reduce the amount of water lost to evaporation. Tasks Control weeds before they flower, produce seed and multiply. If citrus trees have scale, mites or thrips, spray with summer weight horticultural oil.

If you have tree-of-heaven in your front or back yard, mid to late summer is the time to take action. Tree-of-heaven is an invasive species from China that is found in many areas of Fresno County.

Remember friends, neighbors and shut-ins with extra produce and flowers from your garden. Tasks Consider removing groundcovers, turfgrass or annual flowers from little-used garden areas such as parking strips, medians or lawn islands. Cover bare soil with a layer of mulch.