If you are battling with ground squirrels or tree squirrels around your home or property, join us on Thursday, May 19 at noon for UC IPM's one-hour seminar on Squirrels! Dr. Niamh Quinn, UC ANR's Human-Wildlife Interaction Advisor in Orange, Los Angeles, and San Diego counties, will share her insights on squirrel identification, biology, and management. There is still time to register and as always, our monthly webinars are free and open to the public!

https://ucanr.edu/sites/ucipm-community-webinars/

I've been hearing people say the aphids are really bad this year. While we can't confirm whether that is true, I know my roses are covered! There are many ways aphids can be controlled in the garden and landscape. Naturally occurring insects such as lady beetles, syrphid flies, and lacewings all eat aphids and other soft-bodied insects. Depending on proper plant care, you can prune off heavily infested plant parts on certain plants.

One of my favorite methods of controlling aphids is to hose them off my roses with water. You can buy a special nozzle for the job, but it's not necessary. Just adjust your regular spray nozzle to the desired spray and force and blast your sturdy plants with water. The strong blast will damage the...

Many people have increased their use of disinfectants and sanitizers due to the COVID-19 crisis. It is important to use these products correctly to ensure they are effective and to protect one's health. See the infograph below from the National Pesticide Information Center about how to safely use disinfectants.