- (Public Value) UCANR: Promoting healthy people and communities
Our last newsletter may have prompted you to have more questions about citrus. The good news is, the topic for January Classes at Stanislaus County Libraries is (you guessed it) Growing Citrus Trees! We hope to see you at one of these free classes.
You can also see a list of our classes on our calendar by visiting our website at https://ucanr.edu/sites/stancountymg/Calendar/
p.s. February's topic is Spring Vegetable Gardening, stay tuned for more information!
- Author: Anne Schellman
- Author: Ed Perry
- Why are the leaves on my orange tree turning yellow?
It's common for citrus tree leaves to turn yellow in winter*. Fertilize to provide the tree with nutrients now, then watch as leaves green up in spring. Avoid fertilizing in fall, which encourages new growth favored by pest and can leave the tree susceptible to frost injury.
- How do I know if my oranges are ripe/when should I pick my oranges?
You don't have to pick all your oranges once they ripen. In fact, the best place to store oranges is on the tree, where they stay fresh! Pick as needed, unless temperatures below 28 F are predicted, then you'll want to harvest.
- What is this pest?
Scales and whiteflies suck plant juices and weaken the plant. Ants do two things:
- Protect pests from predators like ladybugs, parasitic wasps (very tiny wasps) and lacewings.
- “Harvest” honeydew (a sticky sugary substance excreted by these pests) for food, in a symbiotic relationship that does not include the gardener.
- Why are my oranges splitting?
The reason this happens is not well understood, although it's often related to changes in weather conditions. However, allowing the soil to dry out too much between irrigations is believed to result in increased splitting. Make sure your tree has a constant supply of moisture by watering monthly during the dry season.
- When should I prune my orange tree?
When pruning deciduous trees like peach, plum or cherry, after leaf drop, don't be tempted to prune citrus! Citrus trees are evergreen and require little if any pruning except to control size. If you'd like to keep a new citrus tree under 5 feet tall, you can carefully prune it in spring to manage the height. This way, you won't need a ladder to pick fruit again!
Avoid pruning in fall or winter, which encourages new growth favored by pests and can leave the tree susceptible to frost injury.
*if your tree leaves turn yellow and it's not winter, this may be a different problem.
- Author: Anne Schellman
Mark your calendar for Tuesday, November 28, 2023! Giving Tuesday is an opportunity for you to make a donation to a program that has made a difference in your life.
We invite you to support us in our quest to promote healthier gardens, people, and more sustainable landscapes.
Here are some photos of our UC Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners in action helping make Stanislaus County a better place.
With Halloween coming up I am seeing lots of scary faux spiders among front yard Halloween decorations. I must admit I am guilty of feeding into the arachnophobia that so many people have by placing a big fake hairy tarantula in my yard.
Fascinating Creatures
Most spiders are solitary creatures, but some form groups and even cooperate in brood care, caring for other spiders' offspring.
Not all spiders spin webs but those that do can create an incredible assortment of web designs, depending on the species, including spiral orbs, funnels, tubular, or ground sheets.
In some cases, two or more males will perform for a female to compete for her favor.
Some drop their silk to act as parachutes so they can drift on the slightest breeze
While spiders do not have brains in the traditional sense, a type of jumping spider appears to remember similar prey it has encountered, using trial and error to determine what works in capturing it.
Common and Beneficial
Spiders are the most common miniature living things living in our homes (besides micro-organisms). We are seldom aware of them because they conceal themselves in hidden spots (thus camouflaging themselves from their prey), tend to be active at night, and avoid humans. After all, we are much bigger than they are!
Spiders are beneficial organisms because they feed on common indoor pests such as mosquitoes, flies, roaches, earwigs, and moths. An additional benefit: many of the indoor pests that spiders consume can transmit diseases, i.e., mosquitoes, fleas, flies, and cockroaches. If left alone, spiders will consume most of the insects in your home, thus providing effective pest control.
Spider Bites
The jaws of most spiders are too small to bite humans. Of those that can bite, they will bite only if provoked, but very few spider bites are dangerous to humans. If you are bitten, the bite area may swell slightly and itch.
The adult female black widow is the primary spider in California capable of seriously injuring people. If bitten, remain calm and seek medical help.
Contrary to common myth, the brown recluse spider does not reside in California.
Managing Spiders
If you do have a spider issue around your home, the most effective way to manage them is to do regular housecleaning. Sweep or vacuum up their webs both indoors and outdoors, and prevent clutter build up that can provide hiding places for them both indoors and outdoors. If you do come across one, capture it in a jar and release it outside in an out-of-the-way spot. Avoid using pesticides since the chemicals will also kill other beneficial insects.
Appreciate Spiders Beneficial Role and Help Protect Them!
I will continue to put out my big “scary” tarantula out with the Halloween décor because spiders are so awesome. However, I do not put out the fake webbing, because like real spider webs, they can trap beneficial insects, spiders, and even small birds such as hummingbirds.
I will continue to allow spiders to share my home and garden, so they can do their crucial work of reducing pests. I much prefer having a few spiders around than mosquitoes, flies, moths, or cockroaches!
You do not have to love spiders like I do, but I hope you can appreciate the vital role arachnids play in our homes and gardens, and generally let them be.
References:
Spiders: https://ipm.ucanr.edu/QT/spiderscard.html
Pests of Homes, Structures, People and Pets: https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7442.html
Denise Godbout-Avant has been a UC Cooperative Extension Master Gardener since 2020.
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