As many people you know have turned to baking during quarantine, it is likely that ingredients such as flour will continue to be in high demand. While you may be tempted to stock up when you find these ingredients, you should also consider how to properly store your ingredients to prevent pests.
Insects can easily be introduced into kitchens and pantries through infested material such as flour, dried fruits, and other grains. These pests can go unnoticed when materials are first brought home because the insects may be present as eggs or larvae. If you are purchasing items like flour or sugar from bulk bins, be sure to store your ingredients to tightly sealed containers at home. This practice can deter
(Credit: Jack Kelly Clark)
Anthracnose is a group of fungal diseases that infect many trees and shrubs, causing dark lesions on leaves and cankers on twigs and stems. In some areas of California, vegetables and turfgrass can also be infected with anthracnose.
Symptoms of anthracnose vary by plant host and weather conditions. High humidity and dense canopies can exacerbate this common disease. Management relies on planting resistant cultivars of landscape plants along with careful maintenance of susceptible cultivars, such as pruning and removal of fallen leaves and twigs.
Authors Jim Downer (UCCE Ventura County), Steven Swain (UCCE Marin County), and Amanda Crump (UC Davis Plant Sciences) recently revised
While we are staying home during the pandemic, insects are most definitely not!
In fact, you may have seen different types of insects swarming over the last few weeks. Swarming is a reproductive behavior where certain insects leave their colonies in droves, mate, disperse, and establish new colonies. Most of these swarms are not successful and end up dying, but for those that are successful, spring is an optimal time for insect colonies to find new homes.
Honey bees are one type of insect that can swarm at this time of the year while looking for new nesting locations. A large number of bees may appear frightening, but most spring swarms of the European honey bee are very docile and unlikely to sting. Our
As you practice social distancing during COVID-19, you may find yourself spending more time in the garden. As we move into nice weather, we are sharing a few gardening tips for pest management.
Powdery Mildew
Check for signs of powdery mildew on fruit trees, landscape ornamentals, and vegetables. Symptoms can vary by plant species but common symptoms include white powdery spots developing on both sides of the leaf, leaves that turn yellow or brown and fall off, twisting and distortion of leaves and shoot. Prune out small infestations and remove infected material to reduce spread.
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As you practice social distancing during COVID-19, you may find yourself spending more time in the garden. As we move into nice weather, we are sharing a few gardening tips for pest management.
Fertilizing
Now is the time to fertilize caneberries, citrus, fruit trees, palms, and heavily-flowering shrubs with slow release products. Maintaining good fertilization can keep your plants vigorous and help prevent pest problems.
Read more about plant-specific fertilization information on our website and see our other April gardening tips on
