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.
For more on this...
/h2>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
/h2>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.
Composting
Turn your compost piles and maintain proper moisture. Keep compost bins covered, especially during April showers to avoid sogginess. Covered compost bins can be especially important in urban areas to exclude rodents and other wildlife. Read more about composting on our website.
Stay tuned for more gardening tips!
/h2>Roses in the garden can be infected with a variety of bacteria, fungi, and viruses, leading to diseases like powdery mildew and rust. Roses may also be damaged by nutrient deficiencies and other environmental problems.
Our Pest Notes: Roses: Diseases and Disorders was recently updated by University of California experts John Karlik, Deborah Golino, and Maher Al Rwahnih. This free publication provides an integrated approach to managing rose problems that includes careful variety choice, proper irrigation, correct pruning, and sanitation. Although some rose enthusiasts might consider regular application of fungicides a necessary...
Plantains are common weeds in lawns, athletic fields, ornamental plantings, roadsides, and pastures. Two species, broadleaf and buckhorn plantains (Plantago major and P. lanceolate) are commonly found throughout California year-round.
Plantains grow well in irrigated turf and lawns that are frequently mowed since they grow low to the ground. They can be a major pest for turfgrass managers since they grow in dense clumps, creating both an aesthetic and tripping hazard in turf. When plantains infest ornamental plantings, they can crowd out desired plants.
These weeds are difficult to control because they can resprout from the crown, even after it's cut off. Early removal of seedlings before they...