Drought is decreasing but not defeating the pathogen that causes sudden oak death, according to a citizen science-assisted survey conducted this spring by a UC Agriculture and Natural Resources forest pathologist.
Results of the 2015 Sudden Oak Death Blitz survey reveal coastal mountain infestations in areas such as Big Sur (19% infection), the Santa Cruz Mountains (13% infection), and western Sonoma County (12% infection) remain high despite an overall decline in infection rates from 4.4% to 3.7% across California's 15 infested counties.
Sudden oak death (SOD) symptoms have been seen in Alameda, Contra Costa, Humboldt, Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Monterey, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano,...
- Author: Anne Schellman
This summer, the media frequently reported an increase in the density of pests in the home and landscape. The drought has been cited as the cause of these problems. Pest control companies quoted in articles confirm that the demand for their services is much higher this year than in years past.
Many people are asking, “Why are there so many more pests this year than usual?” According to Dr. Andrew Sutherland, the urban Integrated Pest Management Advisor for the San Francisco Bay Area, we are asking the wrong question. “The overall abundance of pests probably hasn't changed and may even have decreased as compared to wet years. The real questions we should be asking are ‘Why are these pests appearing earlier...
- Author: Dennis Pittenger
[From the August 2015 issue of the UC IPM Green Bulletin]
Q. How much water do landscapes use in California?
A. Landscape irrigation accounts for only about 9% of total statewide developed water use, but the percentage varies widely among communities. Water applied to landscapes is estimated to account for about 50% of residential water consumption statewide, but the amount varies from about 30% in some coastal communities to 60% or more in many inland suburban communities.
Q. Does a landscape have to...
/span>- Author: Steven Swain
[From the August 2015 issue of the UC IPM Green Bulletin]
Although pine trees are comparatively drought tolerant, there comes a point where even hardy trees become stressed by lack of water. Stressed pines frequently exhibit symptoms such as thin, slightly yellowish canopies, or roots that "spider" across lawns (Figure 1). By the time pine trees begin turning brown, they are usually dying, but with some precautions, many trees can be saved before they reach this point.
California has a number of native bark beetle species that individually do only minor damage as they...
/span>- Author: John A Roncoroni
- Author: Cheryl A. Wilen
[From the August 2014 issue of the Green Bulletin, a newsletter for landscape and structural professionals]
While one of the best methods to reduce weeds is to not water them, there are some that survive even in drought conditions (Fig. 1). As we continue to be impacted by the drought in California, we need to consider our weed management strategies:
- Which weeds will survive?
- How do drought conditions affect control?
Which weeds will survive?
Many weeds, once established, need very little water to survive. Weeds with extensive, deep root...
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