- Author: Lauren Snowden
- Posted by: Elaine Lander
Originally posted on the UC Master Gardener Program Statewide Blog
During the holiday season many plants, cut flowers and flowering bulbs are used as decoration and given as gifts. Many of these items can be poisonous to both humans and pets with long-term negative effects to one's health. Plant poisoning can range from simple rashes and blisters all the way to organ damage and in severe cases death. Be safe this holiday season by being mindful of what plants and flowers you are either giving, receiving or decorating...
- Author: Lauren Snowden
- Editor: Melissa G. Womack
![Tomato leaf roll. [R. Wallace agrilife.org]](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/UCIPMurbanpests/blogfiles/37508small.jpg)
From the UC Master Gardener Statewide Blog
The tomato is one of the most versatile and rewarding plants to grow in a summer edible garden. According to a 2014 study by the National Gardening Association, 86 percent of homes with vegetable gardens grow tomatoes. It's understandable that the tomato plant is a popular home vegetable garden staple, tomatoes offer thousands of different varieties options and flavors. Plus, nothing beats the flavor of a ripe tomato straight from the garden!
When properly cared for, a single tomato plant can produce 10 to 15 pounds (4.5 to 6.8 kg) or more of fruit. If tomato yields aren't what was...
Are you busy on Thursday, January 28? Are you a retail nursery/garden center employee, Master Gardener, or someone interested in learning more about garden pests in southern California?
If so, join us for a one-day, jam-packed IPM workshop covering invasive pests, Asian citrus psyllids, less toxic pesticides, abiotic disorders, and UC IPM resources.
The workshop is open to all but you must preregister. The cost is only $40 and includes breakfast, lunch, and many great take-home materials.
Don't wait! Register today!
See the full agenda, location, and registration form at
- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
Weeds don't just look unsightly, they also rob other plants of water, says a UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) expert in a new water conservation video released today.
Any loss of water is a concern as California's fourth summer of drought comes to a close. Missy Gable, director of the UC Master Gardener Program, suggests removing weeds so they won't compete with ornamental plants or edible vegetables.
If weeds are scattered throughout your yard and mixed in with plants, hand-weeding is probably the best eradication method. Cultivation can damage ornamentals with shallow roots, bring weed seeds to...
- Author: Christopher Crawford, PlantRight
- Editor: Karey Windbiel-Rojas
[From the April 2015 issue of the UC IPM Retail Newsletter]
Choosing the right plant for the right place is a key element to protecting California's rich natural ecosystems. When used appropriately, plants offer us nourishment, beauty, sanctuary, and habitat; but some plants may have adverse environmental consequences.
Since 2005, PlantRight has worked with a diverse alliance of stakeholders to address the problem of horticultural plants that become invasive in California (Figure 1). Run by non-profit Sustainable Conservation, PlantRight tackles this...
