- Author: Peggy Smith
As the summer heat creeps up on us once again, we think about how to support our gardens to keep them growing and healthy with careful watering through our long hot days. Our plants and trees are not the only components of our gardens that need the support of water. One of the identified sustainable practices for a garden is the provision of water resources. A quiet spot to sit with a cup of a favorite beverage near a water source in your garden can give a view of garden critters as they stop for a visit to bathe or drink. A healthy garden has lots of movement within it as birds, bees and insects visit the plants that not only delight us but give them sustenance, shelter, and food. A steady water source will draw bees, birds, insects, and butterflies to the garden.
There are many ways to provide water resources from the simple to the more costly and complex.
1) A very simple arrangement that will provide for both bees and birds is a plant drip tray. Take a drip tray and place some stones in it, place it in a shaded area.
2) A variety of hanging water source arrangements are available and they are great for attracting birds to the garden.
3) A moving water source can provide water for birds and entertainment for you as the birds come in and go through their drinking and bathing routines.
4) If you have the room a pond is also an excellent water supply with the added benefit of providing support for insects such as dragonflies and damselflies.
If you install a pond Mosquito Vector Control will provide small fish to take care of any mosquito larvae. https://www.fightthebite.net/services/request-service/
https://mywaterquality.ca.gov/eco_health/wetlands/images/d_delta_changes.jpg
With the disappearance of California wetlands beneficial insects such as dragonflies and damselflies have severely reduced habitat. Dragonflies and damselflies will be attracted to a pond environment. “The female Dragonflies and Damselflies lay their eggs in the water. The Dragonfly lays its eggs directly in the water, while the Damselfly inserts its eggs in underwater vegetation.” The eggs hatch within a few days and the larvae grow quickly. Each larva molts 8 to 16 times during its growth. https://sacsplash.org/learning-resource/dragonflies-and-damselflies/#:~:text=Life%20Cycle%3A,16%20times%20during%20its%20growth. Dragonfly larvae are a preferred food for small fish, so small rock piles, or tight brush piles will give them shelter. Damsel flies will eat flies, mosquitoes, and other tiny insects.
Butterflies need moisture but are unable to land on water, a patch of muddy soil is the best place for a butterfly to access water so if the ground around your drip tray or fountain is a little muddy that is a perfect place for a butterfly to sip.
Birds bathe in a water source as part of maintenance to keep feathers working well. Birds will also flock to the spray of a stationary sprinkler and perch and bathe. https://youtu.be/2hTc9vC1rZc
As with so many things balance is the key, provide water sources for our co-habitating garden critters but make sure there is not stale stagnant water that will encourage mosquito breeding.
Build it and they will come for your garden's benefit also for fun and frolic!
- Author: Karen Metz
I've enjoyed visiting the UC Davis Arboretum many times over the years. Because there is so much to see I've usually focused on one area at a time. In April, I came with a group that had never seen the Arboretum before. Because of health and time constraints, our visit was limited in scope, so I chose the Environmental Gateway Loop as it seemed to pack in many gardens in a small area.
The Arboretum All-Stars planted next to the Teaching Nursery were a beautiful introduction to our day. They were bursting with flowers that were being visited by butterflies, hummingbirds and many species of bees. It was truly a pollinator's paradise. Arboretum All-Stars are plants that haveproven themselves through Arboretum testing. They look good most, if not all, of the year, are hardy, and low maintenance. Most are drought tolerant and attractive to beneficial wildlife.
We visited the Ruth Risdon Storer Garden which showcased lovely lush plantings chosen to tolerate our hot dry summers and wet winters. It was so peaceful and filled with a myriad of textures, colors, and fragrances.
Our next stop was the Moon Garden. The group was totally enchanted with this area. They loved the concept of grouping white, silvery plantings together so the plants would truly glow in the light of the moon. These groupings also included plants that release their strongest fragrance at night which would enhance thenighttime experience even further. Even in the daytime this was a nice spot to sit, rest, andrehydrate.
I had never been to the Peter J Shields Oak Grove before. I enjoyed exploring this shady spot with so many different kinds of Oak species from different parts of the world. The variety in the shape of the leaves was amazing. The grove was accentuated by colorful ceramic tile bench/walls. These identified the different species, and the animals and insects that made up the oak ecosystem.
Beautiful handmade ceramic tiles were also on display at the Nature's Gallery and on the perimeter walls of the restroom. These were collaborations of Art and Science faculty, students, and volunteers. There were flowers, trees, insects, birds and more. All were beautiful and scientifically correct.
There is so much to see at the Arboretum. There are East Asian, Australian, South American, Mexican, and Mediterranean collections, to name a few. The gardens also change with the seasons and change over the years. If you visit most weekends, the parking is free unless there are special events. During the week, parking is challenging, both finding a spot and using the parking app. Only one of our three carloads was successful in getting the app to open. But the experience and the beauty are worth it.
- Author: Ben A Faber
- Posted by: Gale Perez
Rely® 280 Herbicide Available for Use in California Avocado Groves
The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) has approved the herbicide Rely® 280 (glufosinate-ammonium) for use in avocado groves in California. Rely® 280 is a post-emergence broad-spectrum herbicide for use against broadleaf and grassy weeds. Glufosinate-ammonium is an excellent alternative to glyphosate, especially for those weeds that have developed glyphosate resistance.
The California Avocado Commission provided funding for Dr. Peggy Mauk, extension professor for subtropical horticulture at the University of California, Riverside, to conduct efficacy trials with glufosinate-ammonium and the IR-4 program provided funding for the required phytotoxicity (crop safety) trials. “Glufosinate-ammonium is an effective broad-spectrum herbicide,” said Mauk. “The weed that is the biggest problem here in Riverside is mare's tail or hairy fleabane (Erigeron bonariensis). Glufosinate will kill it depending on the application timing and size of the plants. Treating for weeds is also going to be seasonal… the spring is usually worse because spring rains bring a lot of weeds, especially this past year.”
Dr. Mauk's phytotoxicity trials found minimal damage, assuming sound application practices are followed. “Spray applications should not be made when there is a breeze,” Mauk emphasized. “If the wind carries the herbicide onto the plants, there can be some leaf discoloration. The discoloration appears as occasional purple spots on the leaves. There is not widespread damage. We also never saw any discoloration on the avocado fruit.”
General questions about this registration can be directed to CAC's Research Director Dr. Tim Spann at tim@spannag.com or (423) 609-3451. For specific questions regarding the use of Rely® 280, growers should contact their Pest Control Advisor.
Original source: Topics in Subtropics blog | May 31, 2024
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- Author: Lauren Fordyce
Help increase public awareness of invasive species and encourage participation in the ongoing fight against invasive species by celebrating California Invasive Species Action Week (CISAW) June 1- 9, 2024.
Invasive species include non-native plants, animals, and pathogens that can negatively impact our waters, native ecosystems, agriculture, health, and economy. Every day this week, UC IPM will share information spotlighting a different invasive species, its impacts, and what you can do to help.
Keep an eye out for our upcoming blog posts and check out the resources below to learn more about invasive species:
- Read UC IPM's previous blog posts on invasive species.
- Buy firewood where you burn it. Moving firewood can transport many invasive pests to new areas. Visit the California Firewood Task Force for more information.
- Learn about pest quarantines in your area from the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
- Don't plant invasive species and when possible, try to plant California natives. Visit the PlantRight website for more information on plant selection.
- Report invasive species to your local County Agricultural Commissioner. Contact information for your location can be found at the California Department of Agriculture County/State Liaison page.
- Watch a webinar. June 3-7th UC ANR will be hosting lunchtime webinars to discuss various invasive species and the work being done to combat them. To learn more and register, visit the Invasive Species Lunchtime Talks website.
To learn more about events scheduled for California Invasive Species Action Week and to view more ways you can help, go to https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Invasives/Action-Week.
- Author: Help Desk Team
Are you a gardener with questions? Are you a beginning gardener just getting started? Do you want to know more about how to troubleshoot problems in your garden? Some of the topics addressed in our classes and material cover what, when, and how to plant, how to prepare the soil, and maintenance of your plants, including pruning.
The Contra Costa Master Gardener website (https://ccmg.ucanr.edu/) has links to information about both edible gardening and landscape gardening. We also offer a program called Vegetable Gardening for Beginners if you are interested in growing vegetables: https://ccmg.ucanr.edu/GrowingGardeners/
This is the handbook for this class: https://ucanr.edu/sites/ccmg/files/292083.pdf
There are many resources online through the University of California that can provide you with good information about specific pests and diseases, including the following:
• Home, garden, turf, and landscape pests: https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/menu.homegarden.html
• UC California Garden Web: https://cagardenweb.ucanr.edu/
These are the books the Master Gardeners use for training and reference:
• The California Master Gardener Handbook: https://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/Details.aspx?itemNo=3382
• Abiotic Disorders of Landscape Plants: https://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/Items.aspx?search=abiotic%20disorders%20of%20landscape%20plants
• Pests of Landscape Trees and Shrubs: https://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/Items.aspx?search=pests%20of%20landscape%20trees%20and%20shrubs
• Pests of Garden and Small Farm: https://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/Items.aspx?search=pests%20of%20the%20garden%20and%20small%20farm
The UC Master Gardener volunteers of Contra Costa County are actively involved in bringing you educational programming. We partner with the Contra Costa County Library to present topics that will help you grow a healthy, thriving and sustainable garden. See the upcoming and past webinars here: https://ccmg.ucanr.edu/Webinars_and_Programming_/
You can find a schedule of in-person talks at libraries, at our Walnut Creek demonstration garden, and when Master Gardeners will have tables at Farmers Markets where you can ask questions at this link:
https://ccmg.ucanr.edu/Find_Us/Find_Us_by_Location/
You can also find past webinars as well as short, single-topic videos on a wide range of gardening topics on the Contra Costa Master Gardener Program YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@CoCoMGUC
Still have questions? Send an email to the Contra Costa Master Gardener Program Help Desk: ccmg@ucanr.edu
• Include your name, phone number, and city.
• A description of the problem, including the name of the plant, when the problem began, and cultural history such as water, fertilizing, pruning, pesticides, etc.
• Photographs are very helpful. Include photos of the problem parts, but also photos of the whole plant.
Help Desk of the UC Master Gardeners of Contra Costa County (SEH)