- Author: Sherry Blunk
When offered the opportunity as a Master Gardener to be trained and unleashed on CA to ID and log sighting of the Tree of Heaven (TOH) (Ailanthus altissima), I jumped at the chance. TOH is an invasive, wildly hearty, rapidly growing deciduous tree native to China and Taiwan. Additionally, TOH is the preferred host plant of the dreaded Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) (Lycorma delicatula), a large planthopper (adult ~1” long) that can successfully feed on over 100 different plant species, including grapes, stone fruits, and hardwoods. Like aphids, the SLF has a hypodermic needle-like mouth which punctures the plant's soft tissue to feed; while their bodies excrete a sticky, sugar-rich fluid (honeydew) that promotes sooty mold and other plant diseases. Currently, the Spotted Lanternfly has been identified in 18 states on the East Coast and has the potential to spread rapidly and cause severe damage to many different crops.
Agricultural and Wildlife organizations have been studying and following the progression of the SLF since it was first introduced to the US a decade ago. Research-based maps now show nearly continuous pathways of Tree of Heaven collections existing from the East to the West Coast. These could provide the SLF a natural migration “road” to CA, where previous SLF introduction was expected to be limited to imported goods, which are heavily screened- You may recall that earlier this year, CA inspectors found viable SLF eggs on an art piece that was being transported to a Sonoma County gallery from the East coast. In preparation for the inevitable SLF arrival in CA, efforts are being made to ID and map the Tree of Heaven collections on public lands- to determine where to concentrate TOH removal efforts and best disrupt and contain the SLF movements within the State.
I foolishly envisioned traversing off-beaten paths to score my first TOH worthy sighting, but I barely had to step off the sidewalk to inspect the 30+ sapling strong grove thriving in the middle of a cultivated and mulched area of a public park! Yep, once you start looking, TOH can be found almost everywhere- roadsides, levees/ bike paths, among mixed species tree groves, and even within well-maintained city parks.
- Author: Lanie Keystone
Traveling is always an eye-opening experience; we learn so much and gather so many new and inspiring ideas. Our summer in British Columbia continues to be filled with such eye-opening surprises.
We are staying in a lovely area of Surrey, BC called Ocean Park/Crescent Beach. The city of Surrey is the fastest growing city in BC, outpacing its neighbor, Vancouver, and now reaching over 500,000 people. But it still feels like a quiet, much smaller town. My hunch is—it's the trees! And more importantly, it's the urban forests.
Many cities boast beautiful tree-lined streets or parks with lovely trees. Many cities and towns have laws or organizations that either protect existing trees, require permits for taking down trees and replacing them with new ones, or mandate that new developments have a certain minimum number of trees planted per each new home. That law is true for the whole state of California.
But Surrey, Vancouver, Toronto and many other Canadian cities go an amazing leap further…they provide for actual forests within the city! The town of Surrey has over 20 urban forests—including one that is just 15 steps out of our front door. It's a bountiful 128-acre resource for all to use. Picture Central Park in NYC. Now fill that space with mature, second growth trees and endless winding trails, ponds and meadows carved right in the middle of an area of homes, businesses and busy streets—and you have an urban forest.
These forests have multiple entries off of numerous streets and are created within a variety of neighborhoods and mix of socio-economic strata. Here, dogs are walked, school kids explore, elders stroll and thousands take advantage of this amazing resource filled with trees, ferns, ground cover, downed moss-covered logs, birds, and forest critters—all in a natural setting with a dizzying array of winding trails.
Urban Forestry has become such an important part of the Canadian culture and environment, that the University of British Columbia has an entire major and department designed to encourage future generations to research and develop new ways of using the natural environment for the greater good. And that includes creating more urban forests.
As Master Gardeners, we know the importance of such spaces—for the health of the planet, for the health of our communities and for our own health. Each time we take one of our daily walks into one of the vast urban forests, we feel renewed, refreshed and re-created. It's as if we are walking into a fairyland or onto sacred ground. Both, I believe, are true.
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Summer is in full swing and while it's been quite hot in many parts of California, it's been very cool in others. That's why UC IPM's Seasonal Landscape IPM Checklist is a useful tool to help you figure out what to do in your region each month!
Here are some general tips for the month of August to prevent pests and their damage in the garden and landscape. Visit the tool to see more pest management to-dos in your region.
- Manage ants around landscapes and building foundations using insecticide baits and trunk barriers.
- Prune off galled branches caused by olive knot and oleander gall, or knot.
- Monitor for grape diseases such as powdery mildew, Eutypa dieback, Phomopsis cane and leaf spot, and others. Prune, remove, or treat as appropriate.
- Clean up fallen fruit or nuts to avoid attracting or harboring pests.
- Keep an eye out for stone fruit pests such as aphids, borers, brown rot, caterpillars, powdery mildew, and scale insects.
- Maintain a fire safe landscape by creating “defensible space.” Thin out thick vegetation and eliminate fuel ladders that allow fire to climb up trees or structures. Remove dry, resinous or dead plants and flammable debris. Cut branches back 15 to 20 feet from buildings. Use non-combustible surfaces for walkways, patios and driveways.
- Bag apple and pear fruit to prevent codling moth damage. Remove infested or dropped fruit promptly.
- Look for leaffooted bugs feeding on fruit and nuts such as almonds, pistachios, and pomegranates.
Don't see your county on the checklist or want to provide feedback? Let us know!
- Author: Ben A Faber
This is a website designed for wildlands weed control, but the practices fit right into those of orchard crop grower, as well
Methods for Managing Weeds in Wildlands
Weed Control User Tool (WeedCUT) -
https://weedcut.ipm.ucanr.edu/#gsc.tab=0
This decision support tool provides land managers with guidance on a range of methods for managing invasive plants in wildlands using non-chemical approaches exclusively, for situations when use of herbicides is restricted or not desired. The tool is intended to be developed further to include management practices including herbicides in the future. Explore all management practices below or enter the characteristics of your weed and your site to filter for the most effective practices. A manual containing all listed management techniques is available for free download. Biological control is currently not an outcome for the filtering tool but can be accessed directly through the thumbnail grid below. An Executive Summary provides summary information about using non-chemical methods at a programmatic level.
Filter by plant and site characteristics
View management practices by select plant species
The Manual from CAL -IPC (California Invasive Plant Council), has many more details. This manual provides comprehensive descriptions of 21 commonly used non-chemical weed control techniques and of biological control agents for 18 weed species/species groups that will help you as a practitioner treat weeds more effectively.
Authors of each chapter have compiled research and on-the-ground knowledge of subject experts on tools and methods of application, as well as on efficacy of techniques under various environmental conditions and across different classes of invasive plants. Environmental, cultural, and human safety risks are also highlighted to help support safe and effective use of techniques. This manual is designed to be a go-to resource for practitioners that are either complementing their weed control work with non-chemical techniques or are exclusively restricted to not using herbicides. Individual BMPs will be incorporated into an online decision support tool still in development.
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When: Saturday, August 24, 2024 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Cost: $10
Location: Stanislaus County Ag Center, Modesto
Sign Up Link: https://ucanr.edu/totally/tomatoes/2024
Questions? (209) 525-6862
UC Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Instructor: Heidi Aufdermaur
If you'd prefer to pay by cash or check, you can send or drop payment by the office. Please sign up and pay by August 15 to reserve your space!