- Author: Karey Windbiel-Rojas
Looking for ways to manage weeds in your lawn or landscape? Join us on July 21, 2022 at noon for UC IPM's free monthly webinar to learn about how to control weeds using mostly nonchemical methods. We will discuss why weed identification is important, ways to prevent weed growth, and combining various methods for managing weed problems.
The webinar will be presented by Karey Windbiel-Rojas, Area Urban IPM Advisor and Associate Director for Urban & Community IPM with the UC Statewide IPM Program. Register today to serve your spot!
As always, the webinar will be recorded and posted on the UC IPM YouTube channel within 3 weeks of the live webinar. No continuing education units (CEUs) will be offered for those with California DPR licenses. UC Master Gardeners and others can request CEU approval from their local program coordinators.
Hope to see you there!
- Author: Tunyalee A. Martin
- Author: Cheryl A. Wilen
- Author: Thomas Getts
- Author: Jutta Burger, Cal-IPC
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California has abundant wildlands — forests, rangeland, open areas, wildlife refuges and national, state, and local parks — that need protection from invasive plants. Invasive plants affect all Californians by increasing wildfire potential; reducing water resources; accelerating erosion and flooding; threatening wildlife; degrading range, crop and timberland; and diminishing outdoor recreation opportunities. According to the California Invasive Plant Council (Cal-IPC), more than 200 identified plant species harm California's wildlands.
Cal-IPC and the University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program (UC IPM), with funding from the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) Alliance Grants Program, developed two resources that provide land managers access to the latest information on non-herbicide practices for managing weeds in wildlands. Best Management Practices for Non-Chemical Weed Control is a free downloadable manual. The same information has been incorporated into an interactive online tool called WeedCUT (Weed Control User Tool: weedcut.ipm.ucanr.edu).
Read more about these new resources for non-chemical weed control from the Green Blog.
Controlling weeds can be challenging to landscape professionals or home gardeners since landscapes often include a mix of turfgrass, annual plants, herbaceous perennials, shrubs, and trees.
The newly revised publication Pest Notes: Weed Management in Landscapes by Area IPM Advisor Cheryl Wilen, presents an integrated approach to weed management to help ensure weed control efforts are effective, environmentally-sound and economical. This science-based publication includes information on methods such as pre-planting considerations, the importance of weed identification, nonchemical practices such as using mulches and barriers, weed management recommendations in different types of landscape plantings, and updated herbicide options.
See this updated publication and UC IPM's other 170 Pest Notes at http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/index.html.
Also check out UC IPM's Weed Photo Gallery for help with identifying weeds in various growth stages.
- Author: Karey Windbiel-Rojas
We've had some rain in our area lately so you are probably seeing some weeds starting to grow in your garden or lawn. Among the few new weeds poking out in my landscape is dandelion, my husband's least favorite weed on Earth.
Hopefully you are aware of UC IPM's YouTube video series, but if not, we have a few dozen short videos cover pest topics such as catching a spider, trapping snails and slugs, and how to remove dandelions.
The "How to Remove Dandelions" talks about different nonchemical tools you can use to pull out unwanted weeds and discusses the importance of getting as much of that tap root as possible.
Hoplia beetle adults are small, reddish-brown scarab beetles that are often found resting inside a blossom. If you hold one in your hand, you'll notice that most of the body is a beautiful, iridescent silvery green color in the sunlight.
These beetles may also occasionally be found feeding on other plants with light-colored petals.
Some people believe they have the rose chafer or Japanese beetle in their landscape, however neither of these pests have populations in California.
Hoplia beetles are best managed using nonchemical controls such as handpicking. For more information on identification and management, see the UC IPM Pest Note: Hoplia Beetles.