A Garden Runs Through It - UCCE Master Gardeners of Colusa County

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News, stories and reflections from the UCCE Master Gardeners of Colusa County

Published on: March 6, 2015

Check your irrigation system and do necessary maintenance.
Fertilize roses, annuals flowers, and berries with slow-release fertilizer when spring growth begins.
Fertilize citrus and deciduous fruit trees.
Watch for aphids on new growth on the roses; spray with a strong spray of water to remove them, or use insecticidal soap or horticultural oil spray.
Prepare garden beds by incorporating compost before planting spring vegetables. You can plant lettuce, carrots, and cilantro directly in the vegetable bed. Mid-March is a good time to plant potatoes.
You can plant canna, gladiolus, and crocosmia for summer blooms. Early in the month you can still plant bare-root trees and shrubs if the garden center still has any.
Don't be tempted by the plants in the garden centers unless you have a way to warm up the soil. It is still early for tomatoes, eggplant and peppers (although you could try late in the month if it is still warm.) Nights should be above 55°.
Prune and fertilize spring-flowering shrubs and trees after they finish blooming.
Fertilize the lawn with a slow release fertilizer.
Keep on the weed patrol; pull them while they are small.
Use iron phosphate bait for slugs and snails or go on a night hunt and kill them up when you find them.

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Published on: February 2, 2015

The Saturday Sacramento Bee's Garden section talks about 7 insects that are relatively new to our area. Read about 2 of them here.

Asian Citrus Psyllid - This insect can carry a devastating disease. The disease can kill your trees and has devastated citrus orchards in Florida. It is working it's way up the San Joaquin and Sacramento valley. The ACP has been found as far north as San Joaquin County. The ACP has two distinguishing features. The adult sticks it's "hinny" in the air when feeding. The nymphs produce a curly waxy substance. If you think you have this pest please bring it in an air tight container to the Ag Commissioner's office or the UCCE Master Gardener office.
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug - This insect is an agricultural, garden and household pest. It is a large stink but at 5/8's of an inch. It has been found in all counties surrounding Colusa County. There is a good chance it will be here in 2015. The distinguishing features are white segments on it's antenna and legs. Also, it STINKS and it STINKS! Currently no household insecticides work on this insect. If you find it please bring it in an airtight container to the Ag Commissioner's office or the UC Master Gardener office.

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