- Author: Chris M. Webb
Nutsedge is an aggressive weed that reproduces by tubers. These weeds are common in our area of the state; the most common species being yellow nutsedge, Cyperus esculentus and purple nutsedge, C. rotundus.
Home gardeners and landscape professionals can find science-based information about nutsedge, including management suggestions, from the UC IPM Nutsedge Pest Note publication.
Commercial growers can find helpful information at the UC IPM Pest Management site.
Local UCCE research continues in an effort to improve methods available to combat this troublesome pest in commercial fields.
Yellow nutsedge, extensively covering berms
and ditches in grove of young citrus trees.
Photo by David Rosen.
A yellow nutsedge seedling. Nutsedge leaves are
V-shaped or triangular in cross section and grow
from the base in sets of three. Photo by Jack Kelly Clark.
Yellow nutsedge held up with several tubers on
root system. Photo by Jack Kelly Clark.
Purple nutsedge plant with tubers and rhizomes.
Photo by Joseph D. Tomaso.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Ventura County Cooperative Extension’s Oleg Daugovish will hold a free commercial grower vegetable production and water management meeting Thursday, December 9 from 7:30am to 12:30pm. The meeting will be held at Freedom Center, 516 Eubanks Road in Camarillo.
Scheduled meeting topics are:
- Vegetable pathogens: recent and persistent pathogens of vegetable crops
- Weed control with drip activated herbicides in celery and cabbage
- Precision weed management tools in vegetable crops
- Update on Ag waiver regulations for the LA/Central Coast region
- Soil and water analyses, results and implications for Ventura County vegetable fields
- Best management practices for fertilizer management in coastal vegetable crops
- Insect pest management in warm and cool season vegetables
Lunch will be provided, and continuous education credits have been requested from DPR (Department of Pesticide Regulation).
For special arrangements, for questions or to register please contact Oleg Daugovish at (805) 645-1454 or at odaugovish@ucdavis.edu. Additional details can be found here.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
UC ANR’s Environmental Horticulture Research & Info Center is a great source for a wide variety of research-based information related to:
- turf
- landscape
- urban horticulture
- floriculture
- nursery
The goal of the center is “to assist industry, government agencies, and the general public with environmental horticulture problems.”
At the site the majority of the information is separated for professionals and home growers. Newsletters, beautiful photos and links for further information are available to all.
Nursery production. Photo by Linda Dodge,
Department of Plant Sciences, UC Davis.
Cereus. Photo by Linda Dodge,
Department of Plant Sciences, UC Davis.
Tree fern. Photo by Linda Dodge,
Department of Plant Sciences, UC Davis.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Looking for an environmentally safe way to control soilborne pests? Solarization is a nonchemical method that can be successfully used to kill weeds, pathogens, nematodes and insects.
This process heats the soil to temperatures that are too high for the undesirable organisms to live. It also has the potential to improve soil structure, increasing the potential for healthy plants. Faster growing plants as well as higher and better quality yields are associated with solarized soil.
Another benefit of this method of soil preparation is that it can be used by home gardeners, landscape professionals, natural resource restoration projects and in production agriculture.
More information can be found in UC ANR’s Soil Solarization for Gardens and Landscapes pest note or for a more in-depth view and closely related subjects, please visit UC’s Solarization Informational Website.
Illustration by W. Suckow showing solarization steps.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
The new issue of Landscape Notes, written by Ventura County Cooperative Extension’s Jim Downer is now available. While written mainly for landscape professionals, home gardeners will also find useful information.
Topics covered in this issue include:
- Upcoming Landscape disease symposium information
- Use of mulches to control weeds in landscapes
- Potting media studies
- It’s conk season so keep an eye on your palms