- Author: Chris M. Webb
Compost provides many benefits for the home gardener and can be used in a variety of ways. Two UC ANR free publications provide great information.
Compost is good for your garden and the environment lists ways that composting is beneficial and how it can be used. Also included are instructions/guidelines on how to compost.
Compost in a hurry also explains how composting is beneficial, and provides instructions on ways that can speed up the composting process.
Either publication will help readers learn ways to decrease water usage, improve nutrient content of soil, reduce the need for pesticides, reduce waste, improve plant growth, reduce weeds, and more!
Sample of the various types of compost bins that a homeowner might use.
Dark, moist organic compost mulch in mound with shovel between ground cover beds in landscape.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Ventura County Cooperative Extension’s Monique Myers has written a Green Sheet titled “Drought Tolerant Plants”.
In addition to the benefits of drought tolerant plants, Dr. Myers explains general drought information; history on the use of drought tolerant plants; as well as the characteristics, selections and maintenance of these plants.
Benefits of drought tolerant plants include:
- Lower water bills
- Reduced water use
- Attractive plants with less maintenance
- More wildlife habitat
- Less plant disease and more pest resistance
- Deeper roots help to stabilize slopes
- More groundwater recharge
- Less polluted runoff flowing to the ocean
Other Green Sheets on a variety of green subjects can be found here.
Drought tolerant plants such as this Red Bird of Paradise (Caesalpinia pulcherrima) lend a colorful tone to this Southern California garden.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Dr. Jim Downer, Ventura County UCCE’s Environmental Horticulture Advisor has recently written an interesting and informative article, Drought, “water-wise” gardens and saving water in landscapes. The article appears in the current edition of Landscape Notes and includes:
- Stats on statewide water usage
- Misconceptions and facts about drought tolerant plants
- Practical, easy and pain-free ways to save water
These great tips can be used by both home gardeners and industry personnel. The entire article can be found here. Previous versions are also available.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
The animals we commonly refer to as gophers, are actually named pocket gophers. They are named this because they come equipped with fur lined external pockets they use to carry food and or nesting material while they tunnel under gardens, agricultural fields, and open space.
We often receive calls for help from home gardeners battling pocket gopher problems. Did you know that the typical lifespan of these creatures are three years? They are well designed for burrowing, for instance they are able to put their lips behind their teeth allowing them to keep dirt out of their mouths while using their teeth to dig.
Even one gopher can do a lot of damage, and they can reach densities of 60 or more gopher per acre. In addition to eating plants, they also damage irrigation lines with their chewing. More water problems and loss of this resource can occur when water meant for irrigation is diverted through their tunnel systems.
They live alone, except when females are caring for young. In irrigated areas gophers can produce up to three litters a year. In non-irrigated areas, only one litter per year is produced. In those areas breeding takes place in late winter or early spring, so if you have gophers in this type of setting, now would be a great time to reduce current numbers.
The University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) has recently updated the free pocket gopher pest note publication. This publication will explain how to determine if you have gophers on your property. It also details several types of control methods. Additional free UC ANR pest notes and other related information can be found at the UC Davis IPM website.
Adult pocket gopher
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Even with the bit of rain we recently received, Southern California remains in drought condition. There is less water, and the water that remains is becoming increasingly more expensive. A collection of UC scientists have recently released a free publication titled, “Managing Turfgrasses during Drought. While this publication will certainly be helpful to home gardeners, it will be of great help to those responsible for maintaining large areas of turf.
- Benefits of turfgrass
- Reasons some grasses are more drought resistant than others
- Research being conducted to develop even more drought resistant varieties
- Difference between optimal, deficit and survival watering
- Using evapotraspiration CIMIS (see previous posts on CIMIS here) to make wise watering decisions
- Irrigation needs for different soil types
- How mowing height and frequency effect water use
- Fertilizer requirements and considerations
- Ways to avoid water runoff
- Irrigation systems and design tips
- Redesigning landscape features to make the most of your water.
- And more.
Links to additional resources and publications are available at the start of the download, and at the end of the publication.
