- Author: Chris M. Webb
A small group of Ventura County Master Gardeners have received additional training which allows them to survey nurseries and provide information to nursery owners. This program is part of a statewide UCCE effort designed to help reduce the spread of invasive plant species.
Currently many nurseries unknowingly sell invasive plant species. Consumers many not realize the plants they are purchasing are invasive and are likely to cause harm to our local ecosystems. The Master Gardener volunteers talk to the nursery owners and provide suggestions to nursery owners for replacement plants, which have similar characteristics to the invasive species as alternatives for their customers.
Many resources are available to help consumers avoid planting invasive species. The UC Davis Arboretum has an extensive database of recommended plants for California gardens. The California Invasive Plant Council has a Don’t Plant a Pest page on their website; in addition to recommending alternatives, photos of commonly seen invasive species are provided. You can also contact our Master Gardener helpline at 645-1455 or by email at mgventura@ucdavis.edu.
Chinese fringe tree Chionanthus retusus
UC Davis Arboretum recommended plant for California gardens
Pigsqueak Bergenia crassifolia
UC Davis Arboretum recommended plant for California gardens
California pipevine Aristolochia californica
UC Davis Arboretum recommended plant for California gardens
- Author: Chris M. Webb
UC ANR has a new 16 page publication designed as a management guide for woodland property owners and mangers.
Oaks can provide many benefits such as: shade and shelter; wildlife and fisheries habitat; soil protection; increased property values; beautiful landscapes; food and fuel; and recreational opportunities.
Topics include:
- Descriptions of the eight most common California oak woodland plants
- Needs and conflicts
- Native plants compatible with oaks
- Managing and enhancing oak resources
- Oak health check
- Promoting oak regeneration
- And more
This publication can be downloaded by clicking here.
For related information, please see UC ANR’s newly released “Protecting Trees from Sudden Oak Death before infection."
Coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia)
Photo by Suzanne Paisley.
Valley oak (Quercus lobata)
Photo by Suzanne Paisley.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Designed to share current knowledge about the goldspotted oak borer (GSOB), the upcoming workshops will provide the best information available. Land managers, parks and campground personnel, arborists, landscape professionals and other responsible for the stewardship of oaks and oak woodlands are encouraged to attend.
Co-sponsored by the national Park Service, Southern California Society of American Foresters, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, USDA Forest Service and the University of California Cooperative Extension this event will offer attendees access to specialists and scientists with experience with GSOB and related oak woodland issues.
Scheduled topics include:
- History, assessment and impacts
- GSOB identification
- Ecological and economic impacts
- Planning strategies
- Best management practices
- Oak mortality management
- Restoration
- Policies
- Hands-on display
GSOB workshops will be held throughout southern California over the next several months. A workshop is scheduled in Thousand Oaks on January 12, 2011 from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm.
Continuing Education Units have been requested from: California Department of Pesticide Regulation, International Society of Arboriculture, Southern California Society of American Foresters, and the California Urban Forests Council.
For details please visit http://www.gsob.org.
For questions or if you special needs or require assistance please call (858) 694-8955 or email Jan Gonzales at jggonzales@ucdavis.edu.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
The Ventura County Watershed Protection District (WPD) works hard to “protect life, property, watercourses, watersheds, and public infrastructure from the dangers and damages associated with flood and stormwaters.”
Their website has information, resources and opportunities to become involved with our local watersheds.
WPD's “What’s New” section is the place to “find new projects and programs for WPD and its many stakeholders” including upcoming conferences and meetings.
The environmental services page contains links to local resources, groups and watershed information. Also available through the environmental services page is this Guide to Native and Invasive Streamside Plants, which includes beautiful photos of our local native plants.
Yerba Mansa
California Sycamore leaves
Sisar Creek
- Author: Chris M. Webb
UC ANR has an updated, free publication on the topic of sudden oak death. From the publication abstract:
"Sudden oak death is the name given to an epidemic, first detected in 1995, that affects three true oak species—coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia), California black oak (Q. kelloggii), and Shreve oak (Q. parvula var. shrevei)—and tanbark oak (Lithocarpus densiflorus). A previously undescribed pathogen, Phytophthora ramorum, has been identified as the infectious agent. Note that this updated publication replaces Sudden Oak Death in California."
At this time, sudden oak death does not occur in Southern California. Phytophthora ramorum, the plant pathogen that causes the disease, can be spread by moving infested soil and plant materials; therefore, a quarantine is in effect for infested counties. Currently this disease is mostly a concern in forests and in the wildland-urban interface.
Other plants are also susceptible to P. ramorum; however, species other than oaks typically do not die from the pathogen. Suggestions for preventing the spread of disease to new plants and areas include:
- Inspecting nursery plants before making a purchase
- Evaluating removal of infected oaks
- Evaluating the removal of non-oak host plants
- Disposing of plant debris
- Sanitation measures to minimize pathogen spread
- Replanting after removing an infected tree
- Preventative phosphonate treatments.
To find out more about this disease and how to minimize its spread, please view Sudden Oak Death: Pest Notes for Home and Landscape. This resource is available as a downloadable PDF, or access as an HTML web page.
Characteristics of infection by Phytophthora ramorum.
Photo by Jack Kelly Clark