UC ANR is committed to providing an accessible and inclusive web experience for all users. If you encounter an accessibility barrier or need content in an alternative or remediated accessible format, please contact anraccessibility@ucanr.edu.
Some garden tasks need to be done regularly throughout the year - weeding, pest management, and irrigation adjustments. Other garden activities are better done at specific times of year. The guides below will help you keep on top of seasonal projects. Our guides are being updated.
Water wise plants Low water use plants need time to spread their roots before they become drought tolerant. The first year after planting they require regular water. Thats why November is an ideal time for planting its the beginning of our rainy season.
Mosquitoes have long been present in our environment, but the past few years have seen the proliferation of new varieties that can spread serious diseases such as West Nile Virus and Zika.
How to Have a Pest or Plant Disease Identified. Do not drop off diseased plant material or insects at South Coast Research and Extension Center. The Orange County Extension Office does not take samples for identification. The Orange County Agricultural Commissioner can help with identifying plant diseases…
Bee Facts California is home to 1,600 identified species of bees. Click the link to find out more. California Native Plants for bees Bees need access to pollen and nectar year round. This chart will help you select native plants that bloom at different times of year.
Orange County averages about 13 inches of rain per year (Metropolitan Water District of Orange County), which puts us a few inches away from being a desert, which averages ten inches of rain per year. Recent drought years have focused attention on the amount of water we use in our landscape.
1. Check your irrigation system. Turn on your sprinklers for a few minutes and check for overspray, runoff, and broken sprinkler heads. Make necessary adjustments and repairs. 2. Adjust your irrigation timer to water early in the morning.
Turf has it's place in the landscape. It's a great surface for recreation and it also acts as a filter for pollutants. There are several choices available to us in southern California.
