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.
By Kim Wilson, UC Master Gardener A gardener finds small red bumps on the leaf petioles of her apricot tree. She shows this image to her Facebook gardening group. They identify the problem as red mites on this apricot tree. She decides to consult helpline before using an insecticide.
By Kim Wilson, UC Master Gardener Invasive Plants Non-native weeds or plants that can survive, reproduce, and spread without human intervention. They cause economic or environmental harm.
By Bill Smillie, UC Master Gardener Water wars! Water is one of THE key commodities in the coming years. There's less and less of it generally available (not that the ocean volumes are changing much) and it's becoming increasingly expensive.
Websites CNPS - SLO - local chapter of the California Native Plant Society- web - CNPS-SLO Calscape - California Native Plant Society, native plant database search by zip code. Also lists nurseries.
By Betty Debettencourt, UC Master Gardener Vermicomposting is the process of using worms to decompose vegetable matter. The resulting worm compost or worm castings is a nutrient rich soil amendment, which improves soil structure, fertility, and water-holding capacity.
There are five species of gophers in California. The most common gopher on the central coast is Bottas pocket gopher, named for his fur lined cheek pockets used to carry food. Pocket gophers live 3 years. They do not hibernate and although primarily nocturnal grazers, they are active anytime.
California ground squirrel is the number one vertebrate pest in California. They are non-game mammals and can be controlled at any time, without a license, using any legal method. The Western gray squirrel is a tree squirrel classified as a fur bearing mammal and cannot be taken without a permit.
By Ron Whisenand and Kim McCue, UC Master Gardeners Garden Care and Clean Up: Rake up leaves: leaf litter and mummified fruit can harbor disease and pests. This is especially important around fruit trees. Good Leaf Litter: Healthy oak leaf litter should be left alone.
By Mike Zigelman, UC Master Gardener Benefits of Bats Bats are a primary predator of night flying insects and many insect pests. One little brown myotis bat can catch a thousand mosquitoes an hour.
