Ongoing research

Interest in drill-seeded no-till rice has increased in recent years; however, the most comprehensive herbicide research in drill-seeded rice systems was conducted before 2015, more than 10 years ago. Transitioning from water-seeded to drill-seeded rice, whether tilled or no-till, substantially alters weed…

 

Photos by Darlene DeRose Discovery House is a Contra Costa County-run facility in Martinez that houses and supports men in treatment for substance use disorder.  And it’s home to one of the first Contra Costa County UC Master Gardener community gardens!When Discovery House began, Darlene DeRose was…

I recently met with Scott Brayton, the Major Gifts Officer at UC Davis, and Dawn Kooyumjian, our Contra Costa County UC Master Gardener Coordinator, last year after inquiring whether we had a legacy/major gift program. We do! It is a wonderful way to give back to the UC Master Gardener program and is…

Photos provided by Phil Quinlan The Gehringer Native Plant Garden, designed, installed, and maintained by UC Master Gardeners, showcases California native plants that attract pollinators and thrive in Concord’s hot summers. It demonstrates how hardy, water-conserving plants can be used in homes, schools…

Dorothy Abeyta's Expert Approach to Fire Blight Dorothy Abeyta, a UC Master Gardener, frowned as she examined the sprawling pear tree. She quickly diagnosed the problem: fire blight. She explained, "It is a biotic disease caused by bacteria that overwinter, then become active in the spring. First signs…

Recently, the Contra Costa UC Master Gardener Help Desk received the following concern about the deer population in Walnut Creek. “I think the deer population has changed due to the climate crisis. I’ve lived here in Walnut Creek next to John Muir Medical Center for 35 years,” a local gardener wrote in.“They…