Ongoing research

If your pine tree has become unwieldy or some parts look diseased, winter is the best time to prune out unwanted twigs and branches. When the weather is warmer, the pruning cuts may attract pests that threaten the health of the tree, including pine bark beetles, pitch moths and western gall rust,…

Plan now for New Year’s resolutions for the garden. Check gardening books for ideas.TasksSpray apricots and walnuts with horticultural oil and fixed copper.Provide frost protection. Move or cover tender plants. Use floating row covers or fabric, and uncover plants during the day. Frost protection material…

Yana Valachovic has joined the UC ANR Policy Institute as interim associate director for Natural Ecosystems and Working Landscapes.

 The "Lost Science" column of the New York Times recently focused on Jenny Carlson Donnelly, a UC Davis doctoral alumna who lost her job earlier this year as a Malaria Outbreak Emergency Advisor for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) due to Trump administration cuts.USAID,…

Jacqueline Champa, UC Master Gardeners of Placer County From The Curious Gardener, Fall 2010All summer you looked forward to your first, fresh-picked apple of the season. Picking a beautiful apple off the tree, the only imperfection is a slight red spot on the skin---somewhat like a blossoming…

By Johanne Ryker, UC Master Gardeners of Placer County Q: We recently moved into a new home that has a small orchard with various fruit trees. I was very disappointed when I went to pick my apples and pears and discovered they all had worm holes and what looked liked worm-infested fruit. What would…

By Elaine Applebaum, UC Master Gardeners of Placer County Q: I have a lot of nectarines on my tree this year but most have ugly brown and yellow scabby-looking scars on them. They’re also much smaller than the ones in the grocery store. Some of the leaves are curled and distorted, too. What am I…

Dr. Mary Lou Flint, Associate Director Statewide IPM, University of CaliforniaFrom The Curious Gardener, Winter 2011Winter slows down many garden pest problems, but it is also a key time for gardeners to take actions to prevent certain pest problems next spring. One of the most important of these…