Ongoing research

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soil layers

Like Dirt? There's Scholarship Money

March 29, 2021
By Ben A Faber
Scholarship Opportunities for 2021 This year, in lieu of the Professional Soil Scientists Association of California's (PSSAC) usual scholarships covering registration and lodging to attend PSSAC's annual meetings, we are pleased to announce that PSSAC is offering two $1000 financial scholarships! Th...
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IMG 6541
Under the Solano Sun: Article

Fabulous Floribunda!

March 29, 2021
One of the most anticipated springtime displays in my yard is a flowering crabapple (Malus floribunda), also known as a Japanese crabapple. We had a beautiful flowering crabapple in our yard when I was growing up and I knew that I wanted to plant one in my own garden someday.
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Earl Holtz
ANR Employee News: Article

In memoriam: Earl Holtz

March 29, 2021
By Pamela S Kan-Rice
Earl Holtz, former UC Cooperative Extension dairy advisor in Sonoma County, died on March 25, 2021, at the age of 87.
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An autumn swarm event of putative species Reticulitermes hesperus, the western subterranean termite. (Photo by Casey Hubble)
Entomology & Nematology News: Article

Why These Entomologists Want Your Swarming Termite Specimens

March 29, 2021
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
If you see western subterranean termites swarming in the spring, from now through June, save the specimens for University of California Urban Integrated Pest Management (IPM) advisor and urban entomologist Andrew Sutherland.
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Stop mulch short of a building foundation to leave bare soil for bees
The Bee Gardener: Article

To Mulch or Not to Mulch: That 'Bee' the Question

March 29, 2021
With apologies to grammarians everywhere, the mulch/bee dilemma is a question I often receive. Many bee gardeners know that 70 percent of California native bees nest underground, and that access to bare soil is needed for nest building.
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Jim Farrar
ANR Employee News: Article

Work group appointed to speed California’s shift to safer pest management

March 29, 2021
By Pamela S Kan-Rice
The California Department of Pesticide Regulation and California Department of Food and Agriculture launched a new work group to accelerate the systemwide adoption of safer, sustainable pest control practices. Three UC ANR academics have been appointed to the work group.
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UCCE orchard and vineyard systems advisor Kari Arnold demonstrates proper tree planting. (Photo: Anne Schellman)
Green Blog: Article

No need to amend soil when planting new trees or perennials

March 29, 2021
By Jeannette Warnert
Gardeners who follow conventional wisdom and nursery recommendations to mix organic amendments into the soil when planting new trees or perennials in their landscapes are making a mistake, according to UC Cooperative Extension environmental horticulture experts.
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Green lawn with piled up soil from a gopher mound.
The Stanislaus Sprout: Article

Got Gophers?

March 29, 2021
By Anne E Schellman
Gophers are well-known and certainly unwelcome pests in landscapes, gardens, lawns, and athletic turf. More correctly called pocket gophers, these rodents mostly remain hidden underground in tunnels and feed on plants from below, sometimes pulling whole plants into their tunnels.
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pocket-gopher
Alfalfa & Forage News: Article

Vertebrate Pest Management Training Happening This Week

March 29, 2021
By Daniel Putnam
Gophers, ground squirrels, and meadow voles are among the most important pests in California alfalfa fields. Training in vertebrate pest management and control is being held, starting tomorrow for the next few days in virtual webinars.
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