Ongoing research

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green house lettuce
HOrT COCO-UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa: Article

The Invasion of the Mighty Spider Mite

July 23, 2018
Advice for the Home Gardener from the Help Desk of the UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County MGCC Help Desk Client's Request: The picture shows my greenhouse lettuce. The picture doesn't show it but it is covered with spider mites.
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Poison-oak growing on a tree as a climbing vine. (Credit: Joseph M. DiTomaso)
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Removing Poison Oak

July 22, 2018
By Anne E Schellman
Before hiking, backpacking, or camping, people are warned to avoid poison oak.
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UC IPM Pest Note on Snails and Slugs. http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7427.html

Garden Pests--Here's a Little Help!

July 22, 2018
By Iris Craig, U. C. Master Gardener of Napa County When I asked a friend how her garden was doing, she told me that the day after she planted lettuce and basil, she found nothing but stumps. I told her that the likely culprits were snails, birds or rodents.
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Article

Weeds Be-Gone

July 22, 2018
One of the hardest things about gardening is setting priorities. The to-do list never seems to end. Weeding, watering, deadheading, harvesting there is always more to be done.
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Article

Battle bugs in the garden to protect produce

July 22, 2018
With the garden moving into full swing, you may be seeing a plethora of pests trying to get to all that produce before you do! First, you need to make it difficult and less desirable for larger mammals such as rats and rabbits to get to the garden.
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Best to feel out the rocks while crossing the river lest one get washed away.
Strawberries and Caneberries: Article

Crossing the River While Feeling the Rocks

July 21, 2018
By Mark P Bolda
I don't write too much about it in this space because it tends more in the area of "shop talk" for us in extension, but a great interest of mine is how one successfully executes a program of extension.
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European wool carder bee, Anthidium manicatum, heads toward a blue spike sage, Salvia uliginosa. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Bug Squad: Article

This Bully Bee Goes for the Blue Plate Special

July 20, 2018
By Kathy Keatley Garvey
It's a bully. But what a bully! Ever seen the male European wool carder bee (Anthidium manicatum) protecting its turf? It's "no-holds barred" on our blue spike sage (Salvia uliginosa) and frankly, it's a delight to see and photograph.
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