Ongoing research

Article by Mike Kluk, UC Master Gardener, Yolo CountyThe Department of Entomology and Nematology is not the place you would normally expect to find a research scientist who is developing a completely new understanding of how plants relate to their environment. But Dr. Richard Karban, formally trained in…

Blog article by Brenda Altman, UC Master GardenerHave you ever walked into a plant nursery store and discovered a pleasant surprise? No?  Nothing like an exotic plant or an heirloom garlic special but cats. Oh, it is a cat, no, it is two, no, three. Nova, Tessa, and Reggie now reside at the Mid-City…

Thrips populationThrips are currently in Generation 2, with adults predicted to peak in the second week of May. Spring temperatures remain similar to long-term normals, and population predictions have not changed much from last update. Thrips and TSWV monitoringWe have started to monitor thrips coming…

When you spot a plant in your garden that doesn’t look healthy, how do you figure out what’s wrong with it? Plant problems can be caused by insects, mites, vertebrates, environmental conditions, and diseases, but it can sometimes be hard to tell which is causing the problem. UC IPM's Plant Problem…

Two of the most common earthworms found in our area are redworms and nightcrawlers.  Redworms (eisenia foetida, also known as red wiggler worms) are shallow dwellers, living in the top 12 inches of the soil.  These are the worms most commonly used for vermicomposting, a method of creating rich garden compost…