Test PB Collection: FTE

By Kim Wilson, UC Master Gardener Integrated pest management (IPM) is a whole system-based strategy to prevent and manage pests using environmentally sound methods. This strategy provides long term solutions, manages potential problems early and gives choices to avoid unnecessary pesticide use.

By Tami Reece, UC Master Gardener Blueberry Varieties Considerations in choosing blueberry plants: taste and fruit size, harvest dates, climate, plant form and foliage. Some varieties are deciduous, losing their leaves in the winter.

By Thorv Hessellund, UC Master Gardener Avocados are a tropical fruit, native to Central America and Mexico. It has been a staple of the Central American diet dating back to the 17th century.

By Peggy Burhenn, UC Master Gardener Butterflies and moths belong to the order of insects called Lepidoptera. Butterflies Need: Sun- prefer warm, sunny locations to warm bodies for flight. Water- need nutrients from edges of puddles or rotting fruit. Fill a bowl with wet sand, rocks or corks.

By Lesley Truett, UC Master Gardener Welcome to North County's Coolest Compost Plot! There are many methods of composting. Our goal at Centennial Park Demonstration Garden (CPDG) is to provide home gardeners with an approachable solution that takes as little time, money, and effort as possible.

By Tami Reese, UC Master Gardener The dry farm plot in the Demonstration Garden was started in fall of 2014. The purpose of the plot was to grow vegetables without additional summer irrigation.

By Kim Wilson, UC Master Gardener A gardener finds small red bumps on the leaf petioles of her apricot tree. She shows this image to her Facebook gardening group. They identify the problem as red mites on this apricot tree. She decides to consult helpline before using an insecticide.

For San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties Backyard Orchardists Prepared By: John H.

By Kim Wilson, UC Master Gardener Invasive Plants Non-native weeds or plants that can survive, reproduce, and spread without human intervention. They cause economic or environmental harm.

By Bill Smillie, UC Master Gardener Water wars! Water is one of THE key commodities in the coming years. There's less and less of it generally available (not that the ocean volumes are changing much) and it's becoming increasingly expensive.