Test PB Collection: FTE

IntroductionCodling moth – the infamous “worm” in the apple – is difficult to manage in the home orchard. Soon after hatching, the caterpillars bore into apples, pears  nd walnuts to feed, leaving reddish brown droppings (frass) behind. Early maturing fruit varieties are less likely to suffer damage…

Recognizing Drought Stress According to the Arbor Day Foundation’s website, landscapes with trees increase property values by as much as 20%. For this reason alone, you may be wondering if the drought is affecting your trees. The short answer is a definitive “yes”. Most of our trees are suffering some…

When I started gardening, my understanding was that gardeners should try to keep insects out of their gardens.  But I’ve since learned that insects are an important and valuable part of the garden.  Certainly many insects do damage the plants that you’re trying to grow. But many other insects…

IntroductionA lawn is almost always the single largest user of water in the home landscape and over-irrigation is very common. Many gardens have large expanses of lawn that are never used but require considerable resources to maintain. Use turf only when it serves a purpose, such as play or entertainment…

IntroductionContra Costa County has a Mediterranean climate characterized by long, hot, dry summers, and most landscape plants should be watered to survive under these conditions. We must learn how to use water more efficiently as demand rises and drought conditions continue.Irrigation System ManagementCheck…

This is Don Hodels PDF: