UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County

Pests and Diseases

Garden Help

Specific Crops

The individual pages for specific vegetables, fruits, and nuts include links to common pests and diseases for those plants. 

Invasive Pests and Quarantines

See the Pests and Quarantines page for information on current invasive pests, including any current quarantines

Integrated Pest Management

The University of California encourages home gardeners to manage pests by using Integrated Pest Management (IPM), a science-based strategy to manage the damage pests (insects, diseases, vertebrates, and weeds) cause in the garden. 

Advantages of IPM

  • Minimizes the use of dangerous chemicals
  • Helps you grow healthy plants that can resist pests
  • Encourages beneficial insects for control of insect pests

Main elements of IPM

  1. Accept that a certain amount of disease or pest damage can be tolerated in our home gardens. Home-grown fruit and veggies don’t need to look grocery-store perfect in order to be healthy and delicious!
  2. Provide growing conditions that produce strong and healthy plants that resist pests:
    • Good garden planning, soil preparation, plant selection, and spacing
    • Correct watering and fertilizing
    • Regular weeding and mulching
    • Encourage pests’ natural enemies (beneficial insects, birds, lizards)
  3. Minimize health and environmental risks by using physical controls, first:
    • Knocking or water-spraying pests off plants
    • Squishing or trapping them
    • Physical barriers around stems, twigs, or trunks
  4. If using chemical pest control, use the right spray at the right time, in the right amount. 

 IPM publications

The statewide UC IPM Program has produced publications about specific pests or pest management topics commonly encountered by California’s home and landscape audiences. Follow the links below to access information on these popular topics.

A vibrant pink flower with broad petals and a bright orange center, surrounded by green foliage.
Flowers
A group of ripe red tomatoes on a cutting board, with one tomato sliced open to show its interior. If there's additional detail you can provide or specific aspects of the image you want to focus on, let me know!
Vegetables
Two partly red apples hanging from a tree branch, surrounded by dark green leaves.
Fruit Trees
A cluster of tall green trees and shrubs against a clear blue sky, with a winding path in the foreground.
Trees/Shrubs
Close-up of a black lawn sprinkler spraying mist over vibrant green grass.
Lawn and Turf
Close-up of spotted spurge weed with small green leaves featuring darker spots, growing in bare soil.
Weeds
 
Close-up of Lygus bugs on a green leaf, showcasing their brown coloration and elongated bodies. If you need adjustments or further details, feel free to ask!
Invertebrates
 
A Norway rat resting on a dirt surface, featuring brown fur and a long tail.
Vertebrates
 
 

Videos

Additional resources

Vector Control

Close-up of an Asian Tiger Mosquito on human skin, showing its black body with white stripes against a dark background.

Santa Clara County Vector Control District - Vector Control’s mission is to detect and minimize vector-borne diseases, to abate mosquitoes, and to assist the public in resolving problems with rodents, wildlife, and insects of medical significance. A vector can be a mosquito, a rat, a flea, a tick, any animal or insect that can transmit disease or cause harm to humans. SCC Vector Control District programs and services are provided free of charge to all residents of Santa Clara County.

  • Mosquito Inspection and Control
  • Free delivery of Mosquitofish
  • Inspection & Advice for Rats and Mice
  • Insect Identification
  • Wildlife Advice and Inspection (Coyote, Raccoon, Skunk, Opossum, Rat, etc.)
  • Community Education
  • View All Services

Contact us

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