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Welcome to the Center for Landscape and Urban Horticulture (CLUH), an information resource of the University of California Cooperative Extension (UC Cooperative Extension). The CLUH supports UC Cooperative Extension educational and applied research programs serving California's environmental horticulture industry. This site features science-based information on:

Please review our Mission Statement.

For the latest science-based information on landscape water needs, please visit our pages under Landscape Water Conservation and Irrigation Management.

Information is contributed by University of California Cooperative Extension scientists. All content is reviewed by these or other experts to assure it is authoritative and science-based. Featured are summaries of technical topics, fact sheets, newsletters, reports, commentary, and web links.

THE 9%: Landscape irrigation accounts for just 9% of water use in California, yet landscapes are under relentless attack as California confronts ongoing drought. The facts presented here show how these attacks are misguided and that there are ways to conserve water without degrading landscape plantings.

Does the landscape you manage have a water budget or water conservation goal that seems impossible to meet? Read about Five Simple Steps for Conserving Landscape Water.

For Home Gardening information and resources, please visit the University of California Garden Web.

UPCOMING EVENTS

What's new in Landscape and Urban Hort?

Report Unsolicited Seeds to APHIS

Author: UC Integrated Pest Management Program Have you had unexpected seeds show up in the mail? Unknown seeds could be invasive plants, contain invasive insects, or have plant disease causing agents. Here's what the United States Department of...

Report Unsolicited Seeds to APHIS

Unlabeled seeds from unsolicited packages.

Have you had unexpected seeds show up in the mail? Unknown seeds could be invasive plants, contain invasive insects, or have plant disease causing agents. Here's what the United States Department of Agriculture Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service...

Applications of Organic Mulch Result in Enhanced Tree Growth and Water Savings

Chilopsis linearis ‘Bubba' (Desert Willow)

I hope all of you and your loved ones are staying well and healthy as the pandemic continues. Involving yourself in outdoor activities is not only a great way to escape 'cabin fever' and improve your physical health but it is also good for you...

Want Another Reason to Practice Social Distancing? Head Lice.

Head lice adults, nymphs, and eggs (nits). [Credit: Dr. Shujuan (Lucy) Li]

Most people are practicing social distancing due to the current pandemic, so contracting head lice might not be a top concern right now. However, many families with young children have at least one encounter with head lice at some time or another....

Lawn Problems: Diseases Are Not Always To Blame

Figure 1. A healthy backyard lawn. (Credit: C Reynolds)

Your customers want their lawns to be beautiful and functional (Figure 1) but dead patches or other problems sometimes occur. Figuring out the cause of turfgrass damage can be a challenge since many plant pathogens affect grasses as well as numerous...