Urban Integrated Pest Management

Just a few more weeks of summer remain! As the weather begins to shift, you may need to adjust your landscaping practices to prevent and monitor for fall pests. The UC IPM Seasonal Landscape IPM Checklist is a monthly guide to help you avoid common pests of landscape plants. Here are some general tips…

Fall is approaching and so are our last two webinars of the year! Join us every third Thursday of the month from 12:00 to 1:00pm PST to learn about a wide range of urban pest management topics. This series is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required.  September 17, 2026 - Palm…

Nothing is more frustrating than watching your hard-earned harvest get ruined by pests before you can even enjoy it. The fruits and vegetables in our gardens can be attacked by many different kinds of insects, diseases, snails, rodents, and other pests.  Many common pests that show up in our…

Are yellowjackets ruining your outdoor picnic or gathering? Yellowjackets, sometimes called “meat bees”, prey on other insects and scavenge on human food and garbage.  They are more likely to sting if disturbed while foraging. Avoid unpleasant encounters with yellowjacket wasps by following the tips…

Following the July 16th webinar Update on Asian Citrus Psyllid in California, our presenter, Dr. Sandipa Gautam, answered live questions from participants. Below are some of the questions asked about Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) and Huanglongbing (HLB) disease. Keep in mind that some of the questions were…

Follow these tips for the month of August to prevent pests in your garden and landscapes. To see tips more specific to your region, visit the Seasonal Landscape IPM Checklist on the UC IPM website.  Manage ants around landscapes and building foundations using insecticide baits and trunk barriers…

Trees are long-lived resources that provide environmental, aesthetic, and community benefits. When a tree shows signs of decline, damage, or pest infestation, it is common to seek help from a tree care professional. While professional tree care is essential in many situations, the quality and appropriateness…

Blood-sucking ticks can spread bacteria and other germs when they bite, causing diseases like Lyme disease in people and pets. Fortunately, a few simple precautions can go a long way in reducing your exposure to ticks. Preventing Tick BitesTicks are efficient hitchhikers—they can easily latch on to your…

Earwigs, sometimes also called pincherbugs, can be damaging or just a nuisance around our homes and gardens. While these insect pests aren’t harmful to humans, they can cause quite the ruckus in home gardens. The most common species found in California is the European earwig, Forficula auricularia. This…

Yellow starthistle is a spiky, fast-growing, invasive weed in home landscapes, parks, rangelands, roadsides, and natural areas. It outcompetes other plants by growing in impenetrable stands and depleting soil moisture. It's also highly flammable which increases the risk of wildfires where it's growing. …

A few strands of thin, feathery, green plants growing under the dock didn’t catch anyone’s attention last spring. But those strands spread quickly and within months the lake’s calm waters were tangled in mats of the feathery Eurasian watermilfoil, an aggressive aquatic plant that grows quickly and clogs…

Summer is in full force and while it's been quite hot in many parts of California, it's been very cool in others. That's why UC IPM's Seasonal Landscape IPM Checklist is a useful tool to help you figure out what to do in your region each month! Here are some general tips for keeping your landscape…

 Pruning in Practice Pruning is perhaps the most common tree maintenance activity that is undertaken on urban and ornamental trees. This is in sharp contrast with forest trees, which are pruned only in exceptional cases and yet grow and develop their mature form quite well, living considerably…

When you have a vegetable garden, sometimes you might discover your plants aren’t growing as well as expected and look sick. Vegetable plants can get diseases just like animals. A plant disease is an abnormal condition caused by microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, water molds, or viruses. These are known…

Last month, we shared on our blog that UC IPM's website was undergoing changes to redesign and update the content to improve not only the overall look, but accessibility for those with disabilities to be in compliance with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).   We also…

Because California is a major hub for commerce and tourism, many non-native organisms, especially plants, insects, and other animals, are brought into our state every day, either accidentally or on purpose. Most of them are harmless, but some are invasive species that cause big problems for the environment…

Visiting Yosemite National Park is an awe-inspiring experience, even for the most seasoned of travelers. The valleys, waterfalls, giant sequoias, and iconic Glacier Point are all bucket list destinations ideal for a family camping vacation. To continue enjoying beautiful parks like Yosemite, it is important…

Help raise awareness of invasive species by participating in the California Invasive Species Action Week (CISAW) held June 6-14, 2026! Invasive species are non-native pests that can negatively impact our waters, native ecosystems, agriculture, health, and economy. Each day during the week, UC IPM will…

Many tools are available to help gardeners, pest management professionals, and growers practice sustainable pest management without the use of pesticides. Sometimes, however, a pest infestation is too high or nonchemical methods haven’t worked, so the next solution might be to use a pesticide. Pesticides are…