Garden Troubleshooting

After participating in a hands-on workshop at the Agricultural Application Engineering (AgAppE) Lab at the Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension (KARE) Center, 100% of undergraduate students reported learning gains in spray application technology, sparking interest in careers in agricultural…

A lifelong interest in gardening led Bill Brooks to become a Master Gardener. Upon his semi-retirement, after 40 years of teaching science and sixth-graders, he became a member of the Master Gardener class of 2019. Today, Bill serves as co-lead for the 2025 training class, is a member of the speaker’s bureau…

Dandelions can be an especially troublesome weed in lawns and landscapes. Once they're established, dandelions readily regrow from their deep taproot when only the tops are removed or mowed. Dandelions can regrow if even 1 inch of the taproot remains. The best way to get rid of dandelions is to control them…

For many of us, gardening involves a constant battle with weeds. Basically, a weed is nothing more than a plant growing where it is not wanted, the classic example being dandelions in the lawn. But as the old saying goes, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” and there are many “weeds” that are, in…

Bermuda buttercup (Oxalis pes-caprae), also called buttercup oxalis or sourgrass, might be a familiar sight in winter and spring, particularly to those who live in coastal regions or the Sacramento Valley. Some people enjoy seeing this plant’s cheerful yellow flowers pop up in their spring gardens, but for…

Calibration might sound intimidating, but it’s critical for safe and effective herbicide application. Proper calibration ensures that the correct amount of pesticide is applied to an area while achieving the desired level of pest control. To support land managers and pesticide applicators, the UC Statewide…

Worried your tree is dying? Learn how to spot signs of distress and what steps to take to identify the cause and possibly save it.

General situation, thrips population development Planting is in full swing. Temperatures and precipitation this spring are close to historic norms, and the thrips population predictions are very similar to those we saw last year. We’re currently at the peak of 1st-generation adults; they’ll be laying their…

Dear Colleagues,1) California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Integrated Pest Control Branch is now accepting applications for the Vertebrate Pest Control Research Program (VPCRP). This funding opportunity is designed to support innovative research and education projects aimed at…