Gardening

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Adult leafhopper. (Credit: Jack Kelly Clark)
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Leafhoppers on plants

September 3, 2018
By Karey Windbiel-Rojas
You may see leafhoppers in your garden or landscape this time of year as they hop about feeding on a variety of plants. You can distinguish these small, wedge-shaped insects from other pests by their tendency to quickly jump or crawl rapidly sideways when disturbed.
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Figure 1. Product labels often look very similar even when the ingredients change. On the left is the product containing zeta-cypermethrin; the one on the right contains carbaryl.
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

When Familiar Pesticides Change

August 29, 2018
By Belinda Messenger-Sikes, Karey Windbiel-Rojas
[Modified from the original article in the Summer 2018 issue of the Retail Nursery and Garden Center IPM News] We all have our favorite products, whether it's laundry detergent, shampoo, or a pesticide you know works against the pests in your home or garden.
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Adult western yellowjacket. (Credit: Jack Kelly Clark)
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Don't Let Yellowjackets Spoil Your Summer

August 26, 2018
By Anne E Schellman
Yellowjackets have a well-deserved reputation for being aggressive since they often sting when defending their nests or when they encounter people while out scavenging for food. This time of year, yellowjacket colony populations are increasing, and people may encounter them more frequently.
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Don't Move Firewood!
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Don't Move Firewood!

August 23, 2018
By Anne E Schellman
[From the Summer issue of the UC IPM Retail Nursery & Garden Center News] When you use firewood in the great outdoors, be aware that moving firewood can transport tree-killing insects and diseases.
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Mature plant of bristly oxtongue. (Credit: Larry L. Strand)
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Bristly Oxtongue Lives Up to its Name

August 19, 2018
By Anne E Schellman
This summer, you may have noticed what looks like a large dandelion plant covered in blisters growing in your lawn or landscape. It's known as bristly oxtongue, and if you examine or touch it you'll see and feel why.
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Adult honey bee collecting pollen on zinnia. (Credit: Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Honey Bee Day Reminds us to Protect Bees Year-Round

August 17, 2018
By Anne E Schellman
Saturday, August 18 is National Honey Bee Day! Many people are concerned about the health of honey bees, and rightly so, as there has been a decline in their populations during the last decade.
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Stinknet plant. (Credit: Ron Vanderhoff)
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Stinknet, an Emerging Invasive Weed

August 8, 2018
By Cheryl A Wilen
I recently attended a Santa Ana River Orange County Weed Management Area (SAROCWMA) meeting and there was an opportunity for participants to update the group about new invasive plants as well as give an update on management of these and others.
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Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Summer Pests? Video Solutions!

August 5, 2018
By Anne E Schellman
Summer is all about being outdoors and enjoying camping, swimming, playing, and other activities with family and friends. But it's a real drag when pests such as ants, yellowjackets, or mosquitoes ruin the fun.
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Most Californians don't have a desert landscape designed to withstand the limited water and high temps like the desert garden display at the UC Santa Cruz botanical garden. (Credit: Lauren Snowden)
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Hot Weather Tips for the Summer Garden

August 1, 2018
By Melissa G Womack
This week much of California is under a heat advisory or excessive heat warning, with high temperatures estimated to range from 90 to 108 degrees. Many home gardeners are wondering how they can help their plants, trees, or shrubs survive the intense summer heat.
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Vegetable Pest ID Cards.
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

New! Pocket-Sized Guide for Vegetable Pests

July 29, 2018
By Anne E Schellman
While working outside, gardeners and farmers may discover pest problems they need to answer quickly. To meet this need, the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources has recently published the Vegetable Pest Identification for Gardens and Small Farms card set.
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