Gardening

Updated May 29, 2026 at 4:30pmAn invasive insect called the glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS) has been found on grapevine shipments sold at select Costco locations in Northern California between April 21 and May 21, 2026. Note that the timeframe for grapevine plants sold at Costco has been extended to April…

June bugs are among the most familiar insects of early summer. Although people commonly call them “bugs,” they are actually scarab beetles in the genus Phyllophaga. These beetles are usually brown, oval-shaped, and active at night, often flying clumsily around porch lights. Their larvae, known as white grubs…

           What makes a neighborhood a community? Is it holiday decorations, strollable sidewalks, or HOA-stipulated paint colors? Laughing children, knowing your neighbors and aesthetic beauty are all components of your surrounding neighborhood. But I think front porches create…

Native plants are adapted to the dry climate, support ecosystem's biodiversity. Spring is a good time to evaluate your landscape and make potential changes to decrease your water use in 2026. A good starting point is to incorporate a California native plant or two into the garden. Many native plants can…

Drip irrigation is well-suited to the El Dorado County landscape. It is doubtful that anyone living in El Dorado County, or the whole of California for that matter, is not aware of drought conditions impacting everything from household water use, home gardening, commercial agriculture, new home…

Fact Sheet • June 2026 • Download PDF (2.8 MB)What is IPM?Integrated pest management, or IPM, is a way of using multiple methods to manage pests instead of depending on one or two solutions. These methods can include choosing the right planting practices, encouraging beneficial insects, and using sprays only…

Looking to keep your brain stimulated this summer? Need information about garden pests? 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 …

Article by Peggy Beltramo, UC Master Gardener of Placer County Have you heard of the term “keystone” species? They are the species of plants and animals within an environment that hold all the other elements together, much like the keystone block in an ancient arch. Without the keystone…