Pest Management & Plant Health

Beetle borers. They are very small and they cause a lot of damage to trees, including death. These insects have not been found yet in our County but they are very close and we are especially concerned about the ISHB which can attack over 110 tree species.

Advice for the Home Gardener from the Help Desk of the UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County Client's Requests: I have these pests on EVERYTHING from my tomato plants to my Rose bushes & flowers to my Lambs Ear plant! I'm certain the green worms are eating these because I've seen them on...

There are sex pheromone traps for Diamondback moth set up across the Salinas Valley. This pheromone only attracts males of this pest. These traps were first put out on February 20th, 2019.

Although they're small, cute, and furry, ground squirrels can be a real pest for California residents and gardeners. Found throughout California, burrowing ground squirrels cause damage to landscapes and structures while feeding on ornamental or food-bearing plants.

Spring is here which means pest activity is on the rise. Termites are one of the top pest concerns for many city dwellers and rural residents alike. The infographic shows some interesting facts about termites.

Have you listened to a Growing the Valley podcast? Here are a couple you might want to check out. In this short episode, Phoebe Gordon chats with Dr. Brad Hanson, Weed Specialist with UC Davis.

Here are some pictures from 28th Annual UCR Urban Pest Management Conference (March 20, 2019), which was held at UCR Extension Center. We had 14 speakers from university, research lab, government agencies, etc.

Most of us learn best by doing, which is why Weed Science School 2019 promises to be better than ever this year.

Advice for the Home Gardener from the Help Desk of the UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County Client's Request: Thank you for bringing the unknown biting insect to the UC Master Gardener Program Help Desk.

Maintaining and caring for the Sierra Foothill Research and Extension Educational Fruit/Nut Orchard has been a tremendous pleasure over the last 7 years.