Pest Management & Plant Health

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Emerald Ash Borer adults emerging from a tree.
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week is May 17-23, 2026

May 15, 2026
By Cherie Shook
Every year, Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week reminds us that one small insect can have a massive impact on our communities. The emerald ash borer (EAB) is an invasive metallic green beetle that has caused the death of millions of ash trees across North America, killing nearly 100% of unprotected street trees…
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Black, wilted blossoms affected by fire blight on a fruit tree.
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Look Out for Fire Blight!

May 6, 2026
By Belinda Messenger-Sikes
A warm March followed by rain in April and May in many parts of California has set up the perfect conditions for the development of an unsightly and damaging tree disease called fire blight. Pome fruit trees like pear and apple, and other related trees like pyracantha, are all susceptible to this bacterial…
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A long, slender, light brown insect that resembles a stick walking on a tree branch.
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

Stick Insects Are Cool but Can Damage Your Plants

May 5, 2026
By Belinda Messenger-Sikes
Have you ever seen a walking stick insect, maybe in a museum display or at an entomology demonstration? They look just like twigs and are fascinating creatures. This makes them popular as pets in classrooms and homes. However, if pet walking sticks are accidentally or purposefully let out of their cages,…
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Oxalis stricta (common yellow wood sorrel) is nearly impossible to eradicate in our area. J.C. Lawrence
The Real Dirt: Article

What Weeds Can Tell Us

April 27, 2026
Every gardener knows that weeds are just plants in the wrong place. Webster’s dictionary defines a weed as “a plant that is not valued where it is growing and is usually of vigorous growth; especially: one that tends to overgrow or choke out more desirable plants.” The use of weeds as soil indicators is not…
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A small grey beetle with a long snout that curves downward standing on a green yellow starthistle leaf.
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

The Good Bugs That Control Invasive Pests (Part 2)

April 13, 2026
By Lindsey Hack
In Part 1 of this story, we covered some basics of biological control. Now let’s talk about some of the good bugs helping to control invasive pests in California. Controlling yellow starthistle one weevil at a time Yellow starthistle (or YST) is a harmful invasive plant that is established and…
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A small black and orange insect with a somewhat long, spiky body crawling on a leaf.
Pests in the Urban Landscape: Article

The Good Bugs That Control Invasive Pests (Part 1)

April 9, 2026
By Lindsey Hack
You have probably heard about the “good bugs” that eat pest insects around your home and garden, like ladybugs, lacewings, and spiders. You may have even purchased some beneficial insects or nematodes at a garden store. Good bugs can also help us manage invasive species, but the process is a bit more…
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Fire blight inhibits fruit development on pear. J. Alosi
The Real Dirt: Article

It’s Fire Blight Season!

April 1, 2026
If you are noticing droopy, dried-out flower clusters on your pears, Asian pears, quince, apples or crabapples, fire blight may be the cause. Fire blight is caused by a bacterium and is a common and frequently destructive disease that usually shows up in April and May, but during dry spell, it may appear in…
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