Pest Management & Plant Health

Watergrass (Echinochloa spp.) in California rice is the most competitive weed complex. Plants can emerge under both continuously flooded conditions and flushed conditions, causing huge yield losses (up to 100% in dry- or drill-seeded systems).

Many gardeners have fountains, ponds, and other water features in their landscapes. Water gardens are beautiful and calming, but, if not managed properly, can add an unpleasant element to the landscapemosquitoes.

What you do with firewood this upcoming 4th of July (and year-round!) can impact more than just the s'mores on your campfire. If you move firewood around the state, you could spread deadly plant diseases and invasive insects. Don't take firewood with you if you travel or camp this holiday weekend.

Here's a list of things to keep an eye on this summer to avoid and manage pests of landscape trees, shrubs, and vines by incorporating these IPM strategies. Visit the Seasonal Landscape IPM Checklist for more information or to subscribe to their monthly emails.

Weed Control and Herbicide Use Q: I have lots of weeds in my orchard. I've tried hand pulling and a high concentration of vinegar without much success to get rid of the stinging nettle, horsetail, hemlock, and wild radishes.

The explosive growth of organic agriculture in the U.S. reflected in a 90% increase in organic farms from 2011 to 2021, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture statistics has come at a cost for some farmers.

Nutsedges are aggressive and persistent weeds that commonly infest lawns, vegetable and flower gardens, and landscapes. These perennial sedges are a problem in lawns because they grow faster than turfgrasses and result in non-uniform turf.

As vacation season begins, people will be traveling much more in the coming months. Whether you'll be staying at a hotel, hostel, motel, rental home, or summer camp, you should always be on the lookout for bed bugs.

The week of June 17-23 is National Pollinator Week, which celebrates the vital winged creatures we are so dependent on to pollinate most of the flowering plants in the world.

Rats can contaminate our food, damage structures, and spread diseases. To help residents and urban pest professionals safely and effectively manage rats, UC IPM has updated the Pest Notes: Rats publication.