News
UC Master Gardener Program News:
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Give Your Garden Some Love! February Gardening Tips
Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than to show your garden a little love? February means it is time to start planning and preparing your spring and summer garden. These gardening tips...
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Now Accepting Submissions for the Search for Excellence
Submissions for the UC Master Gardener Search for Excellence (SFE) competition are now being accepted thru May 1, 2023. The SFE competition happens triennially and coincides with the statewide UC Master Gardner conference taking place October...
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How to Celebrate Seed Swap Day this Month
Will you be participating in National Seed Swap Day this year? Seed swap day will take place on Saturday, January 28th, and is a reminder that spring is soon on its way! The first official seed swap day was held on Jan. 26, 2006, in Washington, DC. It...
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How to Care for Flood and Water-Damaged Plants
Proper irrigation and drainage are critically important for the health of plants and trees. But what happens when Mother Nature throws an atmospheric river curveball, and your yard or garden is now under water from heavy rains or floods? Good...
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New Year, New Garden! January Gardening Tips
Happy New Year from the statewide UC Master Gardener Program. Gardening in January can be a challenge with the cold weather and shorter days. However, January can be an excellent month for garden maintenance and preparing your landscape for spring...
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Common soil problems in the garden, and how to fix them!
Soil quality is critical to healthy plants and is a vital part of our living ecosystem. Soil is alive with organisms; their populations change depending on what is added, how the soil is used, and environmental conditions. Soil health, much like our...
Pests in the Urban Landscape:
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Happy Groundhog Day!
As you may know, Groundhog Day is observed on February 2nd to predict if there will be an early spring or if six more weeks of winter are in order. Groundhogs are large, ground-dwelling rodents found mainly on the East Coast that can cause severe damage...
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Weeds in Landscape Plantings
[Originally featured in the Winter 2022 Issue of UC IPM's Green Bulletin Newsletter] Weeds can be a problem in any landscaped areas including around trees, shrubs, flower beds, or lawns and turf. As we move from cool weather to warmer temperatures, you...
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Important Invasive Species Updates
Invasive pest species threaten California's natural environment and can have an impact on public health. Help spread the word about these invasive species and how to limit their introduction, spread, and harm. Learn to recognize these pests and...
By Karey Windbiel-Rojas
Author - Associate Director for Urban & Community IPM/ Area Urban IPM Advisor -
How to Care for Flood and Water-Damaged Plants
[Originally published on the UC Master Gardener Program Statewide Blog on January 10, 2023] Proper irrigation and drainage are critically important for the health of plants and trees. But what happens when Mother Nature throws an atmospheric...
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Wet Weather Dos and Don'ts
An immense amount of rain has fallen across California in recent weeks. While rain is incredibly beneficial, in excess it can cause serious problems. The continued wet conditions opens the door for many pests, so see the list of dos and don'ts below...
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IPM with Diego: New UC IPM YouTube Series
Check out UC IPM's new YouTube series IPM with Diego! These short videos are presented from the viewpoint of Diego, a teenager who is not an expert in pest management. However, he explains basic integrated pest management concepts using...
Green News From UC Agriculture & Natural Resources:
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Climate change may reduce frost damage to orchard crops
CalAgroClimate web tools help farmers prepare for frost events A cold snap damaged almond blossoms across the Central Valley, resulting in more than $44 million in crop insurance claimsin late February 2018. A multi-day frost event wiped out roughly...
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Invasive pests kill thousands of trees, but scientists see some successes
Early detection increases the chances of eradicating pests Trees provide shade to keep us cool, produce oxygen for us to breathe and calm our nerves. Numerous studies have demonstrated that even brief contact with trees and green spaces can...
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Your water-efficient landscape doesn’t have to be barren
UC climate-ready landscape trials identify low-water yet attractive plants Good news: roses can be a part of your water-efficient landscape. Lorence Oki, UC Cooperative Extension environmental horticulture specialist in the UC Davis Department of...
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UCCE researchers target sugar-feeding ants, a key to controlling citrus pests, disease
Sugar-feeding ants protect pests that infect trees and damage the fruit they bear. Insecticides are often a go-to solution, but may kill beneficial insects in the process, too. Thankfully, Mark Hoddle, University of California Cooperative Extension...
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Can homes be designed to withstand wildfire?
[This story was originally published Oct. 4, 2021, and updated Dec. 21, 2022] In 2018, the Camp Fire destroyed nearly 19,000 structures in Northern California, including most of the town of Paradise. The structures left standing by the...
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Report: California on path to significant dairy methane reduction
Researchers say dairy farms on track to achieve full 40% reduction goal by 2030 The California Dairy Research Foundation and University of California, Davis CLEAR Center announced on Dec. 14 the release of a new analysis of methane reduction progress...
Bug Squad Blog:
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The Monarchs at the Bohart Museum of Entomology
When visitors flock to the 11 museums or collections during the 12th annual UC Davis Biodiversity Museum Day on Saturday, Feb. 18 and stop at the Bohart Museum of Entomology, they'll see scores of displays, including the colorful monarch...
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Bee Biologist Lauren Ponisio to Discuss Disease in Plant-Pollinator Communities
You won't want to miss bee biologist Lauren Ponisio's UC Davis seminar on "Disease in Plant-Pollinator Communities." Ponisio, who grew up in Fresno and holds degrees from Stanford University and UC Berkeley, is an assistant professor of biology at...
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UC Davis Biodiversity Museum Day Officials Launch Crowdfunding Site
If you'd like to support the 12th annual UC Davis Biodiversity Museum Day, set Saturday, Feb. 18 on the UC Davis campus, you can do so in memory of a loved one--or to honor a friend or family member--by accessing the newly launched crowdfunding...
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'A Water Leak' That Turned Into a Surprise Birthday Party
It's Saturday night, and UC Davis professor Lynn Kimsey, director of the Bohart Museum of Entomology, is home, thinking about "what's for dinner" and concerned about the historic storms that recently drenched the campus. Then around 5:30...
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Addie Abrams Targeting Aphids and Thrips in California Lettuce
Graduate student Adelaine "Addie" Abrams of the laboratory of Extension agricultural entomologist Ian Grettenberger, assistant professor, UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology, will present her...
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'Super Science Day' on Saturday, Feb. 18 on UC Davis Campus
The 12th annual UC Davis Biodiversity Museum Day, set Saturday, Feb. 18 on the UC Davis campus, is really a Super Science Day at which you can browse exhibits, talk to the scientists, take photos and videos, and go home feeling "That was really...
@UCMasterGarden

RT @SFBayGardeners: January and February are the ideal months for pruning roses, before new growth emerges. Using clean and sharp pruners,… Posted 14 hours ago

RT @UCANRDREC: We are hosting @UCMasterGarden program from @UCCE_Imperial. Today our Center Director facilitated discussions about soil and… Posted 14 hours ago

RT @ucanr: "Knowing how to properly prune your fruit trees is key to getting plenty of tasty and beautiful #fruit out of them." - Mo Yaghmo… Posted 20 days ago

RT @SonomaCountyMGs: A week Saturday (Jan 28th 10:30 am) join Suzanne Clarke at Guerneville Regional Library & learn if we can do anythi… Posted 20 days ago

RT @ucanr: Recovering from a #flood can be difficult and time-consuming, but your #garden can recover and thrive with proper care and atten… Posted 26 days ago

Heavy rain and flooding can take its toll on landscapes and gardens, but all hope is not lost! Our latest blog has… https://t.co/S08kTnZ8vd Posted 27 days ago