News
UC Master Gardener Program News:
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Water Management for California Home Gardeners
Water is essential for any garden, but it's crucial to use water wisely in a place like California, where droughts are common. Effective water management can help home gardeners keep their plants healthy while conserving this precious resource....
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Gardening in Extreme Heat with UC Master Gardener Tips to Save Your Landscape
A scorching summer heat wave is bringing triple digit temperatures and excessive heat alerts to much of California. The National Weather Service is predicting temperatures upwards of 105 and 115 degrees for several days in a row. Many home gardeners are...
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July Garden Tips - Summer Fun and Keeping Cool
As the summer sun shines brightly, July is a critical period for gardeners to nurture their plants, ensuring they thrive during the hottest part of the year. This month is a time of significant growth and harvest, where your diligent care can...
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Celebrate Pollinator Week with Citizen Science
Get ready to buzz with excitement because Pollinator Week is just around the corner! This international event, celebrated from June 17-23, 2024, is all about showing our support for pollinators. Pollinators are tiny heroes responsible for so much of...
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June Garden Tips – Keeping Up with the Busy Garden
Summer has arrived, bringing with it busier days and rising temperatures. Managing irrigation is quickly becoming the most critical task in the garden as the heat increases. Here is a list of gardening activities to focus on this June: Plant...
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UC Master Gardeners part of effort to eradicate invasive tree-of-heaven
UC Master Gardeners across the state are on a scouting mission for the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), combing their communities and the local countryside to find the undesirable but common tree-of-heaven. In contrast to its...
Pests in the Urban Landscape:
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Can I Use Vinegar to Control Weeds?
Acetic acid, also known as vinegar, is used in products for weed control. Many people choose it because it is natural. However, acetic acid can damage skin and eyes, especially at concentrations commonly found in weed killers. What is the difference...
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What are exotic and invasive pests?
Exotic and invasive pests threaten California's natural environments, agricultural production, structures, landscapes and gardens. Exotic pests are organisms introduced into an area beyond their natural range and become pests in the new...
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Urban Pesticides, Fertilizers, and Water Quality
Pesticides and fertilizers applied around homes, residential or commercial landscapes, school sites, and other areas can enter our creeks, rivers, and oceans, degrading water quality. While pesticides and fertilizers can be useful in controlling pests...
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Organic, Natural, and Less Toxic: What’s the Difference?
You've heard of terms such as green, organic, natural, ecofriendly, and less toxic to describe pest control products and services. But what do these terms really mean? To different people, they can mean different things, creating obvious confusion. But...
By Karey Windbiel-Rojas
Author - Associate Director for Urban & Community IPM/ Area Urban IPM Advisor -
July Pest Prevention Tips
Follow these tips for the month of July to prevent pests in the garden and landscape. To see more tips specific to your region, visit the Seasonal Landscape IPM Checklist on the UC IPM website. Clean up fallen fruit or nuts to avoid...
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Mosquito Management for Ponds, Fountains, and Water Gardens
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 landscape—mosquitoes. How can you prevent mosquito...
Green News From UC Agriculture & Natural Resources:
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Report: Making homes more resistant to wildfire can be affordable
Priorities include removing objects within five feet of a house, upgrading vents Wildfire losses cost taxpayers and communities hundreds of billions of dollars each year, and preparing communities before a disaster occurs is the...
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New project aims to use farm waste to fuel bioeconomy
UC ANR to help create database, support technology for sustainable bioproducts and biofuels In California's Northern San Joaquin Valley, crop leftovers such as almond shells, fruit peels and orchard trimmings can potentially be converted into...
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The unintended consequences of clean fuel policies
How policies affect emissions, land use, and the prices of fuel and vegetable oils Over the last two decades, both the federal government and state governments have enacted policies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the transportation...
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Report: Wastewater recycling essential to resilient water future for LA region
Wastewater recycling in Los Angeles is the focus of a new report released by the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation and the UC Agriculture and Natural Resources. The report, Making the Most of Landmark Recycled Water Investments in Los Angeles:...
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Report: Cover crops benefits may outweigh water-use in California
Additional guidance needed for groundwater management strategies Cover crops are planted to protect and improve the soil between annual crops such as tomatoes or between rows of tree and vine crops, but growers may be concerned about the water use of...
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Groundwater demand management subject of discussions June 17
Groundwater demand management in agricultural regions is the focus of a workshop that will be held June 17, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport in Burlingame. Representatives of groundwater sustainability...