May is National Strawberry Month. Fresh strawberries are one of the most popular and refreshing treats anywhere. Healthy too! And perfect for everything from cheesecake to mojitos to jam. Grown in all fifty states, their peak season lasts from April through June. Just like growing your own tomatoes, there’s nothing quite like having your […]
It’s National Strawberry Month! Read More »
It’s spring, and your yard is bursting with new plant growth. Along with billowing flowers and new foliage on trees and shrubs come unwanted bugs that may multiply rapidly if not kept in check. One of the easiest ways to prevent significant damage is to use Mother Nature’s pest managers – the natural enemies! Also
Meet the Natural Enemies Read More »
Are your roses sporting new leaves that glisten in the sunlight and are slightly sticky to the touch? See a trail of ants crawling up the trunk of your plum tree? How about powdery black stuff on your camellia bush or the garden furniture next to it? All are indicators that sucking insects may have
Protect your Plants from Sucking Pests Read More »
Come join the fun at Earth Day Mill Valley, a free community event on Sunday, April 21, 2024, from 11am to 2pm, at the Mill Valley Community Center. This family-friendly event will feature fun activities and green exhibits for all ages, in a beautiful outdoor setting. Dozens of booths hosted by environmental and community groups,
Mark your Calendar for Earth Day Mill Valley Read More »
Do you find good-sized holes in the grass, or damage to your fruit and vegetables, but don’t see anything that might be causing it? If you think you have an animal pest but are not sure what it is, the UC IPM Wildlife Pest Identification Tool can help! This e-tool lets you narrow down potential
Who’s Digging in my Yard? Read More »
First you see them, then you don’t. Those glossy new leaves that cloaked the branches on your dwarf fruit tree seemed to disappear overnight! Same with the succulent mahogany-colored foliage on your prize rose plant, and the prickly leathery leaves on a large chunk of your California live oak. What’s up with that? Even your
Leaves that Disappear in the Night Read More »
In 1961, Congress established National Poison Prevention Week to raise awareness, reduce unintentional poisonings, and promote poison prevention. It is sponsored by the National Poison Prevention Week Council; this year it is March 17-23. America’s Poison Centers represents 55 poison centers across the country, focused on preventing every poison and toxin-related health emergency in America.
National Poison Prevention Week Read More »
March 10 to 16 is Termite Awareness Week. These tiny, sneaky, out of sight wood-damaging pests are a big concern for homeowners. Termites build colonies 24/7 and can chew slowly through your home, bit by bit. Termite Awareness Week aims to provide more information on what makes these insects tick, offer recommendations for managing them,
Predators are one of the primary groups used in the biological control of insects and mite pests. These include some of the larger insects and spiders along with amphibians, birds, mammals, and reptiles. Spiders are major predators in the garden. Most common garden spiders are observed in the open during the day are not likely
Protect your Garden Predators! Read More »
Ugh! Snails and slugs, the bane to most gardeners. Loosely related to octopi and oysters, they glide along on their muscular foot, secreting mucus to facilitate movement, leaving their trademark glistening trail behind. With similar biology, the snail carries an external shell while slugs have evolved without one. Both are most active at night or
Those Sneaky Slimy Critters Read More »
