With abundant rains come bountiful weeds. Some of the most troublesome in early spring are common groundsel, oxalis, mallows, and nutsedges. Common groundsel produces many seeds and can rapidly infest landscape beds. It is best controlled before it flowers. Remove young plants with a hoe, and top soil with mulch. Mallows are annual weeds that […]
It may seem early in the season for mosquitos, but one of the wettest years in history has left standing water across the area, creating perfect conditions for these pesky insects to develop. Stagnant water creates havens for disease-spreading mosquitoes, and mosquito experts are concerned this could be a long and intense mosquito season. These
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There is a new worm in town – the invasive jumping worm. Also known as Alabama jumpers, Jersey wrigglers, wood eel, crazy worms, snake worms, Asian jumping worm, and crazy snake worms, they have been found in Napa and Sonoma Counties (not yet in Marin). They are smooth, glossy gray or brown and 1.5 to
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Integrated pest management, or IPM, is a process you can use to solve pest problems while minimizing risks to people and the environment. The definition of IPM is: IPM is an ecosystem-based strategy that focuses on long-term prevention of pests or their damage through a combination of techniques such as biological control, habitat manipulation, modification
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In the mood to add some plants to the garden? One highlight of the winter nursery is the availability of bare root plants. Bare root plants are not actively growing plants. They’re usually dug when they’re dormant and then refrigerated until it is time to ship to the nursery or you. This system works well
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Weather so far this season has been really really cold, and of late, nice, and wet. Not a great time to be outside wording in the yard. It IS, however, a great time to do some much-needed primping of your indoor plants. If you keep your plants clean and neat, they’re not only more attractive,
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Fall is for planting! And no better time to add some native plants to your garden. Why natives? There are lots of reasons including conserving water, reducing chemical usage (no pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers are needed with natives) and encouraging wildlife. Want a colorful garden and don’t think you can do it with mostly natives?
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Do you have a “let them be” approach to managing weeds? Why remove them when they’ll eventually die back? Time to reconsider. Some weeds are aggressive and invasive; tops may die down, but roots remain alive until conditions are right for them to grow. Many spread by seeds. That one little dandelion plant in your
Prevention is the best Way to Manage Weeds Read More »
It’s the time of the year that the landscape is awash with acorns, and if you’ve got oaks growing in your neighborhood, you might see lots of scampering squirrels. Those adorable furry critters with their trademark fluffy tail, are stuffing their cheeks with this valuable food source to stash for their winter. While these incredibly
They may be Cute but Watch Out! Read More »
July is Smart Irrigation Month, an initiative kickstarted by the Irrigation Association to educate people about the benefits of smart irrigation technologies, products, and services. The campaign is focused on saving water, saving money on utility bills, nurturing green spaces, and protecting a community’s water supply. Why is this important? Because across the nation more
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