Earwigs get their name from the myth that they crawl into sleeping people’s ears and tunnel into the brain (not true!). Also called pincher bugs, they are most active at night. During the day, they gather in moist, dark, tight hiding places in the garden – under rocks or stones, boards, around vegetables, dense growth […]
They don’t really crawl in your ears Read More »
It’s National Hug Your Cat Day. Give your furry feline friend some extra attention, and while hugging, look out for fleas. Spring and summer are favorite times of the year for fleas – those biting pests that are annoying to people and pets. The common flea in California is the cat flea. Despite its name,
Watch out for fleas when you hug your cat Read More »
You’re shopping in the nursery for some fertilizer, and you spy an “all in one” product that claims to take care of feeding and protecting your flowers and shrubs for 6 weeks. These multi-purpose products, often marketed as “All in One” or “3 in 1” contain a mixture of fertilizer, insecticide, and fungicide. While it
All-in-One Garden Products May do More Harm than Good Read More »
Don’t be fooled! This is NOT a green ladybug! The cucumber beetle is a common pest that feeds on the vegetable gardens and may also attack ripening stone fruit, although it’s not fussy and can be found in many parts of the yard, even on roses. These beetles may spread cucumber mosaic virus or wilts
Those aren’t Green Ladybugs! Read More »
May 20 is World Bee Day. The United Nations designated this day to raise awareness of the importance of pollinators, the threats they face and their contribution to sustainable development. Bees and other pollinators, such as butterflies, bats, and hummingbirds, are increasingly under threat from human activities. Pollination is a fundamental process for the survival
It’s World Bee Day! Read More »
May is National Lyme Disease Awareness Month, and it’s a good idea to learn more about this debilitating disease and how to prevent it. Lyme disease is a bacterial infection; in our area it’s primarily transmitted by black-legged ticks. These tiny arachnids are typically found in wooded and grassy areas. Although people may think of
Ticks carrying Lyme Disease found at CA Beaches Read More »
It’s National Strawberry month – get ready to celebrate with some strawberry shortcake! One of the delights of spring is filling a bowl with vibrant red, juicy strawberries from the garden. These easy to grow delicious fruits can sometimes be bothered by pests, though most are easy to manage. As fruit develops, watch for signs
It’s strawberry time! Read More »
In early spring, masses of thick foam can coat delicate stems on a variety of plants – they’re spittlebugs. While visually unappealing, they’re generally nothing to be too concerned about. The abundant globs of bubbles are produced by young nymphs as they begin sucking on plant tissue. The frothy mass is thought to serve as
An unsightly nuisance Read More »
One of the unwanted visitors to the spring garden arrives just about now. That mass of tiny pests that cloak the new growth on your roses, elderberries, viburnums, or peach trees are at best an unsightly nuisance and at worst, creatures that can damage tender new growth on plants and spread disease. They’re aphids! Aphid
Unwanted spring visitors Read More »
It’s National Pet Day and time to think about our beloved animals as they roam around the garden. Are there possible hazards lurking? Pesticides that may harm them? Here are some things to consider: Weed and feed products for grasses are usually applied across the entire surface of the lawn. Those tiny particles contain fertilizer
Protect your pets! Read More »
