I love to put bird seed out and watch the backyard birds enjoy the delicious meal. What isn’t so great, that same food is an attractant for mice and rats. A few tips to consider if you want to enjoy the feathered garden visitors but not the rodents. If you see indications of rodents around […]
Feeding Birds and not Rodents Read More »
Thursday, September 22 is the autumnal equinox, astronomically the day when the sun crosses the celestial equator heading south. From this point until the first day of winter, days will get shorter. The time of the year usually ushers in cooler weather, which is a good reminder to start cleaning up the garden. Referred to
End of Season Garden Cleanup Read More »
Think you might have a rat problem? The pitter-patter of little feet across the roof at dusk or dawn, birdseed that disappears overnight, holes in food packaging, chewed electrical wires, or trails of large comma-shaped droppings – all are indicators of rats. As they’re generally creatures of the night, staying hidden to avoid predators, if
September is National Mushroom Month. Time to celebrate this extraordinary class of organisms. They are so much more than the things you put on salads or see springing up in your lawn. Mushrooms are the reproductive part of fungi that we can often see. Sadly, fungi don’t get the respect they deserve, since most of
Want to kick the chemicals? One BIG way to reduce the use of insecticides through biological control. Simply put, it’s a pest management strategy that enhances the role of natural enemies, reduces reliance on pesticides, and helps to protect the environment, people, pets, and wildlife. One of the key steps is to encourage natural enemies,
Becoming Beneficials Read More »
Got grasshoppers? During the last month there have been multiple reports of large populations of these pests covering people’s plants, especially in the Sacramento area. These sporadic garden pests can have population booms, usually every 8 to 10 years in California, sometimes lasting 1 to 3 years. The most destructive and widespread grasshopper species is
There’s a Whole Lot of Jumping Going on! Read More »
May 29 is National Learn About Composting Day! Composting converts kitchen and garden green waste into garden gold. It’s an environmentally safe fertilizer that can do SO MANY THINGS! Start your learning here ………. It’s pretty easy to compost these days. If you don’t have space to create your own compost bin, local sanitation companies
Learn about Composting Read More »
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 »
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 »
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 »
