One of the best things about summer is PEACHES, and July is National Peach Month! Those juicy golden globes are delicious right off the tree, baked into a pie, or adorning a bowl of ice cream – yum! Producing delicious peaches requires giving them adequate water, which can be tough now with our water restrictions. […]
Time for Yummy Peaches Read More »
One of the easiest insect pests to recognize is the whitefly. These aren’t actually flies and look a bit like tiny white moths. You might notice them sitting on the underside of an infested leaf or see them flutter off as you water or handle the plant. They’re easily disturbed but fly only a short
See some fluttering around your veggies? Read More »
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. Consume many prey during their development. Are generally larger than their prey. All life stages may be predators; some are only predators
Support your Garden Predators! Read More »
It’s an opportunity to learn more about the importance of pollinators and – brace yourself – imagine a world without bees. And check out Pollinators Under Pressure. Want to amaze your friends? Mention these pollination fast facts. Better yet, make it a point to try these 7 things you can do for pollinators with friends and family.
It’s National Pollinator Week – June 21 – 27. Read More »
It’s Eat your Vegetables Day! Likely you do this each and every day. Here in Marin, we’re fortunate to have ready access to wonderful, healthy produce. And even better if you can step into the garden and pick your own! As you check out some of those leafy greens, like cabbage, spinach, and chard, look
Weird trails in your veggie leaves? Read More »
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 »
The main benefits a layer of mulch on your vegetable or flower beds can provide include: Conserves moisture by slowing evaporation Reduces growth of weeds Helps reduce erosion Adds organic matter as it breaks down Increases water absorption and retention Makes surface areas more attractive With our current drought situation, we’re all trying to preserve
Mulch gives you a big bang for your buck 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 »
