Gophers are one of the most destructive rodents in the garden damaging a huge array of plants including shrubs and trees. Voles, also known as meadow mice, are also a rodent pest. Moles, on the other hand, are not rodents, and while they can make a visual mess of your lawn, they are actually good […]
FAQs: Moles, Voles & Gophers 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 »
National Pollinator Week this year is June 17 – 23. It’s an annual event celebrated internationally in support of pollinator health, to celebrate pollinators, and spread the word about what we can do to protect them. Pollinator Week was initiated and is managed by Pollinator Partnership, and fourteen years ago the U.S. Senate’s unanimous approval
It’s National Pollinator Week! Read More »
It’s summertime, a busy time for travel. One thing you don’t want to experience on your trip is bedbugs – those small, wingless insects that feed on blood, causing itchy bites, and generally irritating their human hosts. While the EPA, CDC, and the USDA all consider bed bugs a public health pest, bed bugs are
Don’t bring Bedbugs Home with you! Read More »
With warming temperatures after plenty of rain, weeds may be popping up all over. You may have kept them under control last season, but wind and birds can help move weed seeds right back into your yard. It’s so much easier if you can get them out while they’re young, and most importantly, before they
Managing Weeds Safely Read More »
Have something creating holes in your garden soil, or eating your oranges? But don’t see any obvious pests? The new tool from the University of California, Wildlife Pest Identification Tool, may help you find an answer. This online tool will help you narrow down potential vertebrate pests using signs of the critter. Using a photo
An Easy New Tool to Help ID Animal Pests Read More »
Weeds growing with abandon? In your vegetable and flower beds and in your lawn? Weeds, simply put, are plants growing where they aren’t wanted. Almost any plant – from grasses to trees to shrubs, under the right conditions, can be considered a weed. They come in a myriad of shapes, colors, sizes, and degrees of
Taming those Pesky Weeds Read More »
It’s now officially winter, and if you haven’t yet done your fall garden clean up, now’s the time. Spending a little time now removing plant material that can harbor pests and disease, you can reduce the potential for them in your garden next spring.
New Year Garden Clean-up Read More »
Many people associate pesticides with those things you see at the nursery or big box stores in the gardening isle like weed killer, insecticides, and mouse traps. But there are MANY items in your home that are pesticides that you might use daily without even thinking about it. Some examples: According to the U.S. Environmental
Know What’s Lurking under the Sink? Read More »
Vultures get a bad rap. Generally thought of as ugly scavengers, vultures are easy to dismiss. Even naturalist Charles Darwin described them as ‘disgusting’. But when you look more closely, you’ll realize the world is better off with vultures. Although these enormous birds display some odd behaviors, they play a crucial role in the environments
Protect Nature’s Clean-up crew! Read More »
