Warm days and cool nights are happening now. These are perfect conditions for powdery mildew to thrive in the garden. This common disease is easily recognized by the talcum-powder like appearance on new and old leaves, tender new shoots, some flowers, and fruits. It affects a huge range of plants – roses, crape myrtle, sycamore, […]
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 »
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 »
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 »
Seeing mounds of soil, or open holes in your grass or flowerbeds? Could be a gopher, a vole or a mole. They all create tunnels and are active underground, but what they eat and the damage they cause varies. They all improve the soil by aerating it and mixing nutrients, but sometimes their habits get
Is it a Gophers, Mole, or Vole? Read More »
Got roses? They’re at the peak of bloom right now. Hopefully, they’re free of the ugly disease called rust, that loves the cool, moist morning temperatures. This fungal disease is easy to identify – look for orange, powdery pustules on the undersides of leaves. Early in the season they’re yellow to light orange, with the
Rust on your Roses? 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 »
