Backyard birdwatching is a rewarding hobby, but it can attract some unwanted guests—rats and mice. These rodents will happily scavenge food meant for birds, but with a few simple strategies, you can prevent them from raiding your feeders and ensure that your feathered friends get their share. 1. Choose Rodent-Proof Feeders and Stations The first […]
Be careful with that birdseed! Read More »
Boxelder bugs and stink bugs are occasional indoor pests, most often noticed in fall and winter when cooler weather drives them to seek shelter. While they can be annoying, neither insect reproduces indoors or causes structural damage, and both are best managed with prevention and gentle control rather than pesticides. Boxelder bugs are dark gray
Good, Bad, or Nuisance Bug? Read More »
Those striking green-and-yellow marbled leaves hanging over the fence from your neighbor’s apple tree may look like a fashionable new cultivar, but they are more likely the result of a mosaic virus. What Are Mosaic Viruses? Plants Commonly Affected Typical Symptoms (vary with plant species, virus type, and weather) How Mosaic Viruses Spread Management and
Designer leaves? Look again! Read More »
First, you see them, then you don’t. The glossy new leaves on your dwarf fruit tree vanish overnight. The mahogany-colored foliage on your prize rose is suddenly shredded. Even the tough, leathery leaves of a California live oak show heavy chewing. A closer look reveals little more than ragged leaf edges and missing tissue. Chances
What’s eating your leaves? Read More »
Ants marching up and down the trunk of an otherwise healthy-looking fruit tree? Branches or stems that look bumpy and shiny, as if coated with sugar water? These clues often point to a scale insect infestation. Click here to learn more about managing scale.
Scale Insects on Fruit Trees Read More »
It’s the chilly time of year when gardeners look ahead to spring—starting cool-season vegetables, finishing pruning chores, and finally paying attention to long-neglected houseplants. Taking a closer look at indoor plants can sometimes reveal more than dust, and one common winter surprise is mealybugs. How to Recognize Mealybugs Plants Commonly Affected What They Are and
What Is That White Sticky Stuff on My Plant? Read More »
“Rats everywhere!” read a recent NextDoor headline, followed by nearly a hundred frustrated homeowner comments. These days, it seems everyone has a rat story—from costly car repairs caused by chewed wiring to missing bird seed, gnawed garden produce, and unwelcome droppings in garages. One thing is clear: rat activity is on the rise, and it’s
In Marin, It Is Always Rat Season Read More »
Winter is an important time for home gardeners to reduce pest and disease problems before the next growing season begins. Good garden sanitation during the dormant months can greatly limit the number of insects, pathogens, and weeds that survive to cause trouble in spring. Many common garden pests overwinter in plant debris. Insects such as
Clean-up Now to Prevent Spring Problems Read More »
Enjoying your houseplants but noticing some small flies zipping around the soil? They may be fungus gnats. These dark, delicate-looking flies look similar to mosquitoes. They’re attracted to light, so you first might notice these pests flying near windows indoors. Check your plant pots. If the soil in the pots is overly moist, fungus gnat
Got gnats buzzing around your houseplants? Read More »
Many exotic invasive pests are of major concern in California. The glassy-winged sharpshooter (an insect) and purple loosestrife (a weed) are two invasive species that are established in some areas but still threaten to invade other areas. Newer exotic species of concern include Diaprepes root weevil, light brown apple moth, and various aquatic weeds. Some
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