The Importance of Insects in Our Gardens By Valorie Shatynski November 2023 Most of us enjoy the sight of a butterfly flitting and lilting from blossom to blossom in our garden, but what about those less glamorous insects and other garden critters? Why should we not only tolerate spiders, pill bugs, aphids, bees or […]
Compiled by Suzanne Mullins Master Gardener Class of 2012 If you garden anywhere in San Diego County, you are witnessing remarkable, albeit unusual, growth throughout your garden. Now is the time to take a good look at your mini jungle and decide what has survived the months of drenching rain. The rains have increased the […]
BY JOE BOLDT (This article first appeared in the San Diego Union-Tribune on February 12, 2022) Whisper the phrase “Integrated Pest Management,” or worse, “IPM” at your local garden club meeting and even the most erudite gardener might be seen fleeing to the nearest exit. Just what is Integrated Pest Management and why should you care? […]
Question: What is happening to my Canary Island Date Palm? Answer: The brown mushroom looking top on this Canary Island Date Palm (Phoenix canariensis) has sadly become a more common site in the San Diego County landscape due to an invasive pest. The South American Palm Weevil – SAPW (Rhynchophorus palmarum) has spread north […]
By By LINDA JONES Summer is the “time of the garden,” when flowers are riotously blooming and fruit and vegetables are ripening. However, you may find you’re not the only one enjoying the fruits of your labors. In order to support their next generation, many nonvertebrate pests, such as aphids and snails, may be eating leaves, […]
