Home Agriculture News and Updates

Sustainable Landscaping In California

A new FREE publication is now available from UC ANR: “Sustainable Landscaping in California: How to Conserve Resources and Beautify your Home Landscape” (ANR Publication 8504) Sustainable landscaping is a gardening approach focused on matching the plantings and design to a plot's native complement of soil and water resources and local climatic conditions. In the long run, the garden costs less and takes less time to maintain. Download it now - FREE!

Controlling Olive Fruit Fly at Home

The olive fruit fly is a recently introduced pest from the Mediterranean that lays eggs in olives. The larvae eat the fruit, ruining it for table use and oil production. Fortunately, the fruit fly is not difficult to control.
Learn how here.

Stinkbug Alert

The Brown Marmorated Stinkbug has the potential to be very damaging to California plants. Read more about this pest here: Stinkbug Alert

Smart Gardening Resource List

This list of both print and web resources accompanies the Alameda County Master Gardeners’ sustainable landscaping presentation titled “Smart Gardening: Seven Sustainable Practices for Today and Beyond.” The list includes a section of general resources and sections of specific resources for each of the seven practices.

Red Palm Weevil found in California

Red Palm Weevil_PhotoProvidedByAndrewClineCDFA

Agricultural officials have confirmed the detection of a red palm weevil in the Laguna Beach area of Orange County - the first-ever detection of the pest in the United States. The weevil is considered to be the world’s worst pest of palm trees. An infestation typically results in the death of the tree.

Read more about this pest at the California Department of Food and Agriculture's website

Growing food in lead-contaminated soil

Concerned about the problems associated with gardening in lead-contaminated soil?
Some California soils naturally contain low levels of lead. And in some cases, people may have unknowingly added lead to soils though lead paint, leaded gasoline and improper disposal of items containing lead. Since we cannot simply remove and replace all of the topsoils, it is important to learn how to evaluate the exposure levels and to use compost and phosphorus to reduce lead hazards. To learn more, read and download our brand new leaflet, Home Gardens and Lead , UCANR Publication 8424

No- Mow Fescue

UCCE Alameda Turf Specialist, Dr Ali Harivandi, was recently quoted in the San Francisco Chronicle about his recent publication and research on no-mow fescue: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/08/29/HOBM1ETEDD.DTL

Spotted Wing Drosophila
	A new pest has been damaging fruit in California. It is the Spotted Wing Drosophila. Read more about it at its UC IPM Page - HERE.

Light Brown Apple Moth Update

The latest news on the light brown apple moth is that it has been trapped in a single neighborhood Dublin. Previously, it had only been found on the west side of the hills, but now it's spread to the east county as well.

As you may already know, the light brown apple moth is an insect from Australia that has a wide array of host plants and is threatening the agricultural business in our state. So far it hasn't hit the San Joaquin Valley, and state officials would really like to keep it that way! Deputy Agricultural Commissioner, Cathy Roache has asked us to help get the word out about this pest.

It's very important that plant materials or produce from your yards, gardens or our demo gardens NOT be taken out of the county into a non quarantined area, and it would make good sense to fully inspect any plant material before transporting anywhere within the county as well. For the latest information on the quarantined areas, you can check the website at the California Department of Agriculture.

Light Brown Apple Moth

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