The Stanislaus Sprout

Roses and many other flowers are blooming in gardens right now and several callers have asked for help with pest identification. We are happy to look at photos or samples, but home gardeners can usually easily identify this insect once they see a photo.

[From Pests in the Urban Landscape blog] Insecticide foggers, also known as total release foggers or bug bombs (Figure 1), are popular products widely available in many retail nurseries and garden centers as well as drug stores, supermarkets, and convenience stores.

Want to learn how to grow delicious tomatoes? Take our free online class from the UCCE Stanislaus County Master Gardeners next Tuesday, April 20 from 6:00-7:30 p.m.

Spring is here which brings thoughts of all the wonderful produce for the avid vegetable gardener. Of course, of all the produce that can be grown here in the Central Valley, the tomato may be the most popular crop grown in the back yard garden.

Every year during those long, dark days of January or February I walk around my backyard and observe the damage and neglect of the planting areas. And then at some point I always look above the fences and see the mature trees (mostly city variety) that are bare and rather sad in appearance.