Pests & Diseases

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A conk, the fruiting body of the fungus <i>Phellinus ignarius</i> on black walnut. (Credit: AJ Downer, UCCE Ventura County)
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Wood Decay Fungi in Landscape Trees

August 23, 2019
Landscape trees provide welcome shade, fruit, homes for wildlife, and even a place for kids to climb. But if the wood is damaged, disease-causing fungi can infect the tree. A number of fungal diseases decay wood in both tree branches and trunks, weakening and sometimes killing the tree.
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Keep Your Palm Trees Disease-free

August 15, 2019
By Karey Windbiel-Rojas
Palm trees are commonly seen in California, making some think about the tree-lined streets of Hollywood, or sitting by the pool somewhere.
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Plant problem diagnostic tool menu.
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Curling Leaves on Plants

May 21, 2018
By Anne E Schellman
If you are puzzled by curling leaves on plants in your garden or landscape, you may need to do some detective work to figure out the cause. Curling leaves can be caused by many problems, including insect damage, disease, abiotic disorders, or even herbicides.
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Fig 1. Limb dieback and sparse canopy of overwatered olive trees around which turf was planted. Unirrigated trees in the background are healthy. (Photo: L. R. Costello)
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Landscape Tree Damage: It's Not Always a Pest Issue

March 14, 2018
By Janet S Hartin
[From the Spring issue of the UC IPM Retail Nursery & Garden Center News] Most disorders impacting landscape trees result from abiotic (non-living) disorders rather than attacks from biotic (living) pests like plant pathogens, insects, and vertebrates.
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Peach leaves deformed by peach leaf curl. (Photo: Jack Kelly Clark)
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Time to Treat for Peach Leaf Curl?

January 8, 2018
By Anne E Schellman
Peach leaf curl is a disease that affects peach and nectarine trees. Although you may not see symptoms right now in the dormant season in California, it's time to think about treatment, especially if your tree had the disease last year.
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