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What's biting (or bothering) me?! Find out at workshop

IPM experts tackle springtime household pests during free webinar

This is a carpenter ant, which can be found in tree stumps,
firewood, fence posts, hollow doors or window frames.
(Photo by Jack Kelly Clark, courtesy UC IPM)

It’s a common spring refrain: What’s eating my garden?! That’s coupled with an equally common complaint: What’s biting me?!

Find out during an informative webinar presented by the UC Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program.

Set for 1 p.m. Thursday, May 20, “Springtime Household Pests” will look at the many bugs and other critters that may invade our homes this time of year. People may be familiar with ants and roaches, but they’re only part of a parade of potential pests. Conditions right now are particularly bad (from a people perspective) for invasive mosquitoes.

“This webinar will cover identification and management of pests encountered in the home during springtime, including carpet beetles, fleas and fungus gnats associated with houseplants,” according to the UC IPM team.

Dr. Andrew Sutherland, the urban IPM adviser for the San Francisco Bay Area, will present the 1-hour workshop, focusing on pests most common in California. Registration is free, but required to get the link and password. Find link and details here:
https://ucanr.edu/sites/ucipm-community-webinars/ .

This webinar is part of a new monthly series presented by UC IPM experts at 1 p.m. the third Thursday of each month.

Next up at 1 p.m. June 17: “IPM for Rodents.” Learn how to outsmart Norway rats, roof rats, mice and other common rodents – maybe even squirrels!

Use the same registration link for details.

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Garden Checklist for week of April 21

This week there’s plenty to keep gardeners busy. With no rain in the immediate forecast, remember to irrigate any new transplants.

* Weed, weed, weed! Get them before they flower and go to seed.

* April is the last chance to plant citrus trees such as dwarf orange, lemon and kumquat. These trees also look good in landscaping and provide fresh fruit in winter.

* Smell orange blossoms? Feed citrus trees with a low dose of balanced fertilizer (such as 10-10-10) during bloom to help set fruit. Keep an eye out for ants.

* Apply slow-release fertilizer to the lawn.

* Thoroughly clean debris from the bottom of outdoor ponds or fountains.

* Spring brings a flush of rapid growth, and that means your garden is really hungry. Feed shrubs and trees with a slow-release fertilizer. Or mulch with a 1-inch layer of compost.

* Azaleas and camellias looking a little yellow? If leaves are turning yellow between the veins, give them a boost with chelated iron.

* Trim dead flowers but not leaves from spring-flowering bulbs such as daffodils and tulips. Those leaves gather energy to create next year's flowers. Also, give the bulbs a fertilizer boost after bloom.

* Pinch chrysanthemums back to 12 inches for fall flowers. Cut old stems to the ground.

* Mulch around plants to conserve moisture and control weeds.

* From seed, plant beans, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, corn, cucumbers, melons, radishes and squash.

* Plant onion sets.

* In the flower garden, plant seeds for asters, cosmos, celosia, marigolds, salvia, sunflowers and zinnias.

* Transplant petunias, zinnias, geraniums and other summer bloomers.

* Plant perennials and dahlia tubers for summer bloom.

* Mid to late April is about the last chance to plant summer bulbs, such as gladiolus and tuberous begonias.

* Transplant lettuce seedlings. Choose varieties that mature quickly such as loose leaf.

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