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Learn how to battle bad bugs naturally

Sacramento Digs Gardening
BY Debbie Arrington PUBLISHED JUN 19, 2019

Be on the lookout for these pests. They're leaf-footed bugs and they love summer vegetables. Learn natural controls during a free class in Woodland. (Photo: Debbie Arrington)

Yolo County agency offers free class in integrated pest management

What’s bugging you? Get a jump on summer pests and learn how to better protect your garden during a free class in integrated pest management, offered by Yolo County’s Health and Human Services Agency.

Set for 5:15 p.m. next Wednesday, June 26, the course will be held at the Hanna and Herber Bauer Memorial Garden in Woodland. The garden is located at 137 N. Cottonwood St., behind the agency’s Bauer Building. The 90-minute course is scheduled to be held outdoors, weather permitting. (If it’s too hot, the class will retreat indoors.) Participants are encouraged to dress for warm weather (including a hat) and bring water.

Yolo County master gardener Barbara Ohlendorf will lead this short course in IPM, a low-cost and natural approach to reducing unwanted pests in your garden. According to the agency, participants will learn how to identify beneficial insects versus unwanted pests, determine if those pests are becoming a problem and learn about natural methods of pest control. There will be time to ask questions and discuss common pest problems in our region.

Pre-registration is required; deadline is Tuesday, June 25. To register, contact Yolo County’s garden guru David Linebarger at (530) 666-8429 ordavid.linebarger@yolocounty.org.

Free gardening classes are offered throughout the year at this community garden. To learn more about garden activities and classes, visit https://bit.ly/2WTkctT or www.yolocounty.org .

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An article about gardening.

Keywords:

UCCE master gardeners gardening Sacramento workshops integrated pest management Yolo County events pests Woodland classes summer gardens

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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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