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Skeeter season arrives with bad mosquitoes, West Nile Virus

Don't make a home for disease-carrying pests; take precautions

Overwatering a vegetable garden can result in small ditches filled with standing water.

Overwatering a vegetable garden can result in small ditches filled with standing water. Kathy Morrison

No matter the temperature, it’s time for long sleeves and pants – especially if you’re outside at dawn or dusk.

June is the start of mosquito season in Sacramento, and this week’s news is not good. The first mosquito sample of the season tested positive for West Nile Virus, a potentially deadly disease.

The Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District took the sample in the city of Isleton. A second sample from Sacramento (zip code 95833) also tested positive.

“As we expected, the very warm weather we’ve had recently increased the number of mosquitoes and accelerated virus activity,” said district manager Gary Goodman in an official statement. “It’s important for residents to take these findings seriously and do everything they can to protect themselves.”

So far, four dead birds – two scrub jays, a magpie and a crow – in Sacramento County have tested positive for West Nile including two just before Memorial Day weekend. Those two were collected near Florin Road in south Sacramento in zip code 95828. The other dead birds were found in 95829 and 95833.

Last year in California, there were 225 confirmed human cases of West Nile, including 15 fatalities, says the district.

In response to the positive samples and dead birds, the district increased trapping and monitoring around Isleton and Sacramento in an effort to pinpoint where mosquitoes may be breeding. Targeted ground spraying may be used to quickly kill breeding adult mosquitoes.

Goodman urged residents to take proper precautions – including long sleeves and pants when mosquitoes are most active. And the use of insect repellent.

“Summer is around the corner and as more people enjoy outdoor activities it’s important to remember that the best protection against mosquito bites is an effective insect repellent,” said Goodman. Residents also are encouraged to report dead birds, neglected pools and other mosquito problems by calling the district hotline at 1-800-429-1022.

In the meantime, don’t give mosquitoes a place to call home. Empty any standing water that may have accumulated around your home in such spots as flower pots and saucers, kids’ toys or old tires. Make sure screens on doors and windows are snug.
Sacramento and Yolo county residents can receive email notifications of upcoming mosquito treatments for their neighborhoods. The listings are available by zip code.

To get on the mailing list as well as the latest mosquito news, go to www.FIGHTtheBITE.net.

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Dig In: Garden Checklist

For week of March 24:

In between cloud bursts, try to catch up with early spring chores. 

* Attack weeds now! Get them before they flower and go to seed. Take a hoe and whack them as soon as they sprout. Aim for 1 inch below the soil line.

* Start preparing vegetable beds. Spade in compost and other amendments.

* Prune and fertilize spring-flowering shrubs after bloom.

* Feed camellias at the end of their bloom cycle. Pick up browned and fallen flowers to help corral blossom blight.

* Feed citrus trees, which are now in bloom and setting fruit. To prevent sunburn and borer problems on young trees, paint the exposed portion of the trunk with diluted white latex (water-based) interior paint. Dilute the paint with an equal amount of cold water before application.

* Feed roses with a balanced fertilizer (such as 10-10-10, the ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium available in that product).

* Prune and fertilize spring-flowering shrubs and trees after they bloom. Try using well-composted manure, spread 1-inch thick under the tree. This serves as both fertilizer and mulch, retaining moisture while cutting down on weeds.

* Cut back and fertilize perennial herbs to encourage new growth.

* Seed and renovate the lawn (if you still have one). Feed cool-season grasses such as bent, blue, rye and fescue with a slow-release fertilizer. Check the irrigation system and perform maintenance. Make sure sprinkler heads are turned toward the lawn, not the sidewalk.

* In the vegetable garden, transplant lettuce and cole family plants, such as cabbage, broccoli, collards and kale.

* Seed chard and beets directly into the ground.

* Plant summer bulbs, including gladiolus, tuberous begonias and callas. Also plant dahlia tubers.

* Shop for perennials. Many varieties are available in local nurseries and at plant events. They can be transplanted now while the weather remains relatively cool.

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