August Tips & Events for Santa Clara County |
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"Plants got a lot to say if you take the time to listen" ~Eeyore
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Both tomato hornworms and tobacco hornworms can do significant damage to tomato plants. They can eat entire leaves and take bites out of the fruit. Although they are large with a striking appearance, they camouflage themselves well on plants and can be surprisingly hard to find. Once you see one, you’ll wonder how you missed it. The first clue to their presence is often a pile of frass (insect larva excrement) on the ground under the pest. They are up to four inches long so they are easy to handpick for disposal. If you see a row of white eggs on their backs, those are from a parasitic wasp that will take care of the problem naturally. The caterpillars get their name from the horn on their back end, and they are the larval stages of rather large brown moths.
Photo: Hornworm on tomato plant - by Jack Kelly Clark
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This is a good time to prune some of your fruit trees. If you want to keep the size of your trees manageable, you can do summer pruning after harvest in addition to the usual dormant pruning. An advantage of dormant pruning is that it is easy to see the branch structure. An advantage of summer pruning is that it reduces leaf area so the tree produces less energy and doesn't get as large. With apricot and cherry trees it is important to prune them only in the summer when it will be dry for several weeks afterwards. They are susceptible to a fungus called Eutypa that can kill a tree. If it rains shortly after pruning, the fungus spores can splash up onto the open wounds and infect the tree. Branches will die back first, and the disease can rapidly move into the trunk with fatal results.
Photo: Pruned apricot leader showing heading and spurs, by William W. Coates, UC
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Lawns in a Drought Emergency |
This wealth status symbol imported long ago from rainy, foggy England does not translate well to a semi-desert with frequent droughts. Lawns demand a huge investment of water, money, time, work, equipment, and fertilizers and other chemicals. According to Scientific American, U.S. lawns require the equivalent of 200 gallons of drinking water per person per day. Many people are joining the "lose the lawn" movement, and UC Davis offers several plans and examples to help you get started on a yard design more appropriate for our climate. Valley Water offers rebates and guidance for lawn replacement. If your family uses your lawn and you want to maintain it this summer, follow the irrigation regulations of your local water company and aim for survival rather than a lush green carpet. A lawn that looks light green or brown will often be dormant (not dead) and will perk up with the winter rains; the roots can survive much longer than the blades above ground. Keep it mowed in the meantime so that weeds don’t go to seed and take over. Concrete and synthetic (plastic) turf do not benefit the environment other than not using much water.
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Photo: Conserving water during a declared drought emergency, by Laura Monczynski
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Pest Alert
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is on the lookout for a new invasive species called the Spotted Lanternfly. It is native to China and was first detected in the U.S. in Pennsylvania. It can travel on packages and vehicles as well as plants and is a threat to our agricultural industry. Its preferred host is the Ailanthus altissima tree, or Tree-of-heaven, which is itself an invasive pest. It can also attack other landscape trees, fruit trees, grape vines, and roses. The insects suck the sap out of the plants and excrete a sticky honeydew which can in turn attract other pests and also promote the growth of sooty mold. The plants can weaken and die. While the spotted lanternfly hasn't been found in California yet, early detection by the public can help keep it from spreading. If you spot this pest, please report it to the CDFA at 1-800-491-1899 or reportapest.cdfa.ca.gov.
Photo: Adult spotted lanternfly, by Lawrence Barringer, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Bugwood.org
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Cool Season Vegetables
Can you believe it’s already time to start winter vegetables? If starting from seed, August is a good time for many vegetables. If buying transplants from a nursery, you can wait until September. Cool season vegetables include many greens (spinach, arugula, collards), root vegetables (beets, radishes, turnips), and cole crops (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower). Cilantro and peas also do well in the fall when it is a little cooler. If your summer vegetables are still going strong, you can start seeds in pots to buy some time and then transplant them a little later when you remove your summer crops. They could also be direct seeded into the ground if you have the space. If there's room, you can sow seeds between your summer vegetables – just be sure to cut the summer plants to the soil line when they're done to avoid disturbing the new plants.
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Photo: Broccoli, by Joseph Buchinski
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Our monthly Plant Clinic Online is an opportunity to chat with a Master Gardener via Zoom to diagnose a plant problem. You can also listen and learn while other people ask questions. It takes place on the second Saturday of the month, from 10–noon. Priority will be given to questions that are emailed in advance; instructions are in the Zoom registration confirmation. Registration required
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Check our calendar for the latest schedule of events. Videos of many past presentations are also available.
Photo: Sunflower, by Hank Morales
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University of California Master Gardener volunteers promote sustainable gardening practices and provide research-based horticultural information to home gardeners. Visit our website for more information including:
Have a gardening question? Contact our Help Desk (for Santa Clara County residents). Start by reviewing our plant problem diagnosis tips and then:
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