Regional Advisor Reports

Cottonseed bug (Oxycarenus hyalinipennis) is an invasive pest that was first detected in Los Angeles County in 2019 and has since spread across most of Southern California. It can now be found in San Diego, Orange, Riverside, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and San Bernadino Counties. Cottonseed bug (abbreviated CSB) primarily feeds and reproduces on malvaceous hosts like cotton, hibiscus, and mallows, but can also be found feeding on a wide variety of other plants from wheat to citrus. CSB feeding can cause seeds to abort and will occasionally damage fruit or young shoots.

Soilborne pests and weeds continue to pose significant challenges for nursery growers and gardeners seeking sustainable management solutions. To demonstrate practical, non-chemical approaches for addressing these issues, the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Fresno County, in collaboration with the Fresno County Master Gardener Program, conducted a soil disinfestation demonstration during the summer season at the Garden of the Sun in Fresno.

The Santa Monica Mountains (SAMO) are home to a national recreation area in Ventura County. The park provides habitat for local wildlife and hundreds of miles of trails for visitors. They also have a particularly unique component for a protected park: an active nursery and farm.

Growing a resilient canopy in California’s cities starts with growing quality trees in California’s nurseries.