Publications

Winner - 2015 winner Extension Education Materials award from the American Society for Horticultural Science 

Since it was first published in 2002, the California Master Gardener Handbook has endured as the definitive guide to best practices and advice for gardeners throughout the West. Now the much-anticipated 2nd Edition to the Handbook is here—completely redesigned, with updated tables, graphics, and color photos throughout.

Whether you're a beginner double digging your first bed or a University of California Master Gardener, this handbook will be your go-to source for the practical, science-based information you need to sustainably maintain your landscape and garden and become an effective problem solver.

Chapters cover soil, fertilizer, and water management, plant propagation, plant physiology; weeds and pests; home vegetable gardening; specific garden crops including grapes, berries temperate fruits and nuts, citrus, and avocados. Also included is information on lawns, woody landscape plants, and landscape design.

New to the 2nd Edition is information on invasive plants and principles of designing and maintaining landscapes for fire protection.

Inside are updates to the technical information found in each chapter, reorganization of information for better ease of use, and new content on important emerging topics.

Useful conversions for many units of measure found in the Handbook or needed in caring for gardens and landscapes are located in Appendix A. A glossary of important technical terms used and an extensive index round out the book.

Abiotic Disorders of Landscape Plants

This manual contains a wealth of information to help you diagnose abiotic disorders in landscape plants – disorders caused by environmental, physiological or other nonbiological factors. 

You’ll learn how to diagnose injury symptoms from over 20 different abiotic agents including water deficit, nutrient deficiencies, salinity, pH, sunburn, air pollution, herbicide and other chemical phytotoxicities, mechanical injuries, lightning, wind, and hail. You’ll also learn how to develop a step-by-step diagnostic strategy.

Included are strategies, techniques, and tools you can use in diagnosing plant problems, common injury symptoms and their abiotic causes, and plant traits that can resemble abiotic disorders.

Illustrated with 319 color photographs and 38 tables, this book is a "must-have" for the library of every landscape professional.

The Home Orchard: Growing Your Own Deciduous Fruit and Nut Trees

Developed especially for backyard orchardists, rare fruit growers, and small-scale growers, The Home Orchard offers an insiders look at both standard growing methods and unique innovative practices.

You will learn how trees grow, which species grow best in the different regions and soils, varieties from which to select, preparing the soil, planting, watering and fertilizing, pruning and grafting, thinning the fruit, diagnosing problems, controlling pests, and harvesting.

You'll also find special attention given to organic and non-toxic pest management and fertilization methods. Key pests and diseases are identified and natural control methods are emphasized.

Irrigation methods for the backyard grower are discussed and the difficult task of how often and how much water to apply is simplified. The focus is on giving the trees enough water but doing so in an efficient, water-saving manner.

Included are 157 color photographs and 49 figures,tables and diagrams that clearly show how to produce the best crops. Photos of several practices, such as key budding and grafting methods, are depicted in step-by-step photos. No other publication provides this breadth and depth of coverage.

Join the online conversation! Tell us what you think about this manual and read what others are saying by using the Twitter hashtag #HomeOrchard

Healthy Roses, 2nd Edition

Environmentally Friendly Ways to Manage Pests and Disorders in Your Garden and Landscape

This best-selling guide for the rose enthusiast has been revised. New in the second edition is an expanded section on cultural practices; including new information on establishment, irrigation, soil and nutritional requirements, and pruning. Also new is a discussion of the mossy rose gall and an expanded reference section.

By using this guide, you’ll learn how to identify problems, take action when appropriate, and recognize beneficial insects.

You’ll get sound advice on how to adapt Integrated Pest Management practices to the home garden -- methods of controlling pests and diseases using alternatives such as beneficial insects, traps and barriers, and less toxic pesticides such as soaps, oils and microbials. You’ll also learn about how to take preventative measures like careful selection of varieties, site selection and planting, proper watering, how and when to prune, and weed management. 

This 35-page guide is profusely illustrated with 50 color photographs and includes handy tables on soil pH and nutrient levels.

Join the online conversation! Tell us what you think about this manual and read what others are saying by using the Twitter hashtag #HealthyRoses

Pest of Landscape Trees and Shrubs, 3^rd Edition

Our bestselling comprehensive integrated pest management (IPM) guide for landscapes has been completely revised; with 435 pages of the practical, research-based advice you've come to expect from the University of California.

This easy-to-use manual covers hundreds of insects, mites, nematodes, plant diseases, and weeds that can damage California landscapes.

Inside you'll find:

• 575 high-quality, color photographs to help you recognize the causes of plant damage and identify pests as well as their natural enemies. 140 more photos than the previous edition!
• 101 line drawings and charts of pest biology and control techniques
• Tips on choosing pest-resistant plants and incorporating them into your landscape design
• Detailed how-to's on planting, irrigating, and other cultural practices that keep plants and landscapes healthy
• How to conserve and protect natural enemies that can help you control pests
• How to monitor your landscape so you know when to act
• How to know when pesticide use is warranted and how to make a proper selection for your situation

And of course, the problem-solving tables that help you diagnose the pests and problems of more than 200 genera of alphabetically-listed trees and shrubs. All at a lower price than the 2nd Edition!

Professional landscapers, arborists, home gardeners, retailers, and parks and grounds managers will all want to make room on their bookshelves for this essential pest management guide.

Also in the 3rd Edition are dozens of newly added pests, including those affecting azaleas, camellias, hibiscus, camphor, eucalyptus, liquidambar, oaks, maples, palms, pines, olive, roses, and sycamores.

"Outstanding resource for maintaining healthy, woody ornamental plants through IPM. " -- International Society of Arboriculture

Pests of the Garden and Small Farm, 3rd Edition

Updated and new!

This handbook adapts scientifically based integrated pest management techniques to the needs of the home gardener and small-scale or urban farmer.

Covers insects, mites, plant diseases, nematodes, and weeds of fruit and nut trees and vegetables using the IPM approach of making minimal use of broad-spectrum pesticides; the methods recommended here rely primarily on organically acceptable alternatives.

120 common pests are described in individual sections; crop-by-crop symptom identification tables guide you quickly to the information you need.

More than 350 color photos and 118 drawings help you diagnose problems and find solutions.

What’s new in the Third Edition?
•Includes the most up-to-date information on managing vegetable, herb and fruit tree pests with organically acceptable tools.
•Over 30 new insect, disease and weed pests.
•Crop tables in the back expanded to include 6 new crops and herbs.
•Over 120 new color photographs added for a total of more than 400 color illustrations throughout.

Cards

Common Bees in California Gardens 2nd Edition

  Copyright Date: 2017
  Length: 56 cards
  Language: English
  ISBN-13: 978-1-62711-001-3
  Author: C JADALLAH, G FRANKIE, ET AL
  Inventory Type: Card Set
  Retail: $15.00

Nearly 1600 species of native bees can be found in California's rich ecosystems; this colorful pocket-sized card set will help you identify 24 of the most common bees found in urban gardens and landscapes.
Using this card set, you'll be able to identify bees on the wing to the genus level. Included for each featured bee are color photographs, a general description of appearance, the distribution and richness, flight season, nesting habits, floral hosts, and how each transports pollen.

Also included is a brief description and illustration of the anatomy of a bee, a glossary, bibliography, and online resources so you can delve deeper into the lives of these fascinating social insects.

Designed as a companion to the book California Bees and Blooms. This 3-1/2" x 5-1/4" card set is spiral bound and printed on sturdy laminated paper to hold up to rough service in the field.

Landscape Pest Identification Cards

Copyright Date: 2009
Length: 43 cards
Language: English
ISBN-13: 978-1-60107-613-7
Author: Larry Strand
Inventory Type: Card Set
Retail Price: $20.00
 

Also includes descriptions of natural enemies and suggestions for least toxic management options.

The information on these 43 cards will help landscape maintenance professionals and home gardeners identify and manage most major common pest problems in the landscape.

Includes everything from aphids and whiteflies to glassy-winged sharpshooter and sudden oak death, all of which have an impact on California landscapes.

Everyone involved in landscape pest management will want a set of these handy cards.

Tree Fruit Pest Identification and Monitoring Cards

Carry these pocket-sized laminated pest ID cards in the field as handy references for identifying and monitoring major insect and mite pests and several important diseases in California deciduous tree fruits and nuts. Each pest is identified by a description and close-up photographs of important life stages.
Cards identifying important natural enemies are also included. The information on these 32 cards will help pest control advisers and growers know how and when to look for these pests -- in both growing and dormant seasons.

References are provided to the appropriate UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines and IPM Manuals for management information.

Everyone involved in pest management in tree crops will want a set of these handy cards.

Vegetable Pest Identification for Gardens and Small Farms

Copyright Date: 2018
Length: 53 cards
Language: English
ISBN-13: 978-1-62711-005-1
Author: Flint, Sutherland, Windbiel-Rojas
Inventory Type: Card Set
Retail Price: $25.00
 

Use this spiral bound set of 53 pocket-sized cards in the field to identify and manage common pests of vegetables grown in backyards; community or school gardens; and small, diversified farms in urban or rural areas.

Included are cards on general predators, lady beetles, parasites, and insect pathogens to help you identify the natural enemies that can reduce the numbers of insect and mite pests.

The pest cards cover the most common insect and mite pests as well as pathogens such as fungi, bacteria, and viruses that cause plant disease. Also covered is general information on nematodes, abiotic disorders (caused by nonliving factors), weeds, and vertebrate pests.

Brief outlines of management practices are provided in the “What To Do” section of each description.

From aphids to late blight, squash and stink bugs to spotted spurge, these cards have you covered!

The focus is on sustainable pest management methods that prevent pest problems and protect people and the environment. The best strategy is an integrated pest management (IPM) program that relies on a combination of multiple techniques or tools including the use of natural enemies of pests, using traps and barriers, and preventive cultural practices such as irrigation methods, soil management, pruning techniques, and garden sanitation. Almost all the pest management techniques suggested are organically acceptable.

Weed Pest Identification and Monitoring Cards

Copyright Date: 2013
Length: 49 cards
Language: English
ISBN-13: 978-1-601078-47-6
Author: Joseph M. DiTomaso
Inventory Type: Card Set
Retail Price: $25.00

Based on the bestselling Weeds of California and Other Western States; this is the perfect pocket-sized companion for anyone working in the field.

These 48 cards cover the most common weeds, grouped into 8 categories for easy identification.

• Broadleaf annuals, erect
• Broadleaf annuals, low growing
• Broadleaf annual, scrambling
• Broadleaf perennials, not viney
• Broadleaf perennials, viney
• Grass annuals
• Grass perennials
• Sedges

Each weed is identified by a description and excellent close-up color photographs of various growth stages—187 photos in all. On the reverse of each card is a description of the various growth stages, habitat, distribution and management tips.

Also includes handy inch and metric measurement scales and a sturdy rivet keeps the set together so individual cards don’t stray.

From pigweed to chickweed, dandelion to bermudagrass, goosegrass to ryegrass, these cards have you covered.