Just a few more weeks of summer remain! As the weather begins to shift, you may need to adjust your landscaping practices to prevent and monitor for fall pests. The UC IPM Seasonal Landscape IPM Checklist is a monthly guide to help you avoid common pests of landscape plants.

Here are some general tips for the month of September to prevent pests and their damage in the garden and landscape. Visit the checklist online to see more pest management to-dos for your region.

• Monitor citrus plants for signs of pests such as Asian citrus psyllid or leafminers.
• Adjust irrigation to account for any change in weather and increased rainfall.
• Inspect apple, citrus and especially Prunus species (e.g., stone fruit) for bacterial blast, blight, and canker. Remove entire affected branches in the summer, making cuts several inches away in healthy wood.
• Check for aphids. Most established plants can tolerate aphid feeding. On small plants, knock aphids off with a strong stream of water or apply insecticidal oils and soaps to manage.
• Check for signs of powdery mildew on apple, crape myrtle, grape, rose, and stone fruits.
• Manage ants around landscapes and building foundations using insecticide baits and trunk barriers.
• Look for leaffooted bugs feeding on fruit and nuts such as almonds, pistachios, and pomegranates.

Don't see your county on the checklist or want to provide feedback? Let us know!

Pest tips for September.