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County of Ventura landscape practices
The County of Ventura Landscape Division applies environmentally friendly practices at the government center site and at county building locations throughout the area. Landscape Supervisor, Scott Bucy, works hard to balance costs, function and environmental benefits.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices are incorporated throughout the division. These principals are front and center in the planning stage and continue through routine maintenance work. Mr. Bucy emphasizes using the right plant in the right place goes a long way in reducing the need for weed, insect and vertebrate pest control in the future. When chemical control measures are required, low toxicity products are used. Using IPM principals to guide choices helps to reduce labor and material costs while reducing potential damage to the environment.
Water usage and conservation is another important consideration throughout the division. Drought resistant and native plants are used during replanting efforts. At the Government Center’s 82 acre site, an onsite weather station and wireless water management system work together to provide high tech water guidance, which greatly reduces usage while insuring plants get enough water to maintain health. In areas in which is practical, wood mulch is used to improve water filtration and retention. These water saving efforts combine to further reduce costs and environmental impact.
These positive choices and long-term benefits go a long way towards improving water quality and reducing costs. While an onsite weather stations and wireless water management systems are more practical on a large scale, the concepts and practices used by the County Landscape Division can help home gardeners save time and expense while helping to improve water quality.
Assistance in implementing changes in your home garden can be found in previous blog posts, or by contacting your local UCCE Master Gardeners by email or by phone at 645-1455.
May is Water Month
Today Supervisor John Zaragoza will present resolutions proclaiming May 2012 as both “Watershed Awareness” and “Water Awareness” Month.
There are many events being held around the county this month to celebrate. Santa Clara River events can be found in this Ventura County Star article. Ventura River events can be found at the Ventura River Watershed Council website. If you are aware of any other events, please contact our office and we will be happy to include yours in a future post.
Further information about our local watersheds can be found here. Working together we can all improve our water quality and conservation.
Ventura County ACP-HLB Task Force reminder
After the recent HLB detection in Los Angeles County, many people have been contacting our office. We would like to take this opportunity to remind you about the Ventura County ACP-HLB Task Force.
The Task Force, founded January 2010, “is dedicated to the early detection and swift eradication of this invasive pest, and to preventing the disease it transmits from devastating Ventura County citrus.”
To allow for quick exchange of information and open communication, the Task Force is on Facebook. The information and resources available on their page are extensive.
Recently added resources include a free smart phone app from the USDA designed to help report suspected citrus diseases, including HLB.
April is Garden Month!
UCCE Ventura County is celebrating Garden Month by expanding gardening outreach and education. Gardening is great exercise and can be a lot of fun.
Ornamental plants and trees add beauty to our communities. Food gardens can also be a source of beauty while providing fresh and highly nutritious food. Whatever type of gardening you enjoy, we are here to help.
- The homepage of our website currently features resources for the home gardener.
- UC Master Gardeners have many garden classes scheduled
- Our office has a display, stocked with many gardening resources, at the Ventura County Government Center Hall of Administration through the end of April. Master Gardeners will be available at the display Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm to answer questions.
- The Master Gardener helpline is staffed from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm Tuesdays and Thursdays to answer your questions. You may see them in person at 669 County Square Drive, Suite 100 in Ventura. You can also call them at 805-645-1455 or email them at mgventura@ucdavis.edu.
Happy Gardening!
Conejo Valley 4-H
The Conejo Valley 4-H club is located in Thousand Oaks.
This year our theme is: Fine Art. We have worked with water colors, made tie-dye shirts and this month we will decorate blown out eggs.
The Conejo Valley 4-H club participates in many community service projects including: Trick or Treat So Others Can Eat, Project Linus, we recycle books and eyeglasses, pet shelter supply drives, People-to people lunches and Stockings 4 Troops.
Some of the projects we currently have in the club are: International Foods, Leadership, Pet Therapy, Sewing, Marine Biology, and Poultry.
Our members participate in Small Animal Science Field Day and County
Presentation Day.
This article is part of our Featured Club Happenings series in our Ventura County 4-H Clover Lines newsletter. These newsletters and others produced by our office can be found on our website.
