Citrus is a $3.3 billion industry in California, and it is currently under threat from one of the tiniest insects and the disease it carries. This week on In the Garden with UC Master Gardeners, we will detail the threat of the Asian Citrus Psyllid and HLB (Huanglongbing – just one name of this disease).

If infected, the tree will die. The simple practice of sharing and moving plant material between gardens (and even countries) can unknowingly spread the disease.

This is how it started in Southern California. Since the introduction, there are currently quarantine zones covering half of Orange County, north into the San Gabriel Valley and out into Riverside County! San Diego just proclaimed an Emergency Program as of April 2023. Join Ann Liu, UC Master Gardener, as she talks with Jennifer Pelham, (former) Horticulture Advisor of UCANR (University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources) on this subject. For more immediate information on this including the quarantine zone maps, refer to the Master Gardener website at https://ucanr.edu/sites/ACP/ and www.californiacitrusthreat.org. KUCI is proud to currently play a Public Service Announcement for this organization from time to time!

Learn more and listen to "In The Garden" radio show podcasts.

Podcast Topic: California Citrus Threat

Would you like to get updates from the Orange County Master Gardeners?

• Hear about what we are doing in the community
• Receive the "Garden Beet". A quarterly gardening newsletter.
• Learn about upcoming public events
• Be the FIRST to learn about special seminars and trainings open to the public
• And more...

Subscribe Today