Help Desks
Both offices are open Monday to Thursday, 9am to noon and 1pm to 4pm.
We perform free pH soil testing in both offices. The Soil Test Request form includes instructions. If you would like a more thorough test than for pH, we suggest you send your soil samples to Texas A&M.
Yavapai County Alert: Bark Beetles and Dying Conifers
Website Resources
- Firewise/Defensible Space
- Laboratories Conducting Soil, Plant, Feed or Water Testing AZ1111
- Master Gardener Volunteer Training and Home Horticulture Classes
- "New in Town" Resources for those who are new to Yavapai County
- Recorded Presentations Recorded Speakers Bureau Zoom presentations on a variety of topics
Plant Databases
- Native and Naturalized Plants of Yavapai County
- Arizona Invasive Plants
- Non-native Invasive Plants of Arizona
To search page - Ctrl F
- Container Gardening, Soil Media, Hydrogels BYG #198
- Cottonwood, Verde Valley, Sedona Landscape Calendar YC #74
- Cut Stump Application of Herbicides to Manage Woody Vegetation AZ1401
- How to Hire a Landscaper
- How to Hire a Tree Expert AZ1003
- Landscaping for Wildlife - Habitat Elements YC #6A
- Ornamental Tree Care YC #58
- Perennial Border Design BYG #229
- Prescott, Prescott Valley, Chino Valley Landscape Calendar YC #27
- Protecting Trees & Shrubs from Construction Damage BYG #122
- Sustainable Landscaping BYG #93
- Wildlife Habitat BYG #109
- Windbreaks BYG #44
Hardscaping
- Fencing Your Garden BYG #210
- Greenhouses BYG #6
- Green Roofs BYG #215
- Hoop Houses/Low Tunnels BYG #84
- Rain Gardens BYG #147
- Raised Beds BYG #26
Planting /Propagating
- Companion Planting BYG #254
- EcoRestore Portal Soil/land restoration (what to plant and how to restore based on your goals)
- Erosion Control with Native Grasses BYG #63
- Fire Recovery BYG #250
- Native Grasses - How to Establish
- Planting Guidelines for Trees and Shrubs AZ1022
- Propagating Plants BYG #96
- Seed Saving BYG #193
- Transplanting Landscape Plants BYG #104
Pruning
- Pruning Landscape & Fruit Trees BYG #234
- Pruning Sealants BYG #17
- Pruning Shrubs BYG #164
- Pruning Trees After Storm BYG #187
- Sanitizing Pruning Tools BYG #125
- Woody Vegetation Herbicides AZ1401
Photos of Insects Found in Yavapai County
The following link is under reconstruction.
Arizona Pest Management Center Insect Photo Gallery
- Alternative Pesticide Options AZ1765
- Ants (Identification and Management), from University of California
- Fire Ant Stings AZ1954-21
- Harvester Ants BYG #16
- Odorous House Ants BYG #15
- Aphids
- Bacterial Insecticide - Bt BYG #116
- Bagworms BYG #51
- Bedbugs AZ1625
- Bee Identification Guide (Arizona)
- Beneficial Insects BYG #67
- Biological Insect Controls BYG #226
- Blister Beetles:
- Borers in Landscape Trees BYG #52
- Boxelder Bugs YC #9
- Butterfly Gardening #188
- Centipedes BYG #53
- Cochineal Scale BYG #199
- Cockroaches BYG #200
- Coddling Moth YC #10
- Common Fruit Tree Pests YC #13
- Conenose Bugs (aka Kissing Bug)
- Crickets BYG #205
- Cricket Management AZ1004
- Cypress Bark Beetles AZ1316
- Dragonflies & Damselflies BYG #144
- Earthworms incl Vermiculture BYG #58
- Earwigs BYG #57
- Elm Leaf Beetle Bulletin #18
- Fall Webworms BYG #56
- False Chinch Bugs BYG #209
- Feral Honeybees BYG #119
- Firewood and Bark Beetles AZ1370
- Flea Beetles BYG #76
- Fleas BYG #190
- Flies BYG #66
- Fungus Gnat Integrated Pest Management AZ1531
- Galls BYG #208
- Grapeleaf Skeletonizer
- Grasshoppers BYG #35
- Green Fruit Beetles BYG #5
- Harvester Ants BYG #16
- Horticultural Oils BYG #242
- Indoor Pests (Stored Product Pests & Carpet Beetles) BYG #38
- Lady Beetles (see Beneficial Insects)
- Insecticides BYG #240
- Insect and Disease Problems YC #61
- Kissing Bugs (see Conenose Bugs)
- Leaf-footed Plant Bug BYG #36
- Least Toxic Pest-Control Products - Directory
- Mosquitoes
- No-See-Ums BYG #59
- Oak Galls BYG #61
- Odorous House Ants BYG #15
- Oystershell Scale
- Paper Wasp/Yellow Jacket BYG #39
- Peach Tree Borer
- Pest Management BYG #91
- Pinacate Beetle BYG #55
- Pine Bark Beetles BYG #233
- Pine Bark Beetle FAQs
- Pinon Ips Bark Beetle AZ1394
- Pinyon Needle Scale AZ1315
- Problems and Pests of Agave, Aloe, Cactus and Yucca AZ1399
- Root Knot Nematodes BYG #60
- Scale Insects BYG #203
- Scorpions BYG #184
- Sequoia Pitch Moth BYG #19
- Snailcase Bagworm BYG #194
- Snails and Slugs
- BYG #124
- Snails and Slugs YC #59
- Solitary Bees BYG #42
- Sopulgids (Sun Spiders) BYG #8
- Sphinx Moth (Hornworm) BYG #37
- Spider Mites BYG #195
- Spider Mites of Conifers Bulletin #37
- Spiders BYG #177
- Squash Bugs BYG #18
- Tarantulas BYG #90
- Tent Caterpillars AZ1249
- Termites
- Drywood Termites AZ1232
- Termite Management AZ1356
- Thrips BYG #2
- Ticks
- Vegetable Pests BYG #196
- West Nile Virus BYG #235
- Whiteflies BYG #197
- White Grubs BYG #11
- Wood Boring Beetles BYG #257
General Information
- Deer Plant Resistance Ratings az2098b
- Discouraging Wildlife BYG #110
- Elk Plant Resistance Ratings az2098d
- Fencing for Wildlife AZ1481
- Javelina Plant Resistance Ratings az2098a
- Legal Status of Wildlife BYG #130
- Rabbit Plant Resistance Ratings az2098c
- Ultrasonic Pest Control BYG #46
- Wildlife Repellents BYG #132
- Wildlife Track and Scat ID BYG #131
- Wildlife Transmitted Diseases AZ1481
Wildlife
- Backyard Birds BYG #189
- Backyard Poultry BYG #150
- Badgers BYG #114
- Bats BYG #149
- Bats in North Central Arizona AZ1675
- Beavers BYG #97
- Black Bears BYG #98
- Bobcats BYG #99
- Coatimundis BYG #65
- Commensal Rodents YC #12
- Cottontail Rabbits BYG #100
- Coyotes BYG #101
- Deer in the Landscape BYG #3
- Elk BYG #115
- Feral Hogs BYG #118
- Gopher Management BYG #45
- House Mice BYG #102
- Javelinas BYG #32
- Mountain Lions BYG #126
- Owls BYG #134
- Pigeons AZ2001
- Porcupines BYG #31
- Quagga Mussels BYG #249
- Raccoons BYG #111
- Rats
- Packrats
- Woodrats (Packrats) BYG #23
- Rattlesnakes BYG #133
- Ravens BYG #113
- Ringtails BYG #112
- Rock Squirrels BYG #24
- Skunks
- Snails and Slugs
- Turkey Vultures BYG #166
- Voles BYG #33
- Wild Turkeys BYG #165
- Woodpeckers/Sapsuckers BYG #155
General Information
- Community Gardens Bulletin #21
- Container Gardening AZ1713
- Cover Crops BYG #27
- Fall Vegetable Gardening BYG #185
- Farmscaping BYG #178
- Fruit, Vegetable and Herb Growing Guide (Utah State University Extension)
- Greenhouses BYG #6
- Managing Critters in Vegetable Gardens
- Raised Beds BYG #26
Fruit Trees, Brambles, and Grapes
- Almond Trees YC #3
- Apples - Recommended Apple Varieties for the AZ Central Highlands az2160a
- Asian pears YC #5
- Backyard Cane Fruit Production AZ1585
- Brambles BYG #75
- Calendar of monthly activities YC #76
- Critical Temperatures for Frost Damage on Fruit Trees Utah State University
- Fertilizing Fruit Trees BYG #211
- Figs BYG #4
- Flower and Fruit Drop YC #16
- Fruit trees for 3500 to 6000 ft elevation AZ1162
- Fruit Tree Chilling Requirements #48
- Fruit Tree Spraying BYG #50
- Fruit Tree Spring Freeze BYG #10
- Gogi Berries BYG #218
- Gooseberries/Currents BYG #77
- Grapes BYG #127
- Grapes for Central Arizona YC #22
- Home Orchard Estab. BYG #163
- Pecan Production Guidelines for Small Orchards AZ1400
- Pecan Trees BYG #217
- Persimmons BYG #220
- Pomegranates BYG #71
- Pruning Fruit Trees BYG #121 AZ1668
- Strawberries AZ1667
- Thinning Fruit Crops BYG #47
Fruit Tree Pruning Videos
Vegetables and Herbs
- 10 Steps for a Successful Vegetable Garden AZ1435
- Artichokes BYG #143
- Asparagus BYG #153
- Basil #245
- Edible Flowers Bulletin #17
- Garlic BYG #160
- Grand Canyon Sweet Onion BYG #247
- Green Beans BYG #244
- Growing Herbs YC #54
- Harvest Clues YC #19
- Harvesting /Storing Vegetables BYG #22
- Herbs BYG #216
- Heirloom/Hybrid BYG #86
- Kale BYG #172
- Lettuce, Winter BYG #148
- Mushrooms BYG #107
- Okra BYG #219
- Organic Food BYG #141
- Organic Vegetable Gardening YC #20
- Peppers/Chiles BYG #174
- Potatoes, Irish BYG #58
- Rhubarb BYG #162
- Seed Starting BYG #85
- Spinach BYG #173
- Sweet Corn BYG #223
- Sweet Potatoes BYG #224
- Vegetable Pests BYG#196
- Vegetable Planting and Harvest Times - 3000 to 6000ft Elevations YC #30
- Vegetable Planting Dates YC #51 Dates shown are for seeds, unless otherwise noted.
- Vegetables A to Z BYG #74
- Winter Squash BYG #225
Tomatoes
- Diffuse Knapweed BYG #202
- Field Sandbur BYG #213
- Herbicides BYG #7
- Hoary Cress BYG #241
- Lawn Weeds BYG #171
- Puncturevine BYG #14
- Starthistles BYG #228
- Using Pesticides Safely BYG #137
- Weeds BYG #170
- Weed Management YC #23
- Weed Management Choices Glyphosate and associated ingredients
Climate Zones
Irrigation
- Drip Irrigation Tune-up BYG #230
- Drought and Extreme Heat: Plant Responses and Landscape Maintenance Practices AZ1876
- Drought Impact on Conifers BYG #117
- Drought Tolerant Plants BYG #248
- Fall / Winter Irrigation BYG #231
- General Landscape Irrigation Guidelines Bulletin #15
- Irrigating Native Southwest Trees and Shrubs Bulletin #41
- Irrigation During Drought BYG #138
- Passive Water Harvesting AZ1564
- Using Gray Water for Irrigation BYG #40
- Water Conservation BYG #236
Water
Weather
- Deicing Compounds BYG #128
- Fall / Winter Freezes BYG #9
- Fruit Trees Spring Freeze BYG #10
- Frost Probabilities BYG #12
- Frost Protection BYG #251
- Weather Stations BYG#94
- Western Regional Climate Center: http://www.wrcc.dri.edu contains historical data, including freeze date probabilities.
View our photo library of plant diseases
- Ash Decline? BYG #238
- Comandra Blister Rust AZ1310
- Common Tomato Disorders Under Desert Conditions Bulletin 56
- Cotton (Texas) Root Rot AZ1150
- Crown Gall Diseases #34
- Curly Top Virus BYG #20
- Damping-off AZ1029
- Diseases of Urban Plants AZ1124
- Fire Blight AZ1030
- Insect and Disease Problems Bulletin #61
- Iron Deficiency BYG #232
- Lichens BYG #206
- Mistletoe BYG #180
- True Mistletoes AZ1308
- Dwarf Mistletoes AZ1309
- Pecan Bacterial Leaf Scorch AZ1772
- Pecan Root Rot AZ1814
- Powdery Mildew AZ1033
- Problems and Pests of Agave, Aloe, Cactus and Yucca AZ1399
- Rust Diseases BYG #156
- Seiridium Canker of Cypress Trees in Arizona AZ1557
- Slime Flux AZ1031
- Slime Molds Bulletin #60
- Sooty Canker AZ1032
- Sunscald BYG #25
- Sycamore Anthracnose BYG #106
- Texas Root Rot BYG #43
Compost / Soil
- Coffee Grounds BYG #140
- Compost BYG #29
- Composting AZ1632
- Garden Soil Prep BYG #142
- Mulches BYG #30
- Mycorrhizae BYG #105
- Soil Alkalinity BYG #239
- Soil Amendments BYG #129
- Soil Solarization BYG #28
- Soils and Climate of Yavapai County YC #25
- Worm Composting BYG #258
Fertilizer
- Biochar AZ1752
- Fertilizing Home Gardens AZ1020
- Fertilizing Woody Ornamentals BYG #212
- Gypsum AZ1413
- Nitrogen BYG #88
- Organic Fertilizers BYG #89
- Phosphorus BYG #87
- Root Stimulators BYG #252
- Using Fertilizers Wisely BYG #175
- Winterizer Fertilizers BYG #237
Plant Lists
- Annual Flowers YC #7
- AZ Dept of Water Resources, Prescott Active Management Area Low Water Use Drought Tolerant Plant List
- City of Prescott Low-Water-Use Plant Website
- Cottonwood, Verde Valley, Sedona Landscape Plants YC #32B
- Drought Tolerant Native Plants for the Verde Valley
- Irrigated Pastures AZ2020
- Firewise Plant Materials AZ1289
- Landscaping for Wildlife - Habitat Elements YC #6A
- Landscaping for Wildlife - Plant List YC #6B
- Plants Poisonous to Livestock
- Plants Damaged by Deer Deer Plant Resistance Ratings az2098b
- Plants Damaged by Elk Elk Plant Resistance Ratings az2098d
- Plants Damaged by Javelina Javelina Plant Resistance Ratings az2098a
- Plants Damaged by Rabbits Rabbit Pant Resistance Ratings az2098c
- Plants That May Cause Allergies in Yavapai County YC #2
- Prescott Area Landscape Plants YC #32A
- Yavapai County Grasses YC #78
Plants
Cacti/Succulents
- Agaves BYW #79
- Aloe Vera BYG #169
- Cactus Culture BYG #181
- Holiday Cacti BYG #253
- Prickly Pear Cactus #192
- Red Yucca BYG #159
- Saguaros BYG #145
- Stapelia BYG #186
- Yuccas BYG#78
Grasses
- Bamboo BYG #161
- Bermudagrass BYG #108
- Buffalograss BYG #103
- Cool Season Lawns BYG #227
- Document
- Lawn Grasses for Yavapai County YC #73
- Turf Tips
- Turf Maintenance (Weeds and Insects) YouTube
Houseplants
- Houseplant Air Quality BYG #243
- Indoor Plant Care BYG #255
Miscellaneous
- Bulbs BYG #207
- Dodder BYG #64
- Iris, Bearded BYG #154
- Plant Roots BYG #176
- Pollen Allergies BYG #136
- Sedges BYG #81
- Wildflowers BYG #70
- Wood Growth & Structure BYG #135
- Yarrow BYG #168
Perennials, Herbaceous and Woody
- Catnip/Catmint BYG #146
- English Ivy BYG #183
- Hops BYG #167
- Onionweed BYG #82
- Penstemons BYG #72
- Sacred Datura BYG #41
Shrubs
- AZ Rosewood BYG #201
- Creosote Bush BYG #95
- Manzanitas BYG #73
- Ocotillo BYG #80
- Oregon Grape BYG #139
- Rosemary BYG #221
- Roses BYG #222
- Roses in Yavapai County
- Saltcedar BYG #204
- Sweet Resinbush BYG #259
Trees
- Chinese Jujube BYG #191
- Cottonwood BYG #182
- Cypress Trees BYG #151
- Deciduous Trees BYG #68 (Chinese Pistache, Liquid Amber, Desert Willow, London Plane, Mesquite, Honey Locust)
- Invasive Trees BYG #92
- Native Oak Trees BYG #62
- Native Trees from Seeds BYG #123
- Non-native Conifers BYG #69
- Pines of Arizona AZ1584
- Tree of Heaven BYG #152
File numbers explained:
AZ = Uof A Publication
YC = Writtten for Yavapai County
BYG = The Backyard Gardener was a weekly Yavapai County, AZ newspaper column published from 1998 to 2021. The articles were written by University of Arizona Extension Agent Emeritus, Jeff Schalau. Those articles have been consolidated, updated and reformatted, and are available on this webpage with a designation of "BYG #". Ongoing research and changes in regulations will occur and inform best practices. Please use them accordingly and know that pesticides and legal statutes change over time. Horticultural practices also vary from region to region and state to state. For the most current horticultural and natural resource information, consult your local Cooperative Extension office.