Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a science-based decision-making process that combines tools and strategies to identify and manage pests. It’s not one specific action or tactic; it is the combination of all actions that reduce the impact of pests while minimizing negative effects on the environment. In addition to its primary purpose of reducing numbers […]
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Rust is one of the most common fungal diseases of garden plants, there are thousands of different species that infect trees, shrubs, ferns, perennials, edibles and more, like pear, peach, and pine, rhododendrons, roses, chrysanthemums, fuchsias, geraniums, lilies, and snapdragons. Rusts have been a scourge to humans for centuries, impacting important food and fiber crops
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If you’ve got something messing up your lawn and you’re not sure what it is, look at how they dig. Skunks create holes about the size of their nose when they dig for earthworms, grubs, and other soil insects with their long, front claws. Raccoons enjoy diets that are almost identical to skunks but use
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Like any living creature, natural enemies need food, water, and shelter, all generally available in the garden. Here are some ways to attract them and keep them there:
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Spiders are generally considered to be beneficial; as predators, they keep insect pests in check. But many don’t want these 8-legged crawlers moving around inside the house. To prevent spiders from entering your house: To manage spiders that may have made it inside: While some research suggests citrus scents like orange oil may deter spiders,
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You know the saying – a weed is simply any plant in a place you don’t want it. Are you seeing grasses, dandelions, bindweed, and others popping up in your lawn, flower beds, vegetable gardens or other exposed spaces? Even in teeny spaces between bricks on your patio? What’s a gardener to do with such
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Finding clothes with tiny little holes, or silk-like webbing? Maybe you’ve got webbing clothes moths. They tend to hide when disturbed, so you might not notice them until they’ve damaged your fabric, fur, or feathered items. They’re especially drawn to fabrics with sweat, food, or urine stains. It’s the larval form of the insect that
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Snails and slugs are the bane to most gardeners. Loosely related to octopi and oysters, they glide along on their muscular foot, secreting mucus to facilitate movement, leaving their trademark glistening trail behind. With similar biology, the snail carries an external shell while slugs have evolved without one. Both are most active at night or
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Rollie pollie’s – are these good or bad? Known more commonly as pill bugs, these non-insects are terrestrial crustaceans. Sometimes called a roly-poly due to its ability to roll into ball when disturbed, they are part of Nature’s recycling team. They are nocturnal and generally hide under boards, rocks, flowerpots, piles of grass clippings, flower-bed
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If you’re a parent, a pet owner, or both, and enjoy spending time in your outside spaces, have you removed potential hazards for kids, dogs, and cats where you may be playing? There are some possible dangers lurking, especially related to pesticides; here are some things to consider: Weed and feed products for grasses are
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