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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Today is World Pollution Prevention Day – observed around the globe on December 2 to instill awareness on environmental pollution and its negative impacts on our health and the planet. International organizations such as the United Nations (U.N.), the World Health Organization (WHO), Greenpeace, and others have been urging countries all over the world to
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With cooler damper weather comes the potential for disease in the garden. Are you seeing spots or brown soggy patches on petals of your favorite camellia blooms? It may be camellia petal blight, a fungal disease that affects all cultivars of Camellia japonica. Infection initially causes small, brown, irregularly shaped blotches in petals that enlarge
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Do you cringe when you happen upon an eight-legged creature scurrying across your front porch? If it’s a spider, you’re in good company. Fear of spiders, known as arachnophobia, is one of the most common phobias around. It may come from concern about being bitten by a deadly type or simply the idea of the
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I love to put bird seed out and watch the backyard birds enjoy the delicious meal. What isn’t so great, that same food is an attractant for mice and rats. A few tips to consider if you want to enjoy the feathered garden visitors but not the rodents. If you see indications of rodents around
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Vinegar is an effective household cleaning solution for windows, counter tops, cutting boards and much more. But how about as a weed killer? Acetic acid, also known as vinegar, is used in products for weed control. Many people choose it because it is natural. However, acetic acid can damage skin and eyes, especially at concentrations
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Fall is for planting! And no better time to add some native plants to your garden. Why natives? There are lots of reasons including conserving water, reducing chemical usage (no pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers are needed with natives) and encouraging wildlife. Want a colorful garden and don’t think you can do it with mostly natives?
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Air quality is measured for the amount of pollutants in the atmosphere, either indoors or out. Pesticides in agriculture and urban settings have the potential to contaminate our air, affecting human, animal and plant health. Some pesticide ingredients stay in the atmosphere for only a short period of time, while others can last longer. Pesticides
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Ants on your leafy vegetables? Your fruit trees? Your house plants? They’re a prime indicator that sucking insects are feasting on your plants. There’s a group of soft-bodied insects – aphids, mealybugs, soft scale and whiteflies that feed by sucking juices from plants. Their damage can cause spotted, bleached, or curled foliage, and stunted growth.
It’s Likely More than Just Ants! Read More »
October is Bat Appreciation Month. So, why would a whole month be devoted to these odd-looking creatures? It has nothing to do with Halloween or vampires. It’s more about getting to know these mysterious flying superheroes that help our environment, and aren’t as scary as you might think. Often having the undeserved reputation of nighttime
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