Ticks are sucking insects that can live all year round in our mild climate. If you’re planning to do some hiking around the holidays, learn how to protect yourself from having one hitch a ride on you. If you do get bitten, here’s how to properly remove the tick. These insects are not only a […]
Avoid ticks when taking a hike Read More »
It’s National Spinach Month, and a good time to consider growing your own little crop of greens. This easy to grow plant is generally seeded directly into the ground, and not transplanted. Check out this video on planting and harvesting spinach. While the featured yard is in zone 5 versus our Marin zone 9, all
Snails and slugs can mow down your spinach Read More »
In our mild climate, fleas can be indoor and outdoor pests all year long. Find out if spot-on products are safe for your dogs and cats, and even your children. Keeping our furry friends free from itch-inducing fleas takes some planning and diligence. Learn more about Nontoxic Ways to Protect Your Pet.
Fleas got you or your pets down? Read More »
No matter how hard you try, it’s pretty hard to keep all flies away from your house or yard. They’re generally a nuisance but can also spread disease so it’s a good idea to try to reduce they’re populations. House flies are generally found in greatest numbers during the hotter summer months. House flies are
Flies in the house? Read More »
Just as you bite into that big, juicy apple, fresh off your tree, you catch sight of something that shouldn’t be there; that worm in the apple is no cute cartoon. Most likely it’s the larvae of the codling moth, a serious pest of apples that also attacks pears and walnuts. This insect pest can
A Worm in the Apple Read More »
Ticks are insects that attach to you or your pets and have the potential to transmit diseases once they start feeding. They cannot jump or fly, but often climb grasses and shrubs in order to come in contact with people or animals walking by. Reduce the ticks in your yard by keeping leaf litter, tall
It’s the season for Ticks! Read More »
Rollie pollie’s – are these good or bad? Known more commonly as pill bugs, these little crustaceans are part of Nature’s recycling team. They generally hide under boards, rocks, flower pots, piles of grass clippings, flower-bed mulches and other decaying vegetation, where there’s plenty of moisture. No need to do anything if you find them
Nature’s recyclers…………. Read More »
Pincher bugs? Also known as earwigs, they get their name from the myth that they crawl into sleeping people’s ears and tunnel into the brain. They are nocturnal and communal creatures; they gather during the day in moist, dark, tight hiding places. They’re generally scavengers but feed on plants when it suits them. They eat
Pincher bugs can be a nuisance Read More »
Do your kids cringe when they see a spider or other bug? This is the time of year when insects and related critters abound. These creatures may look scary so it can be a challenge to convince a youngster that they’re harmless. Check out these tips for Tackling Your Children’s Fear of Creepy Crawlies
Do spiders, ants and other bugs bother your kids? Read More »
Spiders get a bad rap; many people go to great lengths to get rid of them. Is it their other-worldly appearance? A concern about being bitten by a poisonous type or simply the idea of “creepy, crawling” things? Whatever the reason, before eliminating them, it’s good to understand the invaluable role they play keeping pest
Who’s that spider? Read More »
