Whiteflies on geraniums, roses beaded with aphids or spider mites on other ornamental plants – all are examples of nasty pests that, with a little preventive action now, can be reduced or eliminated from the upcoming spring garden. That bit of prevention comes in the form of dormant spraying – it is done during the […]
Prevention is the Best Medicine Read More »
It’s Squirrel Appreciation Day – those adorable furry critters you might find scampering up a tree to raid your bird feeder. This incredibly intelligent animals can be hilarious to watch, but not if they’re getting into your house. Signs of tree squirrel infestation include noises from squirrels in attics, chimneys, walls, or vents; holes in
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The rains of winter are still in progress, and along with it is the veritable carpet of green that now surrounds us. Plants may be growing, especially the ones you don’t want – the weeds in your garden. You know the saying – a weed is simply any plant in a place you don’t want
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January 10 is Save the Eagles Day. The bald eagle is a classic icon of the United States, standing for strength, courage, and freedom. Chosen in 1782 as a symbol for our national emblem, today the bald eagle is depicted on a variety of official U.S. items, including passports, quarters, and the one-dollar bill. These
It’s yard clean-up time – removing any remaining fruits and vegetables from the ground and trimming trees and shrubs that have dropped their leaves. Don’t remove everything – keep in mind what the natural enemies in the garden need, even during the winter: food, water, and shelter. Who are the natural enemies? They are the
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Have some houseplants that seem to be looking a little pale or notice some sticky stuff on your orchid? Take a closer look at your indoor greens and you may find something more than dust. If you see fluffy white material like tiny pieces of cotton nestled in the cracks and crevices of plant stems
Bugs on your houseplants? Read More »
Have you been startled by a flurry of little flying beasts bursting out of the container of flour or corn meal you planned to use? If so, you’ve met one of the nasty “pantry pests.” Meal moths and pantry beetles are unwanted visitors to your food and dry goods stash. They can crawl through cracks,
Nasty pests in the kitchen Read More »
For most of us, cockroaches are high in the yuk factor; even worse is seeing one running across the kitchen floor. These are pests of both indoor and outdoor environments that provide food, water, and shelter. During the day, roaches hide in dark, moist areas like cracks, water meter boxes, sewers, and crawl spaces. They
What’s that skittering across the kitchen floor? Read More »
Got problems with rats, mice, or gophers? Interested in environmentally friendly methods to help reduce these pests? It’s easy – support your local owls and encourage them to hang around! These birds of the night that you’re more likely to hear than see, can be a boost to an overall approach at controlling unwanted rodents.
Owls are great at rodent control Read More »
It can be frustrating to have big animal pests going through your yard and making a mess, or worse yet, harming your plants or pets. Whether it’s deer, raccoons, rabbits, coyotes, or other critters, excluding them from your outdoor space is your best option. These critters share our environment and while we may not want
Learning to live with wildlife Read More »
