Think before you spray. It sounds good, and makes sense relative to using pesticides. But what does it really mean? In a nutshell, it means that when you have a pest problem, understand what you’re trying to manage before you take action. Know what the pest is, determine how much damage you can tolerate from […]
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Is your lawn being ravaged by a nighttime marauder? Might be skunks or raccoons, or maybe even both! In late summer and fall, these two varmints damage lawns as they search for earthworms, soil-dwelling insects, and insect larvae, such as white grubs. They dig up the lawn leaving behind large patches of loose turf, eat
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If we have a lot more flooding this winter, it can impact the natural nesting areas of rodents, forcing them to seek higher ground including inside your home (particularly into “high ground” such as attics). Storm debris, cut tree trunks and limbs, and materials may become lodged in drainage ditches or along streams and can
Unwelcome Visitors Read More »
If you’ve got a soggy area in your yard, you might see nutsedges, a perennial weed that thrives in waterlogged soil and can indicate leaking irrigation. Sometimes called nutgrass, they are true sedges with stiff, thick leaves and not grasses, and grow faster than turfgrass species, are lighter in color, and grow upright, causing nonuniform
These are Challenging Weeds! Read More »
Did you know what happens to weed and feed products you put on your lawn in the fall? A few things. As it’s a combination of an herbicide and a fertilizer, if your dog rolls around on the lawn even days after treatment, it can ingest some of that pesticide (weed killer). If you water
Know Where that Fertilizer Goes? Read More »
Seeing what looks like giant mosquitos around lawns, pastures, or other grassy areas? These are crane flies, rather large flies with slender bodies and long, fragile legs that break off easily. Although similar in appearance to a giant mosquito, they are not a kind of mosquito at all and do not bite, even though some
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Ants on your artichoke plant? Your plum tree or leafy vegetables? 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 being the most common, that feed by sucking juices from plants. The direct damage they inflict on the plant
You’re likely familiar with the smallest of all birds – the hummingbird. Found only in the Americas, these tiny aerial acrobats are important pollinators AND insect eaters, doing their part as flying pest controllers! They can use our help by providing them with the basics – shelter, water, and food. September 3, 2022 is National
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Warm days and cool nights are happening now. These are perfect conditions for powdery mildew to thrive in the garden. This common disease is easily recognized by the talcum-powder like appearance on new and old leaves, tender new shoots, some flowers, and fruits. It affects a huge range of plants – roses, crape myrtle, sycamore,
Flies that find their way into the kitchen, or buzz around the barbeque are common this time of year. These irritating pest flies include the house fly, face fly, stable fly, and blow flies. They breed in animal and food wastes and decaying organic material, where they can pick up bacteria and viruses that may
