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 »
Mice can live just about anywhere, and they love our homes. Since they are mostly active at night, and the first thing you might see are signs of chewing, nesting, or droppings. Although they only live for a year or so, mice reproduce quickly. Prevention and early detection can keep damage from getting out of
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 »
Summer brings the peak of yummy fruit – plums, peaches, berries, apples and of course, tomatoes. These are some of the favored foods of rats, so be sure to clean up the garden if you’ve got any falling to the ground. Learn more about controlling these pesky critters without poison!
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 »
Easily recognized for their rather ethereal beauty, the “dragon” portion of their name comes from their fierce jaws that they use to catch their flying prey. The “fly” portion of their name is apt – they are the world’s fastest insects, capable of reaching speeds of up to 60 mph. Dragonflies and their smaller counterparts,
These ancient, elegant insects are a bane to mosquitos 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 »
Cleaning the garage and found some Round-up, bug spray, fertilizer that you’re not going to use? Don’t pour it down the drain or put in the trash can. These toxic materials need special care for their disposal. Simply bring your materials to one of the two hazardous waste disposal sites in Marin; they will take
Don’t throw it in the trash! Read More »
