In Marin, flies are often a nuisance during summer and fall, and some species enter our homes. Here are the most common: Filth-breeding flies like house flies and blow flies develop in compost, animal waste, dead animals, and garbage. These flies are commonly contaminated with bacteria, including those associated with food poisoning and can spread […]
Flies can be a Nuisance Read More »
Home composting is one of the best things you can do for your garden—and the environment. By turning kitchen scraps and yard trimmings into rich, nutrient-filled compost, you reduce the amount of waste going to landfills, improve your soil naturally, and help plants thrive without relying as heavily on commercial fertilizers. It’s a win for
Compost Smarter: Keep the Good, Keep Out the Rats Read More »
Here in Marin, we’re fortunate to have ready access to wonderful, healthy produce. And it’s even better if you can step into the garden and pick your own! Before harvesting, check out those leafy greens, or your apple, pear, lemon or lime trees, and look for the telltale signs of leafminers, the twisting trails (or mines)
Did you eat your fruits and vegetables today? Read More »
It’s summertime, a busy time for travel. One thing you don’t want to experience on your trip is bedbugs – those small, wingless insects that feed on blood, causing itchy bites, and generally irritating their human hosts. While the EPA, CDC, and the USDA all consider bed bugs a public health pest, bed bugs are
Don’t bring Bedbugs Home with you! Read More »
During this time of year, many insects, including ants and termites, search for new places to establish colonies. When conditions are right—warmer temperatures, brighter sunlight, and light winds—winged insects leave their original nests. This mass flight is known as swarming, and the winged insects are called swarmers or alates. Although dramatic, swarming itself is short-lived
Is that an Ant or a Termite? Read More »
Have you ever seen these critters in your rose garden? Or worse yet, do you have any of these symptoms that they’ve been there? Roses with petals that resemble Swiss cheese? Young buds and stems that have holes or are broken just below the bud? Meet the really bad guys of the rose garden –
These are Nasty Rose Pests Read More »
Backyard birdwatching is a rewarding hobby, but it can attract some unwanted guests—rats and mice. These rodents will happily scavenge food meant for birds, but with a few simple strategies, you can prevent them from raiding your feeders and ensure that your feathered friends get their share. 1. Choose Rodent-Proof Feeders and Stations The first
Be careful with that birdseed! Read More »
Boxelder bugs and stink bugs are occasional indoor pests, most often noticed in fall and winter when cooler weather drives them to seek shelter. While they can be annoying, neither insect reproduces indoors or causes structural damage, and both are best managed with prevention and gentle control rather than pesticides. Boxelder bugs are dark gray
Good, Bad, or Nuisance Bug? Read More »
Those striking green-and-yellow marbled leaves hanging over the fence from your neighbor’s apple tree may look like a fashionable new cultivar, but they are more likely the result of a mosaic virus. What Are Mosaic Viruses? Plants Commonly Affected Typical Symptoms (vary with plant species, virus type, and weather) How Mosaic Viruses Spread Management and
Designer leaves? Look again! Read More »
First, you see them, then you don’t. The glossy new leaves on your dwarf fruit tree vanish overnight. The mahogany-colored foliage on your prize rose is suddenly shredded. Even the tough, leathery leaves of a California live oak show heavy chewing. A closer look reveals little more than ragged leaf edges and missing tissue. Chances
What’s eating your leaves? Read More »
