Some of the BEST pest controllers you can have in your yard are reptiles. Yes, those things that might slither past your feet on the patio are REALLY GOOD for the garden. Lizards, skinks, toads and snakes are all reptiles, animals that are cold-blooded, breathe with lungs, and have dry, scaly skin. One of the …
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 …
Fall is a busy time for tree squirrels as they comb their environment for food to store for the winter. While they can be fun to watch, they can also be a real nuisance for bird feeders and the garden in general. They feed on a variety of fruits, nuts, and other crops and plants, …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Yellowjacket wasps prey on other insects and scavenge on human food and garbage. Yellowjackets defend their nests, as do other social wasps and bees, but are more likely to sting if disturbed while foraging. Learn how to distinguish between yellowjackets, wasps and look-alikes. Stings generally cause pain and short-term injury, but some people suffer severe …
Hot, dry and dusty are pretty typical outdoor conditions for this time of year. The last rains were months ago; late summer and early fall often features toasty daytime temperatures with low relative humidity. Most people, plants and animals don’t prefer it, but it’s ideal for pesky spider mites. More than 200 different plant species, …
As we transition from spring to summer and temperatures climb, it’s mosquito season. Not only are these flying pests annoying, their bite can be anywhere from mildly irritating to seriously painful. AND they can transmit disease, so it’s a good idea to start with preventing them from breeding. Don’t let mosquitoes breed in your yard! …
