Got roses? They’re at the peak of bloom right now. Hopefully, they’re free of the ugly disease called rust, that loves the cool, moist morning temperatures. This fungal disease is easy to identify – look for orange, powdery pustules on the undersides of leaves. Early in the season they’re yellow to light orange, with the […]
Rust on your Roses? Read More »
May is National Lyme Disease Awareness Month, and it’s a good idea to learn more about this debilitating disease and how to prevent it. Lyme disease is a bacterial infection; in our area it’s primarily transmitted by black-legged ticks. These tiny arachnids are typically found in wooded and grassy areas. Although people may think of
Ticks carrying Lyme Disease found at CA Beaches Read More »
It’s National Strawberry month – get ready to celebrate with some strawberry shortcake! One of the delights of spring is filling a bowl with vibrant red, juicy strawberries from the garden. These easy to grow delicious fruits can sometimes be bothered by pests, though most are easy to manage. As fruit develops, watch for signs
It’s strawberry time! Read More »
In early spring, masses of thick foam can coat delicate stems on a variety of plants – they’re spittlebugs. While visually unappealing, they’re generally nothing to be too concerned about. The abundant globs of bubbles are produced by young nymphs as they begin sucking on plant tissue. The frothy mass is thought to serve as
An unsightly nuisance Read More »
One of the unwanted visitors to the spring garden arrives just about now. That mass of tiny pests that cloak the new growth on your roses, elderberries, viburnums, or peach trees are at best an unsightly nuisance and at worst, creatures that can damage tender new growth on plants and spread disease. They’re aphids! Aphid
Unwanted spring visitors Read More »
It’s National Pet Day and time to think about our beloved animals as they roam around the garden. Are there possible hazards lurking? Pesticides that may harm them? Here are some things to consider: Weed and feed products for grasses are usually applied across the entire surface of the lawn. Those tiny particles contain fertilizer
Protect your pets! Read More »
When homeowners spot a small animal scurrying across the kitchen floor or digging in the yard, they may wonder if they have a problem with voles or mice. Both of these rodents are five to eight inches long and have gray or brown fur; voles are stockier than mice with shorter tails, larger eyes, and
Is it a vole or a mouse? Read More »
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 »
