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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
April 22 is Earth Day – a time to reflect on what you can do to help protect the planet, beginning in your own back yard. Here are five things you can do: Grow your own fruit and vegetables. You’ll cut down on fuel used to transport food. Compost kitchen and garden waste. You’ll make …
Being bugged by pesky mosquitos or moths? Want some help reducing their numbers? Encourage bats to hang around! Often having the undeserved reputation of nighttime villain, these furry, winged mammals are beneficial to the environment. They consume huge numbers of night-flying insects, pollinate plants and disperse seeds. As long as they’re not roosting under your …
Bug-Eating Bats Help Control Garden Pests and More! 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 …
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 …
For many gardeners, a big challenge to growing healthy plants is keeping them free of disease, especially blackspot, rust and anthracnose. Caused by fungi, this trio of diseases are typical in wet spring and fall months but can infect gardens during our dry summers given the right conditions. Blackspot produces characteristic round black spots with …
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 …
