Do your kids cringe when they see a spider or other bug? This is the time of year when insects and related critters abound. These creatures may look scary so it can be a challenge to convince a youngster that they’re harmless. Check out these tips for Tackling Your Children’s Fear of Creepy Crawlies
The pocket gopher is named for the external, fur-lined check pouches the little pests use to carry food to their storage area. These thick-bodied rodents range from six – twelve inches long and have small eyes and ears set back far on the head. Their exposed chisel-like teeth (that grow continuously nine to fourteen inches …
With the bounty of flowers blooming this time of year, you’re likely to spot one of the most helpful little critters in the garden, though you may not recognize her as such. What appears to be a small bee hovering like a tiny helicopter over Queen Anne’s Lace, but looks and may even sound like …
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! …
Spiders get a bad rap; many people go to great lengths to get rid of them. Is it their other-worldly appearance? A concern about being bitten by a poisonous type or simply the idea of “creepy, crawling” things? Whatever the reason, before eliminating them, it’s good to understand the invaluable role they play keeping pest …
Weeds growing with abandon? In your vegetable and flower beds and in your lawn? Weeds, simply put, are plants growing where they aren’t wanted – those pesky things growing around the base of your roses or trees, in among your vegetable bed or creating a mosaic pattern in your lawn. Almost any plant – from …
Snails and slugs love to eat plants with tender foliage and fruit. Favorites include seedlings and plants with succulent foliage; they seriously damage basil, beans, cabbage, lettuce, and many other vegetable plants along with dahlia, delphinium, hosta and marigold. Ripening fruits close to the ground like strawberries are easy targets. And they’ll climb trees to …
It’s the time of the year when roses, our national flower, put on a dazzling show, cloaking plants with brilliantly colored, sweet smelling blossoms. Are your plants bedecked with perfectly formed flowers, or by chance do you see what way too many gardeners do come June, roses with petals that resemble Swiss cheese, young buds …
You probably use pesticides every day without hesitation – household bleach, vinegar, dish washing soap and baking soda are common household items that can be effective pesticides when used appropriately. The key is to know the pest you’re dealing with, what you’re using to manage it and then, using it correctly. The term pesticide is …
Gorgeous roses are a wonderful addition to any garden. But throw in a few days of spring rain and voila, you might end up with nearly naked plants. This dramatic effect is likely a result of infection by either blackspot or rust, the gardener’s pestilence of wet spring or fall months. Effectively managing these invaders …
A dastardly duo of diseases that can plague your roses Read More »
