Something moves under the hay bale when you flip the porch light on. You tell yourself it was a leaf. It wasn’t a leaf. Every September, millions of homeowners build what amounts to a rodent resort within six feet of their front door — food, bedding, shelter, and cover, arranged in a tidy seasonal display … Read more
Nothing about your yard looks like a pest problem. That’s the issue. A bag of birdseed in the garage. A kiddie pool left face-up after a storm. Firewood stacked where it’s convenient. None of it reads as a mistake until you understand the chain: standing water makes mosquitoes, spilled food makes mice, and mice are … Read more
You planted them for the color. The neighbors slow down to look. The petals catch the light at six in the evening and the whole bed glows. And something is watching too. Some of the prettiest flowers in your yard are doing double duty. By day they’re the showpiece. By night, or in the heat … Read more
Every gardener has had that moment. You walk outside, spot a weird-looking bug crawling on your tomato plant, and your first instinct is to grab a shoe. But here is the thing — that bug might be one of the best things in your entire garden. Out of the hundreds of thousands of insect species … Read more
Chinch bug damage is one of the most common non-climate-related issues turfs will face. Lawns that get full sun and are susceptible to summer heat and drought damage seem to be the most afflicted by these pests and lawn owners in these conditions need to be extra vigilant to save their turfs. Preventing pests altogether … Read more
Grubs can be annoying, especially when they interrupt a beautiful growing season. If not careful, the infestations can spread quickly, damaging most of your lawn. Frustrating, yes. Incurable? No. You’ve fully committed to this grass-growing business. So far, it’s going wonderfully. You’ve taken the proper steps to grow, fertilize, and maintain your grass. Except for … Read more
When it comes to lawn maintenance, ants tend to be unwelcome guests. There are many different ways to rid your entire lawn of ants, some being more eco friendly than others. When it comes to extermination, everything from chemicals to vinegar is used. You’re walking in your yard, enjoying the crisp air, admiring all the … Read more
As with other wildlife, grass seed is an attractive treat to ants. While you can keep birds and squirrels away from your freshly sown seed with netting and distraction tactics, ants are a much smaller seed robber that have to be dealt with differently. Ants In The Yard Most yards have some ants in them … Read more
If you look out over the front or backyard and see many small piles of dirt amongst the grass, these are likely ant hills. Ants are ever-present in the yard’s soil, but they tend to spend a lot of time underground unless they’re foraging for food. When ants are overactive and leave hills in the … Read more
Our yards provide habitat for many different kinds of animals as part of an area-wide ecosystem. This means your lawn is part of the neighborhood buffet, and squirrels are one of many visitors who will be glad to browse for their favorite items, including grass seeds and tender grass sprouts. With some planning before sowing … Read more
Many gardens are full of plants and trees that attract our favorite robins, cardinals, and sparrows to fill our domestic lives with colorful birdsong. Having them in your yard is a pleasant way to enjoy nature up close, and anyone with a bird feeder knows how easy it is to attract them with seeds. When … Read more
For those of you who don’t know, it’s grub season. If you have a lawn, you know that grub damage is as real as it can get. It can spoil the whole look of your yard. Your lawn is an asset. It’s a window of how well you keep the house. So, it needs constant maintenance. … Read more
Nasty, Disguisting, Gross….I don’t know about you, but that’s how I feel about grubs. There are many annoying critters that can find their way into your yard and wreak havoc. Some of these pests include grubs. I think most of us have dug in our yard and come across those nasty little white, wiggly, grubs … Read more
We all want a pest free yard and garden. With grass, the kids can play in without worrying about being bitten and flowers you can bring in the house without bringing a host of insects inside too. And we want a yard that is safe for our pets to run around in as well. The … Read more
Rain barrels play an important in providing water for gardens and lawns, while at the same time conserving water. An unfortunate consequence of saving standing water in a container is that mosquitoes are drawn to it like magnets. Once the weather breaks and it becomes hot out, they start to appear. Their breeding cycle is … Read more
