Stopping Squirrels and Chipmunks in the Garden

Every gardener has squirrel/chipmunk stories. They dig up bulbs and plants. One year, container annuals on my doorstep were dug up nightly. Replanting didnt help. Sprinkling cayenne pepper worked—the squirrel lost int

Vinegar as Weed Killer: What Works and What Doesn't

What Kind of Vinegar to Use Household white vinegar (5% acetic acid) works on young annual weeds <2 weeks old, may need multiple applications. Good for weeds in sidewalk/driveway cracks—easy to target without hitting

Attract Bats for Organic Insect Control

Bats are misunderstood garden allies. Theyre not bloodsucking, disease-ridden rodents. Embrace them for natural pest control! Why You Should Attract Bats A single bat eats 600+ mosquitoes per hour—fantastic organic pest

How Can I Get Rid of Crawfish Holes in My Lawn?

The Virginia Extension Service has an excellent publication on crawfish control and management, detailing natural predators and trapping methods. More On Lawn Care How To Improve Garden Soil How To Repair Your La

4 Natural Ways to Control Garden Pests

Nontoxic Pest Control No garden is pest-free. Fungal infections, caterpillars, beetles, deer—the list is endless. But you can fight back without risking health or fortune. Often, changing gardening practices prevents

Eliminate Weed Plants from Your Garden

Weeds are just plants growing where unwanted. Philosophy: if you like it, its a flower; if not, its a weed. Still, wage war on weeds in vegetable and perennial beds—early elimination pays off. Weeding can be therapeut

Poisonous Weed Look-Alike: Wild Parsnip vs. Queen Anne's Lace

From your description, you likely mean wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa), a biennial from Europe/Asia naturalized in the US, common in abandoned fields, roadsides, and disturbed areas. White/yellow umbel flowers bloom M

How Do I Keep Rabbits from Eating My Plants?

The best defense: a 3-foot-tall chicken-wire fence (1-inch mesh or smaller) with 6 inches buried. Or try odor repellents like blood meal or powdered fox urine (garden center). Reapply frequently. Spray-on taste repell

Stop Grubs in Your Lawn

If grass turns brown and pulls up easily in July–August, or skunks/raccoons tear up your lawn, you likely have grubs. White grubs are larvae of Japanese beetles, June beetles, or masked chafer beetles. They damage lawns

Tips for Deterring Deer from Your Garden

Once deer find your yard, theyll jump fences, ignore scares, and return regularly to devour plants. Theyll eat almost anything depending on hunger and regional preferences. Even deer-resistant plants arent guaranteed.

Insects Eating Hostas: Slug Control

Slugs are the primary pests on hostas. They hide in cool, dark shade under hostas by day, emerging at night to chew holes in leaves. The safest control is diatomaceous earth—an abrasive powder too sharp for their soft

How to Get Rid of Moles in Your Yard

Raised ridges (3–5 inches) with tiny dirt volcanoes signal moles tunneling below. Moles aerate soil and eat insect larvae, but become pests when they destroy lawns and uproot plants. Tunnels brown grass quickly. The o

How to Get Rid of Creeping Charlie

What is Creeping Charlie? This aggressive weed (also called ground ivy) thrives in moist shade but also grows in sun, spreading into turf and beds. Its in the mint family, forming dense mats that smother other plants.

Stop Japanese Beetles: Effective Control Methods

Hand-Picking Japanese Beetles For light infestations, the safest, cheapest method: pick beetles off plants by hand and drop into a bucket of soapy water. Pesticides for Japanese Beetles Available pesticides: look for

Stopping Cats in the Garden: Humane Solutions

For gardeners who love cats, feral or neighbor cats using your garden as a litter box is a delicate issue. The biggest concern is health: cats host Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite transmissible to humans via feces, espe

Azalea and Rhododendron Diseases: Identification and Control

Common Diseases of Azaleas and Rhododendrons These popular landscape shrubs are susceptible to several fungal diseases. Proper cultural practices and targeted treatments can minimize damage. Botryosphaeria Canker Sympto

Verticillium Wilt of Woody Ornamentals: A Comprehensive Guide

Understanding Verticillium Wilt Verticillium wilt is a serious fungal disease affecting a wide range of deciduous trees and shrubs. Conifers are not susceptible. The disease is caused by the soil-borne fungus Verticilliu

Vinca (Periwinkle) Blight: Symptoms and Control

Phoma Blight of Vinca Vinca (periwinkle) is a popular groundcover that can be devastated by Phoma blight, especially in wet conditions. Blight Symptoms: Branches and eventually the entire plant blacken at the base and d

Viburnum Diseases: Canker, Mildews, and Management

Key Diseases of Viburnum Shrubs Viburnums are popular landscape shrubs that can be affected by several fungal diseases. Proper cultural practices and timely interventions keep them healthy. Botryosphaeria Canker Symptom

Tulip Poplar Diseases: Powdery Mildew and Sooty Mold

Common Issues Affecting Tulip Poplar Tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) is relatively disease-resistant but can experience two common fungal issues. Powdery Mildew Symptoms: White fungal growth on upper leaf surface