Pests, Weeds & Problems

Birds can be persistent pests, impossible to get rid of. Birds will nest anywhere that provides shelter, including vents, chimneys and roofs. They will come back daily, and destroy your garden and...

Trees planted close to chain link fences will often become entangled with them as they grow. This is not only unsightly, but will damage your fence, which may cost a pretty penny to fix. If you...

Canada thistle is hard to kill. The weed spreads primarily by cloning itself from an extensive root system. Taproots can penetrate to 18 feet and lateral shoots extend 20 feet in a single season....

Bamboo is a tough plant that is notoriously hard to kill. Though many people enjoy its delicate appearance and use it to provide privacy from neighbor's yards, it grows rapidly and can quickly...

Burdock is not a simple weed. It cannot simply be plucked and thrown away and thus gone from your garden. No, burdock is not a visitor. Burdock is the guest that won't go home, even though you've...

Iron bacteria are not unhealthy to humans, but they secrete a sludge that impairs water flow by narrowing water pipe diameter. The rust-colored sludge in your toilet's water chamber comes from...

Bahia grass is a warm season grass that is resistant to drought, insects, disease and various types of fertile and infertile soils. This grass is not an aggressive plant, but its roots can go...

Spruce trees are coniferous trees with whorled branches. They are very dense and hardy, which is what makes them difficult to kill. They flourish in cool to cold temperatures and can grow to be 60...

The black walnut tree can grow up to 150 feet high and 5 feet in diameter. Its wood is highly prized among carpenters. In fact, it would be wise to place an ad in your local paper to sell the wood...

Wild onion is a tall, green plant that grows naturally in most landscapes and it can be bothersome due to its pungent order, its tendency to choke out the existing plant life nearby and its fast...

Bed bugs have somewhat of a mythical status. Most people seem to think that once you have bed bugs you have to throw everything associated with them away and pay an exterminator to spray expensive...

Thistle is a creeping perennial, meaning its complex root system spreads and sprouts new plants quite frequently, and it is quite hardy during winter temperatures. For these reasons, thistle can...

Spider Mites are the bane of any grower. Nicknamed "The Borg", these little arachnids will lay waste to months of hard work in several short days. This guide will show you how to get rid...

Like moles, voles dig holes in yards, but voles are especially destructive in gardens, where they feed on roots. Voles belong to the mouse family, and mousetraps are what catch them best....

Bermuda grass is a common grass favored in warm climates. It's a popular choice for lawns, athletic fields and golf courses because it is a hardy grass that requires little maintenance. However,...

Pampas grass is a type of plant that reproduces millions upon millions of seeds without pollination. This large grass can be an annoyance because it can take away from the other visually pleasing...

Mold thrives in areas of grass that receive lots of water and not enough sunlight. Mold comes in many different varieties and colors. The first step to getting rid of mold in grass it to create an...

Wood wasps or horntail wasps can be particularly unwanted due to their destructive habits. They are not necessarily overly aggressive insects, but they eat wood and burrow their larvae deep within...

Mange is a painful affliction that is caused by mange mites. These mites are microscopic and so are impossible to see with the naked eye. They come in three basic varieties, red mange, sarcoptic...

There are numerous approaches to pest management that do not require chemical controls such as pesticides to rid crops of infestation, but instead, focus on preventing the initial infestation. The...

There are several types of thistle that are commonly called star thistle. Many of these are not native to the U.S. such as the yellow star thistle, Canada thistle, bull thistle, Italian thistle...

Moles are not harmful to plants, since they eat insects, not roots, but they do cause unsightly ridges in your lawn where they push up earth above them. They are particularly difficult to combat....

Leaf miners are destructive little bugs that are attracted to the leaves of fruit-bearing plants, especially citrus trees and tomatoes. Their larvae create tunnels inside the leaves that show up...

The giant bird of paradise, or Strelitzia nicolai, is a very heavy plant to remove because it is filled with water. The tree can reach heights of 15 to 25 feet. It gets its name from the...

Japanese beetles are about half an inch long and are an attractive iridescent green. They are also pests. The adults, if not controlled, can defoliate a tree. Pesticides are available, but traps...

Milk thistle is an herb that grows wild or can be grown commercially for many different uses. It's most prevalent use is as an herb to help with body toxicity and as part of a detoxification...

Mothballs are generally used to keep moths away from clothes in storage. Some gardeners use mothballs in the garden to keep away pests. Because of the toxic nature of mothball ingestion, though,...

Over 200 species of turtles exist, and, while most of these turtles are harmless, quiet creatures, some can grow into pests that must be eliminated from a pond. Various traps can catch turtles in ...

Out-of-control bamboo is a common problem. Getting rid of clumping varieties requires little more than a shovel. Running bamboo, on the other hand, can send up new growth far from the original...

Grubs live in soil and eat lawn roots. The resulting browning of the lawn occurs in late summer to early fall. This varies with the part of the country you reside, as does the best time to...

Russian thistle, also known as tumbleweed, is a non-native plant introduced to American from Russia in 1873. It is common in the western United States, having been inadvertently distributed along...

Poison oak is a close relative of poison ivy and poison sumac. These three plants all have leaves that are coated with an oily substance called urushiol. Most people are allergic to urushiol,...

Red clover mites can be a mild to moderate nuisance. While generally harmless to humans and pets, they have the tendency to amass greatly on lawns in spring and early summer months. Sometimes a...

Mice can be cute little creatures, but they are a major headache when they find their way into your home or business and leave droppings and diseases behind. To remove mice naturally, you need to...

Pond plants provide many useful benefits for a healthy natural pond. Many fish and wildlife rely on those plants for food, habitat, cover and nesting areas. Pond plants also consume nitrogen...

Thistles are large plants that have prickly leaves. While they are a beautiful component of many country landscapes, they can take over your garden and are nearly impossible to eradicate. The...

Not only can wasps be lethal to humans, but they also can be lethal to a variety of crops, including grapes. Vineyards around the world are beginning to have problems with wasps. This flying...

Termites are a nasty disturbance when it comes to taking care of your trees and other wooden materials. Even though some species are slower than others, they all eat through wood with reckless...

For all their pretty flowers and fruit, strawberry plants are weeds, and tenacious ones at that. They can be quite difficult to cut back or eradicate because they spread through their underground...

"Quake grass" is a short name for "quaking grass" because it has spikelets that move at the slightest breeze. It more commonly goes by the name "quack grass." They are a particularly resistant...

Cycad blue butterfly larvae can wreak havoc on cycad plants. A particularly bad infestation can cause the plant to wither and die. Treating the plant with the right kind of insecticide at the...

Trapping animals is considered an effective practice among hunters. Many methods exist in trapping, including the snare pitfall, spring traps and deadfalls. The deadfall trap is one of the most...

If you are having a problem with rampant bamboo, you are not alone. Bamboo is one of the most difficult species of plant to get rid of, a ridiculous notion if you think about how much information...

Mint can be a tasty addition to most food and drink that you can make in your home. However, when this plant starts to dominate your garden or lawn, you may be in trouble. Mint is one of the most...

Having squirrels on your property can be a real pain in the neck. These highly adaptable rodents will dig up your bulbs, consume your flowers and devour the seeds in your bird feeder. They can...

The silverfish can cause damage to your most valued possessions--your important documents and your collectible books. Although they are annoying, they are not harmful to people. The key of getting...

Ridding an area of Canada geese may at first seem fairly straightforward. However, running at a group of geese while waving your arms will only urge the birds to move on temporarily. Soon, they...

Anyone who has ever tried to eradicate a blackberry patch knows what a prickly and tenacious opponent this shrub can be. One of the biggest problems is that while the canes of the blackberry plant...

Voles are also known as meadow mice. Often confused with house mice, the two are actually animals. Voles have smaller ears, a stouter body and a shorter tail. They live outside and travel via a...

Moles and chipmunks may be furry and cute, but they are also very destructive to your lawn and garden. Moles and chipmunks burrow and tunnel their way around your yard, breeding, rooting for food...