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...

Deer tracks and nibbled plants in the garden can cause even the most patient gardener to to throw up his hands in exasperation. Deer browsing in a small garden plot can cause considerable damage,...

Wild animals that move into your home or garden can be a nuisance. Squirrels and birds can build nests that clog chimneys, and squirrels also steal food from bird feeders. Rodents can live in your...

After a winter of family pets using the garden or backyard as a porta-potty, the yard may be quite odorous by spring. Skunks that are attracted to gardens may also leave their scent behind. This...

Having moles in your yard and garden can be quite frustrating. They leave unsightly mounds of dirt and surface tunnels in your lawn, and can cause damage to your garden. There are several ways to...

Plecia nearctica hardy is a small fly better known as the lovebug due to its amorous mating in the spring and summer months. This tiny insect is only about 1/4-inch long with a red thorax. They...

Woodlice, also known as roly-poly bugs, sow bugs, potato bugs, and pill bugs, are a particularly harmless variety of bugs that are not considered dangerous. They do not act as carriers for any...

Mosquitoes can be a huge problem for any garden, especially gardens that have tomatoes. Several methods exist to get rid of mosquito problems such as with repellents, different varieties of...

Any gardener will say that the garden slug is one of the most destructive, menacing pests to come into a growing environment. Their numbers are usually impressive, and they have a penchant for...

Velvetleaf is an annual weed that grows as tall as 8 feet and can cause a great deal of damage in field crops as well as smaller vegetable and flower gardens. Because velvetleaf produces seeds...

Two growing seasons ago some of my plants really got hit hard with an outbreak of white flies. Harmless to humans, they can destroy an entire garden and reproduce at an alarming rate in less than...

English Ivy can be a beautiful climbing vine, but the vines can climb over just about everything: trees, shrubs, lawn, even the brickwork of houses. Killing the vines takes elbow grease, but with...

A cat urinates on flowers when he uses the bed as a litter box or when he wants to mark his territory for other neighborhood cats. Cat urine in the garden can harm your plants and make gardening a...

You can use these 6 steps to prevent pests from invading your garden, without the use of pesticides.

Organic controls means using natural enemies or disease-causing microbes that attack garden pests. Organic measures can be difficult to accomplish and the methods vary. It is important to keep in...

Vegetable weevils are a type of garden pest that attacks leafy garden plants. An elusive pest that is hard to catch in action, the adult vegetable weevil resembles an everyday beetle, but has a...

Garden molds come in a host of varieties. The most common type of garden mold is the "dog vomit" mold, which is yellow and lumpy in appearance. No matter the type of mold you have in your garden,...

Glyphosate is the most effective herbicide for eradicating zoysia grass. If zoysia grass is encroaching upon or springing up in your vegetable garden, you must take care that the herbicide does...

Deer can be fun to watch, but when they eat your garden down to nubs, it might be time to find ways to deter them. Many perfumed soaps have a strong smell and bad taste that deer don't like,...

Insects can quickly take over a lawn or garden, leaving the area to feel unwelcoming. From insects that feed off the blood of humans and pets, to insects that attack lawn and garden vegetation, we...

Common mullein is a European herb brought over by settlers as a medicinal plant. It has since then proliferated in dry, disturbed settings and become a problem for many gardeners, particularly...

Ants are everywhere, usually where there is a steady food supply like a vegetable garden. In gardens, ants are most often accompanied by aphids. Aphids and ants have a symbiotic relationship when...

Japanese beetles are small greenish-brown bugs that are notorious for destroying plants. The are attracted to sweet smells such as herbs and tomatoes. A group of these beetles can easily destroy a...

If the leaves of the plants in your garden have a lacy appearance, you probably have Japanese beetles, which eat the tender parts of the leaves. Once spring arrives, they seem to come from out of...

Compost is ready to spread on the garden when a handful of the compost has very little scent and the particles are unrecognizable. The compost should have the consistency of loose, damp soil. This...

So, you've noticed white fuzz on your herb garden. Chances are it's mealybugs, tiny, white and furry insects that feed on plant sap and secrete a residue that can turn into mold, inhibiting the...

The horsetail plant's varieties and hardiness can make it a garden pest regardless of geographical location. This ancient plant, also known as scouring rush, has very deep roots and can survive...

Japanese beetles are the bane of almost any garden hobbyist, and even more so for those who incorporate basil into their outdoor paradise. Japanese beetles and their larvae can decimate an herb...

Raccoons are resourceful creatures, and if you have a garden or offer easy access to leftovers and garbage cans, they are likely to make your home a frequent stop. While they're generally...

Few things obstruct the pleasant beauty of a garden more than weeds. In addition to their unwelcome, unsightly look, these plants can siphon vital nutrients from the soil that your flowers, shrubs...

Lilac bushes are a low-maintenance, fragrant addition to a landscape or garden. They produce lovely clusters of white, purple or pink flowers each spring and bloom throughout the beginning of...

Armadillos are small mammals that reside primarily in the southern and southwestern parts of the United States. They use their sharp claws to dig for insects to eat and often get into garden areas...

Like many weeds, chickweed can seem to conquer your garden or lawn when it begins to grow. New chickweed plants can grow from even the smallest bit of chickweed root, meaning that even if you...

Grubs feed on the roots of grass and other plants and in certain quantities can be quite damaging to your garden. Grubs also cause indirect damage by attracting moles and other predators which...

Though we may think that rabbits are cute in a pet store, in a garden they can be a real nuisance. If rabbits try to invade your garden, you can install a fence to keep them out. Rabbit guard...

Creeping Charlie, also known as Creeping Jenny or ground ivy, can be a difficult garden weed to control. Introduced to North America by European settlers, the bright green plant with round leaves...

Weed suppressing fabric is placed directly on the ground in gardens to help control weed growth around plants. This dark, woven material is designed to allow water in to help keep the soil warm...

The European earwig first appeared in the United States around 1907. They are small, less than an inch long, insects with curved pincers. They are flat and brown. They prefer dark, moist,...

Garden moles can be harmful lawn pests that feed off garden plants and dig holes through the lawn and garden. While there are several retail products that claim to get rid of garden moles, these...

Squirrels are notorious for eating any food they can find during the autumn months. If you have a garden, a squirrel problem can be devastating. A small garden can be destroyed in a matter of days...

Hostas are a very hardy plant that will grow in almost any kind of soil and thrive in many different climates. Hostas, like other plants, are a food source for insects and other pests at times,...

Zucchini tends to be prone to damage by insects, as many garden pests love to feed on this vegetable. While there are retail and chemically-based products available to kill and repel insects,...

Frogs are often wanted in gardens by homeowners as they act as a natural insect repellent. However, frogs can sometimes be a nuisance when there are too many of them around your plants and crops....

Slugs are a commonplace sight in many gardens. These garden bugs can be a detriment to your garden. However, if they are left to their own devices, slugs may devastate your plant population. The...

Weeds are the gardener's most ardent opponent. Each week, hours are spent pulling these little intruders from your flower beds. Installing weed block fabric can drastically reduce the amount of...

Rabbits will waste no time eating beets, among other vegetables, if they stumble upon them in your garden. A rabbit-ransacked garden probably is the last thing you want to see, so protect your...

Gardening is difficult enough without worrying about critters that steal your vegetables and nibble rings of bark from your fruit trees. There are many ways to increase the effectiveness of a...

There is nothing more frustrating waking up to find your pumpkins and your vegetable garden picked completely clean by meandering deer and rabbits. Seems as though even fences and pesticides can't...

Both bird netting and poultry netting (chicken wire) are effective against garden pests and animals. Each of these products has very different characteristics, sizes and installation methods to...

Pampas grass, cortaderia selloana, is an ornamental grass native to South America. It grows rapidly and is often used as a screening element in landscapes. The plant can grow to 8 to 10 feet and...