Pests, Weeds & Problems

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...

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,...

Dassis grass is an ornamental grass that grows much like love grass. While dassis grass can be a wonderful addition to your landscaping, you might want to get rid of it because you have grown...

Wasps eat other insects and don't bother too much with humans. The only time you really need to worry about killing them is if they have a nest near your home. If you were to disrupt the nest...

Sometimes you need to kill some unwanted grass that has traveled to an area where it does not belong. You would think that you can use just your average weed killer to kill the grass, or even...

Ladybugs are harmless creatures designed to eat and eliminate all aphids within their vicinity. But if you don't like the little red bugs around your home or garden, there are a few easy steps you...

Carpenter ants can be a big problem in the homes and gardens of millions of Americans. They can chew up wood and become a nuisance. It is not effective to simply kill a few ants with some spray...

Borax is a mineral composed of sodium, boron, hydrogen and oxygen. 20 Mule Borax is a multipurpose cleaning product used to clean laundry and dishes. It is often recommended as a way to kill...

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...

English Ivy can look great but can also overtake the yard. The ivy climbs on trees, shrubs and even houses. If the ivy look isn't for you, you want it gone. How do you kill the ivy, though,...

Wasps living around your property are more than an annoyance; because they work so hard to defend their nests, they can become aggressive and sting people or pets. If you understand wasps, you may...

Non-flying insects have a disadvantage. Because they have to crawl, they can be forced to climb over desiccants that are laid to scratch them so they leak internal fluid and essentially bleed to...

Goose grass, also called silver crabgrass, is very pesky because it is more of a weed than actual grass. It grows much faster than regular grass, it takes away the water and soil nutrients that...

Moles are nature's way of controlling insects such as Japanese beetles and grubs, loosening and aerating soil and mixing deeper soils with surface material to greatly improve soil quality....

Squirrels roam around throughout the year, though they're more active during the warmer months because the animals nest in trees during the colder months. Grey squirrels are a common household...

Whether you want to kill some out-of-control grass or worry that cleaning your boat in the yard might cause your lawn grass to die, there are many reasons to be concerned about the effects of...

Grass that has become overrun by weeds in your yard or garden can be detrimental to the health of new plants. Weeds steal moisture, sunlight and nutrients from seedlings, keeping them from growing...

Many commercial weed killers contain chemicals that not only kill the weeds, but the grass as well. Another problem is they can taint waterways, and are toxic to humans and animals if not stored...

Diatomaceous earth (DE) is the fossilized remains of diatoms, an algae-like single-celled creature. It feels like powder to mammals, but to wax-shelled insects it might as well be razors. It...

Permethrin is a synthetic chemical that has been widely used in the eradication of insects, including larvae like maggots. The chemical functions as a neurotoxin which affects the neuron membranes...

In the months of June and July, Japanese beetles swell in population just in time to destroy rose gardens. Attracted by the smell of the flowers, the beetles feed on buds, leaves and stems....

Vinegar is an effective, natural weed killer, and can help keep your gardens weed free and safe for growing your favorite, organic vegetables. Weeds are the nemesis of every gardener, and killing...

Aphids are small plant-eating insects and are considered one of the most destructive garden pests. Although they are tiny, they can quickly become a big problem. Aphids feed on your green plants;...

Mealybugs are a type of insect pest sometimes encountered on houseplants. The bugs bite into the plant and suck out its juices, stressing the plant and killing it if the pests are not managed...

Although Sevin dust will kill wasps, these insects are an important part of the ecosystem and should be left alone if they are not bothering anyone. Wasps sometimes pose a danger to you and your...

Cockroaches can be found all over the world, especially in your home. Once inside your home, roaches enjoy eating your food, destroying your books and spreading germs to your family. A large...

Ants can be a big pain if they enter your home and spot a small crumb of food. That one crumb of food is all it takes for the scouts to go back and tell the rest of their colony to come and join...

The first thing you will notice when mice invade is their droppings. Consider not killing the mice and using live traps or preventative measures to control them. If you must use treatments to kill...

The silverfish is a type of wingless bug given its name due to its silver color. The insect feeds upon starches and sugar and is attracted to household items such as book bindings and paper. The...

When colonies of ants move into your house or garden, they can be hard to get rid of. Ants breed at astronomical rates and divide up to start new colonies if one becomes too large. Poison sprays...

Mealybugs are small insects that routinely attack and kill plants of all types and species. They are between one to three millimeters in length, and can ingest nearly any part of a plant, from the...

Smalls ants aren't quite the nuisance that fire ants and similar aggressive species are, but they can still cause a number of problems. No one likes to see a line of ants across their kitchen...

In May, they will come. One day you notice brown spots where your lawn is dying. Spread the blades of dying grass and you will find a skittering insect. Be quick because they are quick. They are...

If you notice brown spots where your lawn is dying, spread the blades of grass and look for a skittering insect. They are chinch bugs, and they will kill your lawn.

Ant infestations outside of the home can make your lawn look unattractive and also lead to ants eventually entering your home. There are numerous pesticides on the market that you can purchase and...

Unwanted vegetation and weeds can make a lawn or a garden unsightly and it can stifle the growth of your real plants. You could go out and buy a commercial weed killer, but other options are...

Moss is present in many gardens, often in areas that are moist and heavily shaded. It can become a problem when it begins taking over garden beds, blocking out plant seedlings and competing for...

Ant infestation is the number-one pest control problem in the United States. Commonly known ants include the harvester, carpenter and fire ant varieties, but there are over 19 different types of...

Few home woes are more frustrating, and often unsettling, as an influx of ants. Whether the ants are damaging the wood of your house, or simply feeding off scraps outside, once an ant problem is...

Grain can be stored for a variety of purposes, including for human and animal consumption. Wheat can be stored for several years and still be fit for eating. An infestation of bugs will quickly...

Ants are recurring pests that just seem to find their way into everything. With their small size they can fit through just about any hole or crack in your home, snacking on any food that may be...

Black ants can be a large problem, both inside the house and outside. They come in several different sizes but are always a major pest. If you are looking to kill off the black ants but don't want...

Grapevines grow fast and far, covering a lot of ground and often providing a lush landscape, but causing havoc on trees and shrubbery in the process when out of control. The thick stocky vines and...

The great black wasp (Sphex pensylvanicus) is an elegant creature. They have lithe, all-black bodies and gossamer, iridescent wings. Great black wasps, which can grow up to 2 inches in length,...

Poison ivy can be a very persistent pest in a yard or garden. It can be difficult to remove because of the risks associated with removing it. Pulling poison ivy is an effective means of removal,...

Wild grapevines may look interesting when they cover a fence or wall, but they can kill other plants and even large trees. Killing wild grapevines is not as easy as simply cutting them down,...

On Tuesday, your outdoor plants were looking fine--green leaves, lots of healthy growth. As the week progresses, however, you notice something: little pale dots on your leaves. It looks as if...

Ponds and containers of standing water can quickly attract mosquitoes, which can fill the water with mosquito larvae in no time. It can be difficult to deter such pests, especially if the...

Clover mites are arachnid pests that feed mainly on grass, clover and lawn plants. The bugs become active in the fall and seek shelter from the coming cold, which is when homeowners will typically...

Ants are tiny pests that invade homes and lawns in their search for food. The sheer number of ants and their speed of reproduction makes their elimination difficult. But several home products can...