Pests, Weeds & Problems

Rice paper plants also go by the name Tetrapanax papyiferus and are a member of the ginseng family. This plant grows very well in tropical areas and has leaves up to 15 inches wide. Unfortunately,...

Leafcutter bees are usually grayish-black in color, with lighter bands around their abdomen. Their size is similar to that of a honeybee; however, unlike honeybees, leafcutters are solitary in...

Mole plants are one way to combat moles and the tunnels they create in your lawn or garden. These tunnels compromise the structural integrity of the soil, making it sink and killing the plants...

Weeds are a problem in almost everyone's lawn. Getting rid of them can be as tedious and difficult as pulling out the weeds by hand. A lot of weedkillers also can kill nearby plants and other...

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...

Nematodes are slender, translucent, unsegmented roundworms measuring roughly 1/50 of an inch or less. Nematodes can be beneficial by attacking troublesome garden insects, or they can damage...

Milk thistle also goes by the name blessed milk thistle and Silybum marianum. It is harmful to the touch and chokes out other plant life. Milk thistle flower heads are very large, spiny, and...

Birds are beautiful creatures that are fun to watch and feed. Unfortunately, some birds are also very fond of the fruits and vegetables that we plant in our gardens. While a bird grabbing a berry...

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...

These mites are also called two spotted spider mites and just simply spider mites. They attack a wide variety of plants, trees and shrubs.

Blackberry plants are a flowerless perennial that produces a large black berry, which may or may not be edible. If left unmanaged, these plants will develop dense trunks and spread exponentially....

Mold is a serious problem when it attaches itself to buds and leaves on plants. The mold can completely destroy a garden in just a few months. While there is no way to cure buds and leaves that...

It's tough, it's spiny, it's hairy, and it's taking over your yard. Thistle---whether it's of the musk, tall or Canada variety---is a very difficult weed to eliminate from your lawn or garden once...

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...

Garden ponds add interest and charm to landscapes, but without proper care they can become breeding places for mosquitoes.

Unwanted insects are a nuisance in the garden, and can quickly make short work of healthy plants, but many of us elect not to use strong chemicals. Homemade hot pepper spray is a good alternative...

Japanese beetles came to the U.S. in 1916 and have since become one of the most common pests in the Eastern part of the country. They have no major predators and usually begin feeding around...

Have you ever worked to cultivate a beautiful lawn or a vibrant vegetable garden only to grow frustrated by the weeds? Weeds can choke out other plants by taking nutrients from the soil, and they...

Russian thistle, also referred to as tumbleweed, is an invasive plant that has goosefeet roots. This type root system allows the plant itself to be blown from the ground to propagate more plants....

Powdery mildew is a fungus that attacks a number of plants in the garden, leaving a white powdery substance on the plant. This is one of many fungal infections that can damage your garden and your...

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

Even people who never use pesticides often become blood-thirsty when you bring up Japanese beetles. This is because these pests can destroy an entire rose bush or even rose garden in a matter of...

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...

In the United States, honeysuckle plants such as Amur, which is native to Asia, run rampant without any controls. This invasive species is not to be confused with the native, beneficial...

Canadian thistle is an invasive weed common in North America that's tough to get rid of. With its prickly leaves and rapid growth, Canadian thistle can overtake a lawn, garden, or field overnight....

Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), a vining plant, and the shrub-like plant Tartarian honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica), are invasive plants that many people plant in the garden for their...

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...

Japanese Beetles were first detected in 1916 in New Jersey, having been introduced from Japan. Adults are brilliant, metallic green and oval-shaped, about 3/8 inches long. Their wings are a...

Some varieties of thistle are toxic and some are not, such as the Canada thistle. It is a perennial plant that often survives attempts of eradication. The Canada thistle can grow, even when its...

Cucumbers are one of the garden vegetables most susceptible to disease. Disease can run wild in a cucumber patch, killing all leaves and decreasing or eliminating fruit production. A combination...

Anyone who has a garden knows that weeds can ruin the aesthetic pleasure of a landscape. Weed killers sometimes mystify people because they destroy weeds and leave "good" vegetation alone. Even...

Japanese beetles can be the source of disdain and utter disgust to an avid gardener. Nothing is more irksome than to wander out into a garden or flowerbed to admire the plants you work so hard to...

It can be very rewarding to create a beautiful flower garden. You should know, however, that you will have to be on the watch for pests and bugs that will want to munch on your new plants. These...

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...

Preen Weed Preventer is one way to stop unwanted plants from growing. By preventing germination, Preen is designed to stop weed growth in all types of gardens, ground covers or areas surrounding...

Deer are beautiful and graceful creatures that are loved by nature observers and photographers, but they do a lot of damage to farms and gardens. They can decimate vegetable crops, ornamentals and...

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...

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...

Stinkbugs not only are annoying because of their odor, they are also destructive to many vegetable plants, and they cause allergic reactions in some people. They especially favor tomato plants but...

English ivy is a vine that climbs almost any surface. Its leaves and berries contain toxins that can be very harmful if ingested. It also tends to grow very rapidly and climbs trees as it searches...

Greenhouse thrips are an annoying parasite commonly found in perennial ornamental plants and fruit trees. Though quite small, not normally growing larger than 20 mm, they can be detected on the...

Aphids are a pesky pest for any gardener. Aphids can rapidly take over a greenhouse because they are able to reproduce so quickly, making it hard to get rid of an infestation. Aphids suck the sap...

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...

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...

Pond algae can vary in size and color and may become a nuisance to pond owners. Moderate algae can be beneficial for a pond, but there's often an overabundance of algae that can make your pond...

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;...

Pesticides are often necessary in order to keep plants and flowers from being completely destroyed. If the pests bothering your plants include flies, ticks, mosquitoes and aphids, you need to make...

There are more than 23,000 species of grasshoppers in the world, and all of them have different dietary preferences. Many of them are harmless or a minor nuisance, feeding on plants that aren't...

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...

Aphids are a major pest that are known for infesting a garden and feeding off plants. These pests are rather small and can come in many shades, including red, brown, yellow, green and black. ...