Pests, Weeds & Problems

Weeds can be pesky, but the chemicals used to kill them can be worse. You probably already know that herbicides are bad for the environment--but how does bleach stack up?

Agricultural pest control is time-consuming and expensive, and depending on the product used, can also be polluting. While chemical pesticides can be very effective at reducing agricultural pests,...

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...

Pesky little gnats flying around your plants? Are there tiny, narrow slime trails crisscrossing your plant's soil? If so, fungus gnats have taken up residence in your potted plants. Fungus gnats...

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...

For best results for your garden, soil testing is recommended. Soil testing can provide useful information such as pH and nutrient content. These measurements can guide plant selection decisions....

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...

Nematodes are commonly called roundworms and are multicellular animals. Some are parasitic and others are free-living. Nematodes are highly adaptable and can harm the root system of plants and crops.

Homeowners often have to deal with crabgrass. This weed is a common one in lawns and may not be easy to get rid of once it is established. The best thing a homeowner can do is to stop crabgrass...

The pin oak, one of the most common ornamental trees in America, commonly suffers from iron chlorosis. Pin oaks thrive in bottomland areas from Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, and Michigan to Kansas...

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...

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...

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...

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....

Patch Bermuda grass by over-seeding the bare patches and creating a future environment favorable to the growth of Bermuda grass. Bare patches occur on a lawn due to poor soil and environmental...

A zoysia lawn instills pride in many a homeowner. With its deep green blades, this beautiful turf provides a great visual appearance. Zoysia resists the effects of drought and requires minimal...

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...

Worldwide, there are around 500 species of stinging nettle, sometimes called Tread Softly, Bull Nettle, or Finger Rot. While those found in the U.S. sting the skin, the discomfort doesn't last...

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...

Weed control can be a dangerous business when you've got pets and kids, especially if you use a chemical repellent. There are a number of safe and organic ways to control the weeds in your garden...

For many people, having a well-maintained lawn is a source of joy and pride. However, there are many pesky little pests that would seek to damage a healthy lawn and erase all of that hard work. If...

Grass burs, also known as sand burs and sandspurs, are weeds that thrive in sandy soil. The blades of grass burs are an attractive, shiny green; these plants could almost be confused with...

Magnolia is an ancient genus with 210 species of plants, all of which showcase waxy, white flowers. The magnolia tree is native to both North America and Asia, and is a popular garden plant...

Killing horsetail weeds, regardless of type or temperament, is a matter of making the garden an uninviting breeding ground for this common weed. With an aversion to simple chemical destruction,...

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...

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...

The soil gnat or fungus gnat is a small insect that often plagues potted houseplants because there are no natural predators indoors. While the gnats do not cause harm to the plant itself, the...

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...

If hard-to-kill weeds are overpowering your lawn or driveway, use clear plastic sheeting to destroy them. The process takes a little time, but in a few weeks, the area will be weed-free. The...

Common chickweed is a very prolific and hardy weed. It thrives in almost any climate and tolerates both wet and dry soil. This fast-growing plant can produce seeds continually for weeks and...

The lawn is America's last frontier. Sometimes our lawns can be the victims of natural pesticides that include Borax in their ingredients. You normally see the telltale yellowing of lawn die-off...

Magnolia trees are popular because they are fairly easy to grow and don't draw a large number of insect pests. However, these trees, common to the eastern and southern United States, do...

The composting process involves the breaking down of organic matter by microbial action. Once the organic material breaks down into unrecognizable matter that resembles moist soil it is applied to...

Wild violets (Viola papilionacea) are a native North America wildflower and are often considered a weed in landscaping. The leaves of the wild violet are heart-shaped and connect to small flowers....

Kill moss on sandy soil by physically removing the existing moss. Prevent future moss from growing in sandy soil conditions by creating a sunlit environment for grass to thrive. Moss is primitive...

Adult moles are small creatures, about 6 inches (15 cm) long. Females give birth to two to six pups once every year. Moles live in networks of tunnels underground and leave the excavated soil in...

Dollar weeds are a plant with shiny green leaves the size of silver dollars. They are normally considered an annoying weed, but according to an article on ehow.com, they are sometimes purposely...

Lichen is a type of natural organic growth common in forests on trees or on rock faces. Lichens typically have a flat, brown appearance made up of alternating layers of thin, paper-like growth....

You can remove moss from your lawn by creating an environment that supports the growth of grass and is counterproductive to the growth of moss. Moss is a primitive, non-vascular plant that thrives...

Using plastic sheeting to kill thistles is known as solarization. The process takes about six to eight weeks, but once the thirstles are dead, you will not have any lawn problems because the...

Moss is any species of the class Bryopsida. Evolutionists say that moss is one of the first green plants to emerge after the formation of the Earth. Moss is simple vegetation that has no roots,...

Bahia grass is native to Brazil and was first brought to the southern United States because of its ability to survive drought and excessive sunlight. It produces a very deep and strong rooting,...

Native to Brazil, Bahia grass is a hardy plant known for its high tolerance to drought and its resistance to disease. Over 70 years ago, Bahia grass was imported to the southeastern United States...

Weeds are the gardener's bane, cropping up in your soil and strangling the life from your garden. There are a number of methods you can employ to get rid of weeds and grass in your garden,...

Queen Palm trees are truly majestic: With their tall trunks and crowns of feathery green fronds, they are a standard landscape feature of south Florida. These elegant, fast-growing palms can grow...

Any flower, no matter how beautiful, can be considered a weed if it's crowding out other flowers that you want in your garden. The cypress vine, a cousin of the morning glory, has bright red...

Moles often make their way into backyards and gardens in early spring. They awake after being dormant for the winter and search for worms. You may notice that your garden has been invaded by these...

If you’re like me, you long to find an organic weed control method that allows a garden to be more weed free. Over the years, I have come to notice that certain maintenance or actually lack of...

Garden enthusiasts everywhere have long had to do battle with the enemy of healthy plants everywhere: weeds. Weeds get into the garden and choke out healthy plants by taking their nutrients and...

The camellia (C. japonica) is a popular blooming shrub native to eastern and southern Asia. The camellia, which can live for 100 years or more, is known for its large and colorful blooms that...